Express release and its advantages and disadvantages

What is an Express Release and what are its advantages and disadvantages..??

This was a question one of the readers of this blog asked..

An Express Release as it name implies is used mostly in “express” situations such as :

when the shipper and consignee are part of the same group and there are no negotiations required between the two either directly or via bank for release of the cargo
the shipment doesn’t involve any bank and the shipper doesn’t really need to submit original bill of lading to secure his payment
when the shipper doesn’t have the time to print the original bills and courier the same to the consignee
the shipper is a freight forwarder and he wants to issue a house bill of lading to his customers, hence he takes an express release or a waybill instead of original master bill of lading from the shipping line

Advantages of an Express Release :

the consignee doesn’t need to wait for or surrender an original bill of lading in order to secure release because if it is an Express bill, it is manifested as such – so cargo release is immediate
shipper saves on courier or postage costs as he can send the copy of the Express bill by electronic means (email/fax)
most useful for group companies who have offices at the pol and pod and among trusting business partners
save on bill of lading stationery

Disadvantages of an Express Release :

it is not negotiable and cannot be exchanged for money, it is just a receipt of cargo
release is not as secure as an original bill of lading and there could be incidences of fraud
from a liners perspective, the disport agent doesn’t need to look for any original bills or wait for any documentation in order to release the shipment, which in some cases is problematic if the load port for any reason wants to stop the release

If anyone has any other views, please feel free to share..

32 COMMENTS

Muhamad Nizar June 11, 2021 At 10:32 PM

Hi sir,
I would firstly like to know the deference between Telex release B/L and seaway B/L.
And How original B/L secure payment where as somewhere it stated that telex release and seaway B/L doesn’t secure payment
How these are connected with payment
Thanks
Muhammad Nizar

Manikanta JAGATI January 28, 2021 At 7:39 PM

Having 1 question.
I want to know in which payment terms, this express BL will help us. We are doing transaction in DA, DP, and LC.

Now one of my customer requested for express BL LC terms, further customer banker is ready to issue LC with express BL, as customer is fearing of demmurages on late clearance, even we also.

Can I go for it? Please let me know.

- Hariesh Manaadiar January 28, 2021 At 7:59 PM
  
  Hi Manikanta, I have never seen any LC with Express Bill..
deepak May 14, 2018 At 3:27 PM

thanks for the article , but many shipping lines they don’t issue and tell its compamys policy.

Melizza December 18, 2017 At 11:22 AM

Hi, upon reading about express b/l, let me clarify, if the B/L is “express”, there’s no need to present an original B/L? Right?
Thanks

Htet Ko Zin December 16, 2016 At 6:50 AM

Hello,
My name is Htete Ko Zin, and 23 years lod. I am from Myanmar. My dream is to be a professional Trade Forwarder. It is what I have been interested in since I was quite young. Currently I am working for a Project Logistics company. Though it is not a 100% trade forwarding company, it offers the services relating to the forwarding. I have worked for this company over a month and learned a lot about the business. But I am not satisfied with the trade forwarding knowledge I have got. I want to know more and more than I can. I am desperate to be a qualified Trade Forwarder, and could you give me a guidance toward my dream? And please let me know what kind of books I should read.

Thank You

- Hariesh Manaadiar December 16, 2016 At 9:07 PM
  
  Hi Htet, can you clarify what you mean by Trade Forwarder..??
Eric June 26, 2015 At 1:52 AM

Hello,

Great blog!

Can you advise the following situation:

We are exporting to India. Payment terms D/A 60 days from cargo departure date. Cargo goes through railway and transfers to seaway along the way. We will have to wait for original BL for very long, while we have to send documents to the buyer’s bank for collection asap. We are risking storage fees once the cargo reaches the destination port.

Our currier advised to use Telex Release to save time, so there won’t be any Original BL. Question is whether our buyers bank can issue sight draft (guarantee) without original BL if we indicate that we’re using Telex release or Express release.

Thank you,
Eric

- Hariesh Manaadiar June 29, 2015 At 9:03 AM
  
  Hi Eric, you will have to follow the requirement of the bank and the documents associated with the shipment.. The type of bill of lading allowed will be mentioned in these documents..
Brenda October 28, 2014 At 10:04 PM

If a customer has requested Originals, can it be changed to Express Release upon customer’s request?

- Hariesh Manaadiar October 28, 2014 At 10:30 PM
  
  Hello Brenda.. It would depend on you term as customer and at what stage and where the bill of lading is.. If you can elaborate the situation behind this question, I can give you a more elaborate answer as there are several possibilities..
austin December 11, 2013 At 10:14 AM

Hi Harish
Many thanks for spending your time and efforts in writing this blog. Evertime I read your blog, I become little more enlightened. Being a novice, it has helped me understadn lot about shipping. thanks and keep Continuing the goodwork

- Hariesh Manaadiar December 11, 2013 At 10:27 PM
  
  Hi Austin, thanks for your kind words.. It is heartening to receive such appreciation :).. Please spread the word about this blog among your peers as well and encourage them to subscribe for free so that everyone can get regular updates..
Ruslan November 21, 2013 At 11:12 AM

Dear Hariesh,
Please, advise.

