Shipped on Board Date and Bill of Lading date

Shipped on Board Date and Bill of Lading date

If you are involved in global trade, exports, trade financing or in the banking sector, especially where documentary credits like a Letter of Credit is involved, you might have noticed the term SHIPPED ON BOARD mentioned..

This is an important notation on the Bill of Lading..

Just to refresh your memory,

A Bill of Lading is a transport document issued by the carrier of the goods to the client (usually a shipper or exporter)..

Shipped on board is a notation displayed on the bill of lading by the issuer of the bill of lading (usually the carrier) to confirm that the cargo has been loaded on board the ship..

There seems to be some confusion between the terms Shipped on Board date and Bill of Lading date prompting questions like

Should the Shipped on Board Date and Bill of Lading Date be the same..??
Can a bill of lading be issued without a Shipped on Board Date..??
Can a bill of lading be issued without a Bill of Lading Date..??

Let us look at the answers..

A lot of letters of credit comes with a requirement as highlighted below :

This means that in order for the terms of the letter of credit to be satisfied,

the bill of lading must be issued in ORIGINAL, which means a “Negotiable Bill of Lading” and
the bill of lading must have 3 of those Originals and
the bill of lading should have the notation SHIPPED ON BOARD displayed on the bill of lading

This notation may be in the form of a stamp or typed in the body of the bill of lading and is shown along with a date.. This is the Shipped on Board Date which denotes the date on which the container was loaded on board the ship..

Bill of Lading Date = the date on which the bill of lading is issued..

You can see this date (either as Date of Issue or Place and Date of Issue) usually near the signature area on the bill of lading..

This date is DIFFERENT from the Shipped on Board Date as the container could have been loaded on board the ship at a different date and Bill of Lading was issued to the customer at a different (later) date..

So to answer question 1 “Should the Shipped on Board Date and Bill of Lading Date be the same“, the answer is NO, not necessarily..

These two dates can be same or different.. But the important point to note is that the Bill of Lading date can only be after the Shipped on Board date..

For example, if the container has been Shipped on Board on 11.03.2012, the bill of lading date cannot be 10.03.2012 as the carrier is supposed to issue a bill of lading showing Shipped on Board only after the container has been physically Shipped on Board..

The bill of lading date has to be on or after the shipped on board date..

In response to Question 2 “Can a bill of lading be issued without a Shipped on Board Date..??” UCP600 Article 20 – Section A – sub-section ii clarifies this point quite clearly..

So if a bill of lading is issued without a Shipped on Board date, the date of issuance of the bill of lading will be considered as the Shipped on Board date..

If a date is shown along with the Shipped on Board notation in the body of the bill of lading, then that date becomes the Shipped on Board Date

In terms of Question 3 “Can a bill of lading be issued without a Bill of Lading Date..??“, technically and legally speaking, a bill of lading shouldn’t be issued and is normally never issued without a date on it..

Releasing a bill of lading without a date will put the carrier at risk as the client can put any date they want and the carrier may be exposed to all sorts of claims and other issues including shipping and freight fraud etc.. You can also read why a shipping line won’t back date a bill of lading..

Have any of you had experiences with banks or other authorities rejecting your documentation due to issues with either of these dates..??

(Post republished after some updates)

52 COMMENTS

Howard Blank October 31, 2022 At 4:10 PM

I have a question about the B/L date of liquid (petroleum) products. A cargo finished loading at 22:30 and hoses were disconnected at that time. The surveyor only finished his calculations of quantity on board at 02:00 the next day. In you opinion, what is the correct BOL date, hoses disconnected or the next day when the actual final quantity was known? And, is there any English law jurisprudence on this subject?

- stasky15 February 6, 2023 At 3:23 PM
  
  I had this question many times with Owners loading mostly in ARA region. The vast majority tend to agreed to “Complete loading” time instead of “Hose disconnected”. Does not matther when the docs are on board or how long SOB takes to be on board.
K Jordan June 28, 2021 At 8:37 PM

Hi,
If after a shipment has been closed off, and I have only now realized that the freight charges on the BL was incorrect, can I do another BL to account for the difference? What is the best way to go about this?

