Cargo & Operations

Bill of LadingB/L

The document that acts as receipt for cargo, evidence of the contract of carriage, and (when negotiable) document of title.

A bill of lading (B/L) serves three roles: it is the carrier’s receipt for the goods loaded, evidence of the contract of carriage, and — in negotiable form — a document of title that can transfer ownership of the cargo while it is in transit.

Whoever holds an original negotiable bill is entitled to take delivery of the cargo, which is why B/Ls are central to trade finance and to disputes over delivery without production of the original.

Also known as: B/L, bill of lading, BOL.

Related terms

Charter PartyC/P

The contract between shipowner and charterer setting out the terms of hiring a vessel or carrying a cargo.

Ship-to-Ship TransferSTS

Transferring cargo directly between two vessels moored alongside, often at anchor or offshore rather than at a terminal.

Plain-English reference definition — our own explanation of a standard shipping concept, not a licensed source or legal advice. See the full glossary or the broader maritime dictionary.

Last reviewed: June 2026.