Should there be any stamp on the Express Bill of Lading? Or is it normal, that Express BL goes without any stamps, signatures, etc?

Are there any links to the international documents, regarding to the explanation of how Express Bill of Lading should be issued and fulfilled?

- Hariesh Manaadiar November 21, 2013 At 9:43 PM
  
  Hi Ruslan, it depends on the shipping line.. Some lines use stamps, some don’t.. But as far as I have seen, all Express Bills are issued without signatures, although there is space for the signature..
Kumaravelu Kathaiyan October 18, 2013 At 12:49 PM

Hi, Manaadiar, I am working as AGM(Shipping & Transport) in Vizag, India. Nice to see your crisp and clear answers. I am sure many emerging professionals will be benefited by your answers/explanations. Keep up the good job.

- Hariesh Manaadiar October 18, 2013 At 2:08 PM
  
  Mikka Nandri Kumaravelu avargalae.. 🙂
MERIEM MANDRY September 27, 2013 At 5:06 PM

I WORK FOR COMMISSIONER OF TRANSPORTATION AND I MADE A MISTAKE IN THE MASTER BL AND I WAS CONFUSED BECAUSE I WROTE 3 BL ORIGINAL IN MBL AND HE TOLD ME THAT I HAVE TO WRITE EXPRESS BL.

THAT WHY I AM HERE AND ITS NOT MY FIRST TIME 😉

MERIEM MANDRY September 27, 2013 At 4:27 PM

HY IM FROM MOROCCO ( AFRICA)

I REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR BLOG YOU GIVE THE RIGHT ANSWERS.

PLEASE CONTINUE ….

- Hariesh Manaadiar September 27, 2013 At 4:52 PM
  
  Thank you Meriem, I intend to continue with the good support of readers like yourselves..
Vinod Desai March 21, 2013 At 2:29 PM

Excellent source of info on Logistics.A must Read

Munuswamy May 24, 2012 At 10:59 AM

Dear Manaadiar,

Thanks for your reply it will be a very useful message for those who deals with the express Bill of lading. In normal trade practise many of them are not following the same, they just release the cargo to someone who comes with the arrival notice. I belive legally also this point is valid.

thanks for your prompt reply.

Munuswamy May 23, 2012 At 2:16 PM

Can the destination office issue the delivery order without any document for express release, please confirm. Do we need to check the proper identification or company seal while issuing Delivery order. .

- Manaadiar May 24, 2012 At 6:03 AM
  
  Hi Munuswamy, as this is an express release, all that the discharge port needs to ensure is that they are delivering the cargo to the right company.. There is no document required for the release.. But even if it is an express release, the shipping line has the responsibility to deliver the cargo to the named consignee after verifying and ensuring that the consignee is who he says he is..
  
  Proper identification is absolutely necessary..
nikki January 11, 2012 At 6:59 AM

If one has issued express BL instead of original and Bank is involved in clearance of the consignment then kindly reply of a telex issued by the forwarder can be of any help???
your prompt response wiill be very helpful.

- manaadiar January 11, 2012 At 9:11 AM
  
  Hi Nikki, if a bank is involved, an express bill cannot and should not be issued.. Express bills can be issued only when consigned to direct customers.. Clearance of the consignment has nothing to do with the type of bill of lading issued.. Type of bill of lading issued is for the finalisation of trade payments and has no relation to customs in most countries (exceptions like Brazil are still there where only original bills are accepted)..
- nikki January 12, 2012 At 8:14 AM
  
  Thanks Manaadiar….
Sarath September 20, 2011 At 12:11 PM

Hi hareish sir,

It would be very helpful if u could post a sample of the Express bill. Coz i;ve not come across this document.

Thanks in advance
Sarath

Krishan Singh May 8, 2011 At 7:30 AM

Hi Mannadiar !!!!
Can u explain that what is the difference between Express B/L and Surrender B/L because what i have come to know t that :

EXPRESS B/L
It is a document required for the express delivery of the consignment .The original bill of lading is not required in this case which is surrendered at the load port.
SURRENDER B/L
Whereas the surrender bill of lading is to surrender/submitted with the load port liner at the time of clearance of goods.

Which means both terms means the same thing. So wanted to know that if there is any difference b/w the two or both are same?

Alida February 2, 2011 At 3:41 AM

Hmmmm…..seems like a good way to ship arms if you ask me.
What do you think?
I need to find a bill of lading for a boat that sank taking aid to Haiti.
Aren’t all cargo ships supposed to have what they are carrying?
I still want to find out what was on a boat to Haiti when it sand.
How can you find out this stuff?
Thanks.
Regards.
I like your blogs, even if I am landbound.

Alida February 1, 2011 At 5:47 PM

Would this be an easy way for smugglers of illegal goods to operate?

- manaadiar February 1, 2011 At 6:36 PM
  
  Hi Alida, i don’t believe so.. Even though there is no original document, the description and other details of the cargo are recorded in the customs/port systems.. The process of customs/port clearance does not change whether it is an original bill of lading or express..