Diyala January 31, 2021 At 6:55 PM

The presented bills of lading show “shipped on board Date 7 March 2019” .
The presented packing list shows “shipping date 6 March 2019”
Problem: the issuing bank raised the discrepancy that packing list shows inconsistent shipping date with the bill of lading.The beneficiary disagreed claiming that the shipped on board date and the shipping date may refer to 2 different things. Do you agree with the issuing bank or beneficiary?
please explain

Md. Waheduz Zaman January 5, 2021 At 11:24 AM

I NEED TO KNOW WHAT IS THE EXACT MEANING OF SHIPPED ON BOARD WITH NOTATION DATE ON BL IS REQUIRED DULY VALIDATED .

Mudassir December 16, 2020 At 10:34 AM

Hi Harish,

Thank you for this article with Letter of credit information and benefits and cons for the seller and buyer . Would you be able to provide the benefits of new incoterms 2020 FCA with on board notation and how it can be used for letter of credit shipments and how will on board notation help in buyer bank releasing the payment ti seller so that it avoids banking delays in LC shipment.

Anna December 10, 2020 At 8:28 PM

Hallo
Our customer who has L/C does not want to accept B/L were in the body of B/L we mentioned Shipped on Board: Vessel name + Date. They want to have it mentioned or in the box: Pre-carriage or Port of Loading or in the bottom, next to stamp and Issue date. Both options we rejected to apply but they insist as their bank would not accept if “shipped on board” is mentioned in Body of B/L. Does it matter for L/C (bank) where shipped on Board is mentioned?
Thanks

- Hariesh Manaadiar December 10, 2020 At 8:41 PM
  
  Hi Anna, in my opinion NO, it should not matter where the SOB clause or date is mentioned.. It is usually in the body of the bill below all the descriptions, but each line has its own format.. “Pre-carriage or Port of Loading….” is absolutely the wrong place to show SOB information though..
  
  I would LOVE to understand/hear from any trade finance bankers as to why they insist on such archaic practices..
Ranjit August 4, 2020 At 3:08 PM

If bank has below question & HBL SOB date was managed by the Forwarder, what should be a shipper answer?

Kindly advise on the reason that the B/L onboard date differs from the vessel arrival date.

MOhammed November 22, 2019 At 8:20 AM

can bank accept future dated bill of lading ( Letter of credit is not involved ).

Jayakumar November 18, 2019 At 9:34 AM

can issue BL date on Sunday date ?

- Padmanabha Menon K C May 18, 2020 At 7:48 AM
  
  Not an issue, it seems, a Sunday Date ? If the Office is working on a Sunday, then ?
  Normally, if the office is NOT working on a Sunday, the date will be different and also as per the instructions of the Shipping Line.
ganesh pai November 17, 2019 At 10:45 AM

In LC CFR basis, Invoice date is later than sailing date is acceptance or not

Robert August 3, 2018 At 5:23 AM

Hi Hariesh

I have below few questions.
1. Our exporter has informed us that the latest vessel loading date is 12/09/2018 and ETD on 15/09/18. Does this mean BL date will be 12/09/18 or earlier.
2. If the BL date is later than LC last date of shipment
Can a bank consider it as a discrepancy for making a LC null and void and not honoring a irrecoverable LC.

samilla July 23, 2018 At 10:45 AM

Hi ,
Is it a discrepancy not to mention the on board date right next to the wording ” ON BOARD ” but with only the BL date at the bottom ?

Dhiraj D July 9, 2018 At 8:32 AM

Hi, We have shipped one consignment from India to Singapore customer through our Dubai office. Our India office (Exporter) Export the goods to our Dubai office as per the Invoice received from Dubai office & in turn Dubai office export the same goods to Singapore customer as per their Invoice to Dubai office.
Now, as per India Invoice Marine Insurance policy generated & value covered is also as per India Invoice.
My question is can we amend the Insurance no. & value as per our Dubai office Invoice for higher value.
please advise

Santy June 6, 2018 At 7:14 AM

Hi,

I have one quick question, one of our customer is insisting vessel birthing date as SOB date,
whereas container loaded on next day,
in brief – vessel arrived on dated 30th May, whereas container loaded on 31st may at 0410hrs and sailed in noon hours, customer is requesting SOB date should be 30th May. Can we issue SOB date as 30th May. if not… please share the reason, in order to explain the same to our dear customer.

Thanks & BRgds/Santosh Pandit

soh seok wah March 7, 2018 At 6:05 AM

For DES, the shipment date on the LC referring to BL date or arrival date at discharge port? Please advise.

