Bill of lading
Receipt, evidence of the carriage contract, and document of title.
Definition
The document issued by a sea carrier that receipts the goods, evidences the terms of carriage and, when negotiable, transfers the right to take delivery. Its reverse names the liability regime that applies — a clause paramount incorporating the Hague, Hague-Visby or Hamburg Rules — and the general average rules that govern an adjustment. The air and road equivalents are the air waybill and the CMR consignment note, neither of which is a document of title.
Why it decides money
Everything about your recovery against the carrier is decided on the back of this document, including which convention applies and which York-Antwerp edition governs general average.
Related terms
- Carrier liability
- What the carrier owes by treaty — capped, usually by weight, never by value.
- York-Antwerp Rules
- The private code that decides how general average is adjusted.
- Clean receipt
- Signing for goods without noting damage weakens the claim against the carrier.
More in carriage and documents
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