B/L General Information

Item	Field	Current definition of field	Data input format	1.3 Prepare B/L	Conditions (if applicable)	1.4 Issue B/L mandatory/conditional
1	Transport document Issuer	shipping line - carrier	Entity Name, Address, Phone, Fax, Website, Issuer ID (e.g., SCAC Code).	Mandatory		Mandatory
2	Shipper	a person or a company responsible for organizing and transporting the goods from one point to another	Company name, physical address (should be provided in structured format, but can be printed as unstructured to match L/C requirement), person contact name, email or fax, phone and LEI or Tax ID.	Mandatory	Can be left blank until submission of SI if booking party (Shipper forwarding agent) is provided at time of booking request.	Mandatory
3	Consignee	A person or a company to whom commodities/goods are delivered to	Company name, physical address (should be provided in structured format, but can be printed as unstructured to match L/C requirement), person contact name, email or fax, phone and LEI or Tax ID, to order identifier.	Conditional	For ‘to order’ B/L, the consignee is blank	Conditional
4	Invoice Payer	The party responsible for settling payment of freight to the carrier.	Company name, physical address (should be provided in structured format, but can be printed as unstructured to match L/C requirement), person contact name, email or fax, phone and LEI or Tax ID, to order identifier.	Mandatory		Mandatory
5	Notify party	The party/company to be notified of arrival of goods	Company name, physical address (should be provided in structured format, but can be printed as unstructured to match L/C requirement), person contact name, email or fax, phone and LEI or Tax ID.	Optional	Only when a notify party is provided and in case of a ‘to order’ B/L	Conditional
6	Also notify	A party (person or company) who should also be notified of the arrival of the cargo along with Notify party.	Company name, physical address (should be provided in structured format, but can be printed as unstructured to match L/C requirement), person contact name, email or fax, phone and LEI or Tax ID.	Optional		Optional
7	Shipper Forwarding Agent	the party arranging the carriage of goods on behalf of a shipper	Company name, physical address (should be provided in structured format, but can be printed as unstructured to match L/C requirement), person contact name, email or fax, phone and LEI or Tax ID.	Optional		Optional
8	Consignee Forwarding Agent	The party arranging the carriage of goods on behalf of a consignee	Company name, physical address (should be provided in structured format, but can be printed as unstructured to match L/C requirement), person contact name, email or fax, phone and LEI or Tax ID.	Optional		Optional
9	Place of Receipt	The location where the cargo is handed over by the shipper, or his agent, to the shipping line. This indicates the point at which the shipping line takes on responsibility for carriage of the container.	Physical location dependent on mode of transport and/or UN LOCODE.	Conditional	Only when pre-carriage is done by the carrier.	Conditional (see column I)
10	Port of Loading	Port where the cargo is loaded on board the vessel.	Port location international name.	Mandatory		Mandatory
11	Port of Discharge	Port where the cargo is actually unloaded from the vessel	Port location international name.	Mandatory		Mandatory
12	Place of Delivery	The location where the cargo is handed over to the consignee, or his agent, by the shipping line and where responsibility of the shipping line ceases.	Physical location, name.	Conditional	Only when onward transport is done by the carrier.	Conditional (see column I)
13	Onward inland routing	The location where the cargo is transported from port of discharge to consignee location on consignee's responsibility (merchant haulage).	Physical location, name.	Conditional	When onward transport is done by customer	Conditional (if requested by shipper)
14	Receipt/Delivery Type	Indicates the type of service offered at the place of receipt and place of delivery. The options are - CY or container yard (incl. rail ramp) where the carrier takes ownership of a fully stuffed container provided by the customer at the carrier/carrier's appointed supplier's facility (usually called terminal or depots) - SD or store door, indicating that the carrier is taking ownership of a fully stuffed container at the customer's appointed premises. - CFS or container freight station, indicating that the carrier has received the cargo and is responsible for stuffing of the cargo within the container.	CY/CFS/SD code Specify export and import (origin-destination), e.g., CY / CY, CY / SD.	Mandatory		Mandatory