Sumon ganguly February 10, 2018 At 11:07 AM

Sometimes bill of lading is issued after draught survey for bulk cargo showing the quantity loaded.
If the vessel sinks before issue of Bill of lading
Can the shipping co avoid their liability if loading is complete?

Eve February 4, 2018 At 4:16 PM

same bill of lading format only have “laden on board”
Shipper request manual insert wording “shipped on board” in BL description said to comply LC “Shipped on board” requirements.
both is the same?
Could explain more?

- Hariesh Manaadiar February 4, 2018 At 8:57 PM
  
  Hi Eve, you can read https://www.shippingandfreightresource.com/difference-laden-board-shipped-board/..
Dhany Ratana February 1, 2018 At 7:09 AM

there some mistakes in the article, when the L/C mention 3/3 original B/L that means ALL of the originals issued, if it was 1 issued then you have to give the 1. and, it have to show onboard date, in which case the first picture is discrepant while the second one is conform. it printed on UCP 600 you depicted: pre-printed wording or on-board notation INDICATING the date. it obvious there are no pre-printed onboard word (the B/L pre-printed RECEIVED by the carrier NOT SHIPPED onboard) so it have to have on-board notation with the date.

- Hariesh Manaadiar February 1, 2018 At 3:16 PM
  
  Dhany, when the L/C mentions 3/3 it means 3 of 3 should be Originals and the bank requires all 3 originals to satisfy the L/C conditions.. And by pre-printed, UCP600 means “typed” on the bill of lading..
- Dhany Ratana February 5, 2018 At 4:29 AM
  
  Not entirely correct. when the L/C mentions 3/3 it means all of the originals, so if the carrier release 2 original the bank requires all 2. if the carrier release 1 original the bank requires the original. while the pre-printed, UCP600 means “typed” on the “BLANK” bill of lading. on your first picture with red markings there are no PRE-PRINTED On board, therefore you need “on board notation indicating the date” which means the first one do not have an onboard date! ask anyone with a CDCS title.
- Hariesh Manaadiar February 5, 2018 At 7:12 AM
  
  Your Question : “Not entirely correct. when the L/C mentions 3/3 it means all of the originals, so if the carrier release 2 original the bank requires all 2. if the carrier release 1 original the bank requires the original.”
  
  My Answer : Yes agreed and this is what i have also mentioned in my previous comment that the bank requires ALL originals issued by the line for that shipment..
  
  Your Question : “while the pre-printed, UCP600 means “typed” on the “BLANK” bill of lading. on your first picture with red markings there are no PRE-PRINTED On board, therefore you need “on board notation indicating the date” which means the first one do not have an onboard date!” –
  
  My Answer : Yes exactly.. First picture (below)
  
  does not have the On-Board date as some lines may issue a Bill of Lading without an SOB date in which case the Date of Issuance of the bill of lading becomes the SOB Date as also mentioned by UCP600..
  
  I am not sure what you are finding incorrect..
Adina January 31, 2018 At 1:45 PM

Thank you very much! Very clear and well structured!

Basheer January 31, 2018 At 8:04 AM

The shipper requires OBL to be released without the wordings either “Shipped on Board” or “Received for Shipment”. Can the BL be issued without these words. Please advise

- Hariesh Manaadiar January 31, 2018 At 8:19 AM
  
  Basheer, it has been known to happen, but this would depend totally on the carrier releasing the bill of lading..
pooja November 15, 2017 At 7:33 AM

shipped on board date 19/10/17 and bill of exchange date is 20/10/17 is there any problem ?

- b sreenivasan January 31, 2018 At 8:08 AM
  
  Bill of Exchange date can be 20/10/2017 or even later than that. you can not have Bill of Exchange date prior to Shipped on Board date.
RKB November 4, 2017 At 4:56 PM

Can a “Shipped on board” Bill of lading be issued before the actual On-boarding of the container on the vessel?

- Hariesh Manaadiar November 4, 2017 At 7:26 PM
  
  Not at all..
Beh Cheong Seng June 22, 2017 At 2:42 PM

what if an bill of lading only contain shipped on board date and the column of issue date left blank..would that consider as an draft or unconfirmed copy of BL

Htet Ko Zin January 11, 2017 At 7:25 AM

Thanks a lot, sir

Palani April 5, 2016 At 2:00 PM

What in the case the applicant initially got “received for shipment” bill of lading and later on requested for “stamped on board notation” on it??..Obviously the date of issue in received fro shipment BL would prior to on board date. Is it acceptable bey bank. Correct me if I am wrong.

