Parts of a bill of lading – Part 2
This is Part 2 of a 4 part series about the Parts of a Bill of Lading.. In case you missed it, please read Part 1..
In this article, we will cover the details relating to the voyage..
Pre-Carriage by : Assume that there is an inland point which is connected to the mainland port by means of a feeder (connecting) vessel, the name of that feeder vessel is shown here.. Example – Maputo to Durban by feeder vessel Border..
Place of Receipt : This is the place where the cargo is handed over by the shipper or his agent to the carrier (shipping line) or its agent ..
This is very important in terms of the contract of carriage between the shipper and the shipping line.. If this area is filled, it is assumed that the carrier has done the movement from here to the Port of Loading and if there any incidents, damages etc to the container or cargo between the Place of Receipt and Port of Loading, the liability will be that of the carrier..
So the shipping line must be careful not to show anything in the Place of Receipt if they are not actually doing the movement..
Port of Loading : This is the place from which the container or cargo is loaded by the carrier onto the nominated Ocean Vessel..
Ocean Vessel/Voyage : This is the name of the vessel and the voyage number that carries the container or cargo from the (mainland) Port of Loading (example Durban) to the Port of Discharge (example Mumbai).. Remember that the combination of vessel and voyage will be unique and never repeated (well almost never)..
Port of Discharge : This is the place at which the container or cargo is discharged by the carrier from the nominated Ocean Vessel..
Place of Delivery : This is the final destination of the container or cargo for delivery from the side of the carrier.. If this area is filled (example : ICD Bengaluru), it means that the carrier has undertaken to move the container or cargo from the Port of Discharge to the Place of Delivery..
Again as in the case of Place of Receipt, the shipping line must be careful when showing anything in this field as then, it will be liable to deliver the container or cargo in good order and condition to this place of delivery..
If there is a Place of Delivery shown in the B/L, generally the carrier does not allow the client (merchant) to take delivery of the container or cargo at the Port of Discharge and move it to the Place of Delivery, reason being that if anything happens to the container or cargo enroute to the Place of Delivery, the carrier may still be held liable..
HI HARRIESH
Thank you for this informative article. From my end there is this tendency where carriers intetionally delays cargoes especially those whose place of delivery is beyond the port of discharge e.g ICD and because of the urgency we undertake the extra cost to deliver in time using different mode of transport other than that provided by the carrier
Could you please inform me the purpose of issuing certificate from shipping company confirming the the carrying vessel is eligible to enter in port destination
Hi there. With regards to Place of Delivery (Final Destination), is it a mandatory field? Is the Shipping line responsible for updating this field, or the Container Operator / shipper?
Thanks!
Kim
Hi Kim, it is NOT a mandatory field if the carrier’s responsibility is not further than port of discharge.. Carrier will reflect information in this field only if they are doing carrier haulage from Port of Discharge to the Place of Delivery..
WE ARE TRYING TO ESTABLISH THIS MODE OF DELIVERY FROM THE PORT OF DAR ES SALAAM TO THE CLIENT’S PLACE OF DELIVERY AFTER DISCHARGE FROM THE CARRYING VESSEL. WHAT IS THE INDUSTRY PRACTICE AND EXPERIENCE PARTICULARLY IN DEVELOPING COUNTRIES?
ARE CARRIERS IN FAVOR OF THIS EXTENDED LIABILITY TO THE INTERESTS OF THEIR CLIENTS?
Hi,
Example of SB:
Pre-carriage: Boat; SAMBA.
Port of loading: Reykjavik Iceland.
Vessel: CMA CGM JULES.
Port of transshipment: Rotterdam
In this case the pre-carriage is not inland, but by sea from Iceland to Rotterdam, correct?
And who will be the party setting the demurrage/detention costs and free lay days at port of discharge (in this case Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam) for this container?
The SB is issued by Blue Anchor Line. The vessel is CMA. And our shipping agent has spoken of APL related to this booking.
Is there a easy way for me as a owner (shipper) of the goods to read the BL/SB to understand witch company sets the free laydays, demurrage and detention cost.
You reply will be well noted, thanks in advance.
Hi Lyn, can you clarify what you are referring to as SB..?? IF you are unsure you can also send me a copy of the bill of lading to manaadiar@shippingandfreightresource.com so I can have a look and answer you..
Dear Harish,
Would like to know more about Place of receipt & place of delivery..
Now here in India. Most of the customers are insisting to show PLA & PLD for port to port shipments,
such as, shipment is from NSA to HAM. customers are insisting to show PLA & PLD as NSA / HAM
along with POL & PLD.
Please confirm, will it be okay to issue OBL with PLA/POL as NSA and POD/PLD as DEHAM for port to port shipment ??
if No.. please clarify with reason. Awaiting your prompt reply.
Thanks in advance.
Santosh, if it is port to port shipment why are the customers insisting on PLA & PLD..?? Shipping line needs to make a decision whether they want to show it or not depending on their carriage liability..
Please provide the full form of PLA, PLD, POL, PLD in this context.
Your response will be appreciated. Thanks in advance!
Dear Hariesh,
can the place where the cargo is unloaded from the ship (Port of Discharge) must be where that physically happened or whether it can be another, final destination ?
To clear that up – we have a BL where the Port of Discharge is X and Place of Delivery is Y.
And though the Port of Discharge will still remain X the client wants to call it Y – is that possible or not and under which terms to find the relevant links ?
Many thanks,
Uliana
Hi Uliana, Port of Discharge and Place of Delivery could be two different places.. There is no need to show anything under Place of Delivery if it is the same as Port of Discharge.. Usually if the carrier is performing the movement of cargo upto Port of Discharge (say Durban) only, then they won’t show anything under Place of Delivery unless they are also moving it to the final destination (say Johannesburg).. Client cannot call Place of Delivery as Port of Discharge..