15	Cargo Movement Type (FCL, LCL and BB)	- FCL stands for "Full Container Load" and means that the Shipper /Consignee or its agent or subcontractor is responsible for stuffing/stripping the cargo into/out of the container and who bears every responsibility /liability in such respect. - LCL stands for "Less than Container Load" and means that it is Carrier or its Agent or subcontractor who is responsible for stuffing/stripping the cargo into/out of the container and who bears every responsibility /liability in such respect. - BB stands for “Break Bulk” - indicating that the carrier has received the cargo which is not containerized.	Shipment terms always have two components:"(I)/(II)" where (I) refers to the loading of the cargo into the Container and (II) to the unloading of the cargo out of the Container. LCL/FCL for example means that the cargo was stuffed into the Container by the Carrier but unloaded by the Consignee.	Mandatory		Mandatory
16	Vessel	Name of the vessel transporting the cargo from one place to another.	The name of the first sea going vessel on board which the cargo is loaded or intended to be loaded.	Mandatory		Mandatory
17	Voyage Number	Numeric identification of the vessel.	Alphanumeric identifier.	Mandatory		Mandatory
18	Marks and Numbers	The identifying details on a package or the actual markings that appear on the package(s). This information is provided by the customer.	Any text the shipper wishes to add.	Mandatory		Mandatory
19	Description of goods	The accurate details that describe the cargo being shipped in the container(s) which is to be provided by the shipper.	Text describing the goods which may contain the number of cartons, bags, pallets, or other units packed in the Container(s).	Mandatory		Mandatory
20	Commodity	an accurate description of the goods inside the container that are being transported.	Text describing the goods being booked for transportation	N/A		N/A
21	HS code	Classification of the product that is being transported in the container. This classification is a 6-digit code which is defined in the WCO (world customs organization).	4/6/8/10 numeric characters.	Mandatory	Depends on customs/country requirements	Conditional
22	Cargo gross weight (per container)	The grand total weight of the cargo and weight per container(s) including packaging items being carried, which can be expressed in imperial or metric terms, as provided by the shipper. Excludes the tare weight of the container(s).	Gross cargo weight described as a numeric string where the unit of measure must be specified (imperial or metric).	Mandatory		Mandatory
23	Verified Gross Mass (VGM)	A declaration made by the shipper, or a person authorized by the shipper, informing the carrier or its agent of the gross weight of the container including cargo weight, bracing, dunnage, and container tare weight.	Gross cargo weight described as a numeric string where the unit of measure must be specified (imperial or metric).	Optional		N/A
24	Total Container Weight	Includes Cargo Gross Weight plus Container Tare Weight. It is populated based on data in the cargo gross weight and container tare weight fields.	Prepopulated field by the carrier based on weight and container tare weight.	N/A		Optional
25	Measurement	Volume, which is calculated by multiplying the width, height, and length of the packed cargo, can be expressed in cubic meter or cubic feet, as provided by the shipper.	Measurement of cargo described as a numeric string in imperial or metric units.	Mandatory		Mandatory
26	Invoice payable at	Location where payment will be rendered by the customer. Usually refers to Basic Ocean Freight alone.	Physical location, naming according to local standards.	Mandatory		Mandatory
27	Place of issue	Location where the original bill of lading was issued.	Physical location, naming according to local standards.	Conditional	Not applicable for EB/L	Mandatory
28	Issue Date	Date when the original bill of lading was issued.	Local date at place of issue, ISO-8601 format.	Optional		Mandatory
29	Number of original B/Ls	Number of original B/L copies that have been issued to the customer.	A number	Conditional	Not applicable for EB/L	Mandatory
30	Number of B/L copies	Number of B/L copies which have been issued to the customer.	A number	Optional		N/A
31	Carrier booking number	The reservation number, which is provided to the customer by the carrier, to secure the cargo /equipment and is used also as the final B/L number.	Unique set of alphanumeric characters provided by carrier.	Mandatory		Mandatory
32	Container number	A unique identifier of the container used to carry the cargo. The length/type of the sequence can be different for shipper-owned containers. Container number includes a unique serial number (with check digit), the owner and a country code.	Alphanumeric sequence, usually composed of 4 letters and 7 numbers.	Mandatory		Mandatory
33	Container size/type	A specification of the type and size of container, e.g., dry, reefer, open-top etc.	4-character alphanumeric code.	Mandatory		Mandatory
34	Shipper LEI or TAX ID	An identifying number of the shipper (Individual or entity) used for tax purposes.	Alphanumeric string provided by the shipper.	Conditional	Conditional based on customs requirements	Conditional
