Manifest

The Manifest is a core document in international trade and ocean shipping, referring to a detailed list of cargo, passengers, and their luggage carried by means of transport such as ships and aircraft, prepared by the carrier or its agent based on bills of lading, booking notes, and other documents. It sets out information for each shipment, including the bill of lading number, description of goods, number of packages, weight, volume, consignor and consignee, and serves as an important basis for customs supervision, port operations, carrier handover, and insurance claims. Use scenarios include: declaration to customs after cargo is loaded on board, advance declaration before discharge at the destination port, and connection for transshipment and multimodal transport. Points to note: Manifest data must be consistent with the bill of lading and customs declaration form; otherwise, it may lead to customs inspection, fines, or delays; different countries have advance declaration time limits (such as the U.S. 24-hour rule). Difference from the bill of lading: The bill of lading is a document of title and evidence of the contract of carriage, while the manifest is a summary list of cargo and does not have the effect of title; difference from the packing list: The packing list focuses on the details of each package, while the manifest focuses on the summary of cargo for the entire vessel or aircraft.