- Hariesh Manaadiar April 5, 2016 At 9:57 PM
  
  In such cases and to avoid confusion the shipper returns the full set of Received For Shipment bill issue new sets of bill of lading with Shipped on Board..
- Palani April 6, 2016 At 10:46 AM
  
  Thank you Hariesh Manaadiar♥♥
Raj February 10, 2016 At 8:05 AM

Should the Shipped on Board Date 30/04/2015 and Bill of Lading Date 29/04/2015, possible

- Hariesh Manaadiar February 10, 2016 At 8:47 PM
  
  Hello Raj no it is not possible.. If BL requires SOB notation then BL date can only be AFTER SOB date..
Raj February 9, 2016 At 11:56 AM

Should the Shipped on Board Date 25/01/2016 and Bill of Lading Date 30/01/2016

- Hariesh Manaadiar February 9, 2016 At 10:09 PM
  
  No problem..
Winda Chai October 16, 2015 At 4:59 AM

Hi, Hariesh. How about Clean on Board? Would you mind to explain this? Thanks 🙂

- Hariesh Manaadiar October 16, 2015 At 5:43 PM
  
  Hello Winda, if you search on this blog for Clean on Board, there are several articles that explains it..
Laura August 26, 2015 At 1:38 PM

Hi, we are facing issues where all documents have been dated with the SOB date and bank rejecting them view the date of issue is different. It is a shipment under LC. In this case what to do? can somebody please help 🙁

- Hariesh Manaadiar August 26, 2015 At 10:34 PM
  
  Hello Laura, if the date of issue is BEFORE date of Shipped on Board then bank will have a problem.. If Date of Issue is AFTER the Shipped on Board date, then they shouldn’t have the problem because both these dates are different.. However, if the body of the bill doesn’t show the notation Shipped on Board and only shows a date, then there might be issues because in the absence of SOB notation, the date of shipment and date of issue will be same..
kunal Gupta July 10, 2012 At 10:16 AM

It will be considered 16th May. Though many bank’s or buyer’s , may use this to their favor if they intend to dishonor a Letter of Credit.

Sriram May 16, 2012 At 8:27 AM

Hi,
If the SOB date is 16th May and if the bill is released after 10 days, what would be the B/L date, what is acceptable variance in the dates between SOB date and B/L date ?

- Manaadiar May 16, 2012 At 11:20 AM
  
  There is no time frame between these two dates.. It is in the shipper’s interest to get the bill of lading released asap (if it is a negotiable bill, they will usually take release pretty quickly) and its also in the lines interest to push the shipper to take release of the bill (if it is an original bill).. Each line has their own mechanism to deal with bills that have not yet been released..
  
  If it is a Waybill, the bill can be considered to be automatically released (issued) once the client confirms the final draft.. A copy of the Waybill is usually sent to the client which indicates that the Waybill has been issued..
- gowri shankar July 8, 2016 At 9:52 AM
  
  Hi Hariesh, what is my understanding is SOB date will be the vessel sailing date and BL issue date will be the date when BL is issued to customer. Is that right ?
- Hariesh Manaadiar July 8, 2016 At 11:38 AM
  
  Hi Gowri, that is correct yes..
- Sean February 1, 2018 At 5:51 PM
  
  Hariesh, I’m still confused. The Shipped on Board date is the date that the goods are loaded on the vessel as stated in your post. Is the shipped on board date also the day the vessel actual sets sail, or can this be later than the shipped on board date?
  
  Thanks
- Hariesh Manaadiar February 2, 2018 At 7:25 AM
  
  Hi Sean, the actual date of sailing of the vessel can be different from that of SOB because not in all cases the ship will load and sail on the same day although this is the majority case..
  
  Therefore there are different terminology like ETD (Estimated Time of Departure) when the ship departed from the berth, and ETS (Estimated Time of Sailing) when the ship actually sailed from the port..
  
  Example : ship can load at container terminal and depart from the terminal, but had some engine trouble or crew sickness etc which it had to sort out before it finally sailed from the port.. From the time the ship departed from the terminal and finally sailed, it could have been staying at outer anchorage (still within the port limits)..
  
  Trust this helps..