Carrier B/L

Carrier B/L (Master Bill of Lading) refers to a bill of lading issued by the actual carrier (shipping company) or its authorized agent, representing that the goods have been received and loaded on board by the shipowner. It serves as a document of title and evidence of the contract of carriage. Usage scenarios: In letter of credit (L/C) settlements, banks typically require the submission of a Carrier B/L because its credit standing is higher than that of a House B/L; under trade terms such as FOB and CIF, the buyer or seller needs to confirm according to the contract whether a House B/L is acceptable. Precautions: The consignee and notify party on the Carrier B/L must strictly match the L/C, otherwise payment may be refused; the B/L must bear an 'on board' notation and the shipment date; if it is a straight B/L, attention must be paid to the risk of cargo release. Differences from a House B/L: A House B/L is issued by a freight forwarder, while a Carrier B/L is issued by the shipping company. The former only represents the contract of carriage between the forwarder and the shipper, while the latter represents the liability of the actual carrier. Moreover, a Carrier B/L usually does not require a switch B/L when taking delivery at the destination port, whereas a House B/L does. In addition, the issuance time of a Carrier B/L is stricter, usually after loading on board.