Transport Documents

The main transport documents are: the Railway Bill1 (for the transportation by the railroad), the Airfreight Bill (for air transportation), the Autoway Bill (for auto transport) and the Bill of Lading (B/L) (for sea transportation).

All these documents have much in common so there is no point in discussing all of them. It would be more useful to discuss in detail the main sea

transportation document, i.e. the Bill of Lading, since the most voluminous

international trade is still carried out by sea — be it in terms of the sheer bulk of

the goods, or their cost.

The transport of goods between two countries is organized by forwarding

agents (shipping agents) who send the goods to destination either after warehousing9 or directly.

The forwarding agent undertakes the collection of smaller consignment into collective consignment (consolidated cargo), he sees to reforwarding or redirection of goods, their transshipment, insurance and customs-clearance. He gives on request information as to the freight rates, port dues (dock dues), insurance rates, etc.

For the announcement of goods to be shipped a shipping note must be sent

by the forwarder (on behalf of the shipper) to a dock company or to the captain

of the ship. The shipping note contains the request to transport the goods to a

certain port of destination. Then, the goods are loaded on board the vessel, after

which the forwarder is given the mate's receipt certifying that the goods have

been taken on board the ship. It may be a "clean receipt'' if the packing is in

good order or a "foul receipt" if the packing of the goods leaves anything to be

desired.

Then the Bill of Lading is made out. It is the contract by which the ship-owner agrees to convey the shipper's cargo to the place of destination and to

hand it over to the addressee in the port of discharge.

The Bill of Lading is made out in several stamped originals (usually three) and a number of unstamped copies (up to twenty five). In the port of destination only the holder of the Bill of Lading (which is sent either by air-mail or by ship's mail) is entitled to receive the goods.

In any Bill of Lading the following details should be stated: B/L Number, Reference Number (Shippers' Reference), the names of the shipper and the consignee, the name, flag and ship-owners of the vessel, the port of loading and discharge, the description of goods, the marks and numbers, the place and date of issue, freight particulars and he terms, of delivery.