Split B/L

Split B/L (Split Bill of Lading) refers to the practice where, during the transportation of a single shipment, at the request of the shipper or consignee, the original set of original bills of lading is divided into two or more sets of bills of lading. This is commonly seen in intermediary trade, letter of credit settlement, or cargo rights splitting scenarios, for example, when the buyer needs to resell the goods to different final customers, or when the bank requires payment against documents in installments. When using a split B/L, the carrier must collect the original bills of lading and reissue new ones. The new bills of lading have the same basic information such as vessel name, voyage number, and port of loading, but the consignee, notify party, or quantity of goods may differ. Precautions: Split B/L incurs additional fees and requires the carrier's consent; after splitting, the original bills of lading become invalid, so it is essential to ensure all copies are recovered; under a letter of credit, a split B/L may constitute a discrepancy and requires prior communication with the bank. In contrast to a 'Combined B/L', a split B/L divides one into many, while a combined B/L merges many into one; unlike a 'Switch B/L', a split B/L does not change the subject of the transport contract, but only splits the document of title. Foreign trade practitioners should use it with caution to avoid cargo rights disputes or settlement risks caused by splitting.