【正文】 Chapter 9 Shipment Documents Learning target: ? 1. What are B/L and its function? ? 2. Key classification of B/L. ? 3. What are AWB and its function? ? 4. What is the difference between B/L and AWB? ? 5. What is multimodal transport and the main document involved? ? Transport documents can be described as the receipt evidence issued by carriers to the exporters and acts as the documents of necessity for cargo delivery, plaints as well as settlement or negotiation to banks. According to different modes of transportation, shipping documents mainly refer to marine bill of lading, seaway bills, airway bills, railway bills, multimodal transport documents, etc. This chapter will mainly illustrate marine bill of lading, airway bill, airway bill and multimodal transport documents. marine bill of lading ? Definition and functions of marine bill of lading ? Marine bill of lading or ocean bill of lading, abbreviated as bill of lading (B/L), in accordance with the regulations in Maritime Law of People’s Republic of China, means a document which evidences a contract of carriage by sea and the taking over or loading on board of the goods by the carrier, and by which the carrier undertakes to release the goods against surrendering of the document. In accordance with the definition of marine B/L, its functions are mentioned below: ? B/L is evidence of the contract of carriage between the consignor and the shipping pany. The rights and obligations of the two parties are listed on the B/L. ? B/L is a receipt for the goods issued by the ship owner or his agent evidencing the receipt of the goods mentioned in B/L. ? B/L is a document of title to the goods. Any lawful holder of B/L may take the delivery of the goods from the shipping pany against the B/L, or transfer the title to the goods by transferring the B/L or secure loans against the B/L from the bank before the arrival of the shipment. Parties in marine bill of lading Parties in marine bill of lading include carrier, shipper, consignee, notify party, transferee and the bearer. ? Carrier. Carrier refers to such persons who sign the shipment contract with shipper as shipping pany or charterer without shipping vessel. ? Shipper. Shipper is the party who reach the shipment contract with carrier. Shipper could be the consignor or the consignee in accordance with the trade terms. ? Consignee. Consignee may be the payee, bearer or the specified person written in named B/L. Importer is often the consignee. ? Notify party. Notify party is the target one who is informed by the shipping pany the arrival of shipment. Notify party could be importer or its agent. ? Transferee. Transferee is the receiver of B/L after the endorsement or transfer and could claim the shipment to the carrier. ? Bearer. Bearer is defined as the legal holder of B/L. The holder could be the consignee or the assignee. Contents of bill of lading The contents of a B/L consists of every liner pany in the world has its own B/L form and clauses, but the basic contents are stipulated according to the International Convention for the Unification of Certain Rules of Law Relating to Bill of Lading. See B/L sample (91) for reference. ? On the face of the B/L, the following particulars are to be noted: ? Consignor /Consignee/Party to be notified/Name of the vessel/Ship’s nationality/Voyage/Port of shipment and port of destination/Freight ? Number of the copies of the B/L, date, signature of the shipowner or his agent or capital of the steamer. ? Main particulars regarding the goods loaded on the steamer: description, marks, number of package, weight or measurement. ? Declaration shall be made that the goods have been loaded on board in apparent good order and should be discharged at the port of destination or the port as near as the vessel may safely get and be always afloat. Clauses on the back of B/L ? Clauses on the