By Foluke Akinmoladun
This is the concluding part of the write up on Bill of Ladings. I will start by looking at the uses of Bill of Lading in Containerised Shipping.
Bills of Lading in Containerised Shipping
Modern shipping relies heavily on containerisation.
When cargo is shipped as a Full Container Load (FCL), the carrier generally relies on information supplied by the shipper regarding the contents of the container. The bill of lading therefore often includes statements such as “said to contain”, indicating that the carrier has not verified the exact contents.
The document will typically list:
● container number
● seal number
● description of cargo supplied by the shipper.
Where cargo is shipped as Less than Container Load (LCL), the carrier usually assumes responsibility for the quantity and condition of goods in a manner similar to traditional break-bulk cargo.
Electronic Bills of Lading
A major development in maritime trade is the increasing use of electronic bills of lading (eBLs).
Electronic bills replicate the legal functions of traditional paper bills but exist in secure digital form. Their advantages include:
● faster document transmission
● reduced risk of loss or fraud
● lower administrative costs
● improved efficiency in global trade.
Many shipping lines and international organisations are promoting widespread adoption of electronic bills as part of the broader digitalisation of trade documentation.
Types of Bills of Lading
Bills of lading can be classified based on their negotiability or the scope of the carrier’s responsibility.
Negotiable and Non-Negotiable Bills of Lading
The two principal categories are negotiable and non-negotiable bills.
A negotiable bill allows transfer of title to the goods through endorsement, whereas a non-negotiable bill specifies a named consignee who alone is entitled to receive the cargo.
Main Types of Bills of Lading
1. Received Bill of Lading
This document acknowledges that the carrier has received the cargo but that it has not yet been loaded on board the vessel.
Banks involved in trade finance usually prefer a shipped bill of lading rather than a received bill.
2. Shipped Bill of Lading
A shipped bill of lading confirms that the cargo has been loaded onto the vessel. It provides stronger evidence of shipment and is commonly required under letters of credit.
3. Transhipment Bill of Lading
This type of bill of lading allows the cargo to be transferred from one vessel to another during the journey where there is no direct shipping route between the ports of loading and discharge.
4. Groupage and House Bill of Lading
Where cargo from multiple shippers is consolidated into a single container, a freight forwarder may issue house bills of lading to individual cargo owners while the carrier issues a master bill covering the entire container.
5. Combined Transport (Multimodal) Bill of Lading
This bill of lading covers transportation involving more than one mode of transport, such as sea, rail, or road. The carrier assumes responsibility for the cargo from the place of receipt to the place of delivery.
6. Straight Bill of Lading
A straight bill of lading names a specific consignee who alone is entitled to receive the cargo. It is generally non-negotiable.
7. Order Bill of Lading
An order bill of lading is issued “to order” of the consignee or shipper. Ownership of the goods can be transferred by endorsing the bill of lading to another party. This is the most common negotiable form used in international trade.
8. Bearer Bill of Lading
In this type of bill, the holder of the document is entitled to claim the goods. Because of the risk of misuse or loss, bearer bills are rarely used in modern shipping practice.
9. Switch Bill of Lading
A switch bill of lading is issued to replace an earlier bill of lading, usually at the request of the trader or intermediary who wishes to conceal the identity of the original shipper or supplier.
Bills of Lading Based on Scope of Carrier’s Responsibility
10. Port-to-Port Bill of Lading
This document covers transportation between the port of loading and the port of discharge only. The carrier’s responsibility begins when the cargo is loaded and ends when it is discharged.
11. Multimodal Bill of Lading
This bill covers transport involving multiple modes such as sea, rail, and road, with the carrier responsible for the cargo throughout the entire journey.
12. Through Bill of Lading
A through bill of lading covers the movement of cargo across multiple legs of a journey, often involving several carriers, but generally within a single integrated transport arrangement.
Conclusion
The bill of lading remains one of the most important documents in maritime commerce. It functions simultaneously as a receipt for goods, evidence of the contract of carriage, and a document of title that facilitates international trade.
As global trade evolves, the bill of lading continues to adapt to new commercial realities. Developments such as containerisation, multimodal transport systems, and the growing adoption of electronic bills of lading demonstrate the document’s continuing relevance in modern shipping practice.
A clear understanding of the meaning, uses, and types of bills of lading is therefore essential for professionals engaged in maritime law, shipping, and international trade.
References
1. Institute of Chartered Shipbrokers, Introduction to Shipping , 2016 edition (Institute of Chartered Shipbrokers, London).
2. L. Chidi Ilogu, Foundations of Carriage of Goods by Sea: The Nigerian Perspective, 2016
3. Jean Chiazor Anishere, Essays in Admiralty: An Introduction to Legal Issues in Shipping from a West African Perspective, 2012.
4. Jean Chiazor Anishere, Essays in Admiralty: Key Issues in Shipping from a Global Perspective 2018.
5. Captain Rajeev Jassal, “Different Types of Bills of Lading”, MySeaTime Blog., https://www.myseatime.com/blog/detail/different-types-of-bill-of-lading](https://www.myseatime.com/blog/detail/different-types-of-bill-of-lading) (Accessed at 2:15pm WAT on 4 December 2019).
6. United Nations Commission on International Trade Law, UNCITRAL Model Law on Electronic Transferable Records (MLETR), 2017, [https://uncitral.un.org/en/texts/ecommerce/modellaw/electronic_transferable_records](https://uncitral.un.org/en/texts/ecommerce/modellaw/electronic_transferable_records), (Accessed at 10:05am WAT on 9 March 2026).
7. International Chamber of Commerce, Uniform Customs and Practice for Documentary Credits (UCP 600), [https://iccwbo.org/business-solutions/incoterms-rules/ucp-600] (https://iccwbo.org/business-solutions/incoterms-rules/ucp-600) (Accessed at 10:12am WAT on 3 March 2026).
8. BIMCO, “Electronic Bills of Lading – Digitalisation of Shipping Documentation”. [https://www.bimco.org/contracts-and-clauses/bimco-clauses/electronic-bills-of-lading-clause](https://www.bimco.org/contracts-and-clauses/bimco-clauses/electronic-bills-of-lading-clause) (Accessed at 10:20am WAT on 5 March 2026).
9. United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, Review of Maritime Transport, https://unctad.org/topic/transport-and-trade-logistics/review-of-maritime-transport, https://unctad.org/topic/transport-and-trade-logistics/review-of-maritime-transport. (Accessed at 10:26am WAT on 9 March 2026).
10. International Maritime Organization, “Carriage of Goods by Sea and Maritime Transport”, https://www.imo.org/en/OurWork/Legal/Pages/Carriage-of-Goods-by-Sea.aspx](https://www.imo.org/en/OurWork/Legal/Pages/Carriage-of-Goods-by-Sea.aspx, accessed at 10:32am WAT on 9 March 2026.
11. Rotterdam Rules [https://uncitral.un.org/en/texts/transportgoods/conventions/rotterdam_rules](https://uncitral.un.org/en/texts/transportgoods/conventions/rotterdam_rules) accessed at 10:36am WAT on 9 March 2026).
12. Hague-Visby Rules, International Convention for the Unification of Certain Rules of Law Relating to Bills of Lading. [https://www.jus.uio.no/lm/sea.carriage.hague.visby.rules.1968](https://www.jus.uio.no/lm/sea.carriage.hague.visby.rules.1968), (Accessed at 10:40am WAT on 9 March 2026).
13. Electronic Trade Documents Act 2023, [https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2023/38/contents](https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2023/38/contents), accessed at 10:45am WAT on 8 March 2026.
