How Much Do You Know about the Marine Bill of Lading (MBL) in Sea Freight Trade?

Maritime TransportationThe Master Bill of Lading (MBL) is a cargo transportation document issued by the shipping company, used to prove the ownership of the goods and the transfer of ownership during the shipping process. This type of bill of lading is usually issued directly by the shipping company to the consignor or its agent, including information such as the name of the goods, quantity, loading port, destination port, and shipping method. Due to its high security, it has been widely used in maritime trade.

Unlike ocean bills of lading, a House Bill of Lading (HBL) is issued by freight forwarders who purchase bills from shipping lines and allocate them to clients. HBLs are more profitable for forwarders but less secure, as they can manipulate them. Some countries may question their legality during customs inspections.

Although the HBL and MBL have their respective advantages and disadvantages, in maritime trade, the MBL is still widely recognized. Because it is issued directly by the shipping company, it can effectively guarantee the safety of the goods and ensure the effective protection of the ownership of the goods. In addition, the MBL is usually widely used in international trade and can be used for importExport Clearance, trade financing, etc. Therefore, it is very necessary to understand and master the knowledge of the ocean bill of lading (MBL).