Ocean Bill of Lading

The ocean bill of lading serves as both a contract for carriage and a document of title for the cargo. The bill of lading identifies the parties on both ends of the shipment, as well as a description of the goods and routing instructions.

An ocean bill of lading should include:

• The name and contact information for the exporter, the ultimate consignee, forwarding agent and the notify parties.
• Vessel, booking and loading instructions for the international carriage of the goods.
• A description of the goods, including their weight and dimensions, the number and kinds of packages, any marks and numbers on those packages, and whether any of the goods are hazardous.
• Freight rates and charges.