35	Consignee LEI or TAX ID	An identifying number of the consignee (Individual or entity) used for tax purposes.	Alphanumeric string provided by the consignee.	Conditional	Conditional based on customs requirements	Conditional
36	Notify party LEI or TAX ID	An identifying number of the notify party (Individual or entity) used for tax purposes.	Alphanumeric string provided by the consignee.	Conditional	Conditional based on customs requirements	N/A
37	Seal Number	An identification number of a seal affixed to the container.	Set of alphanumeric characters provided by the carrier.	Conditional	Not applicable for flat rack containers	Mandatory
38	Seal source	The seal provider.	Carrier, shipper, customs, or veterinary seals.	Conditional	Conditional on type of commodity	Conditional
39	Address	A physical address including postal code and country code in a structured format. If an unstructured format is required for L/C or other purposes this must be provided separately.	Address should be provided in structured format but can be printed as unstructured to match L/C requirement.	Mandatory		Mandatory
40	Phone	Contact number of the individual or customer.	Numeric string including country-specific dialing codes.	Mandatory		N/A
41	Email	Unique identifier for an email account of the customer that is used to both send and receive email messages over the Internet.	String including an account name (varchar) followed by a @ and completed with a domain name.	Mandatory		N/A
42	Fax	Phone number connected to a customer’s printer.	Numeric string including country-specific dialing codes.	Optional		N/A
43	Container tare weight	The weight of an empty container.	Gross container weight described as a numeric string where the unit of measure must be specified (imperial or metric).	Conditional	Only with shipper-owned containers	Conditional (see column I)
44	Transport document number	Unique identifier of the transport document allocated by the shipping line. Under certain conditions provided by the customer in the SI. It is the main number used for tracking the status of the shipment.	Set of unique alphanumeric characters, possibly including a prefix as provided by the carrier.	Conditional	When the B/L is printed at the shipper location, the B/L number is provided by shipper from a range provided by the carrier.	Mandatory
45	Export Reference Number	Identification number provided by shipper.	String of letters and numbers (alphanumeric input).	Optional		Optional
46	Point and country of origin of goods	The location where the goods shipped are manufactured and/or produced.	Physical location, naming according to local standard.	Optional		Optional
47	Pre carried by	Place and mode of transportation for pre-carriage (e.g., truck, barge, rail), under carrier’s responsibility.	Truck, rail, barge and/or vessel/voyage.	Conditional	When initial transport is organized by the carrier	Optional
48	Pre carried under shipper’s responsibility	Place and mode of transportation for pre-carriage (e.g., truck, barge, rail), under shipper's responsibility.	UN LOCODE displayed name and truck, rail, or barge.	Conditional	When initial transport is organized by the customer	Optional
49	Shipped Onboard date	Date when the last container that is linked to the bill of lading is physically on board the vessel indicated on the bill of lading.	Local date at place of issue, ISO-8601 format.	N/A		Mandatory
50	Received for shipment date	Date when the last container linked to the B/L is physically in the terminal and customs cleared for the intended vessel.	Local date at place of issue, ISO-8601 format.	N/A		Optional
51	Signed By (Signature)	Field where the responsible person (Carrier’s agent) issuing the original bill of lading to the customer signs.	Carrier signature (digital or physical, printed signature).	N/A		Mandatory
52	SCAC	The Standard Carrier Alpha Code (SCAC) is a unique code used to identify vessel operating common carriers (VOCC).	4-character code	Conditional	Only for shipments to USA	Optional
53	Freight and charges	The different charges applicable for a customer to pay the carrier.	Numeric string in the form of currency with a maximum of 2-digit decimals.	N/A	Based on country requirements	Conditional
54	Payment terms	Indicates whether freight & charges are due for payment before the shipment is affected, before the transport document is released to shipper (Prepaid), or before the shipment is finalized and cargo is released to consignee (Collect).	3-character code to identify INCO terms.	Mandatory		Mandatory
55	Terms and conditions	Carrier general terms and conditions printed on page 1 of the transport document.	Standard text per carrier	N/A		Mandatory
56	Total number of containers or packages received by the Carrier	In case of a CY receipt, this indicates the number of containers linked to a shipment. In case of a CFS receipt, this indicates the number of packages received by the carrier.	Numeric value	Mandatory	In steps 1 and 2, only mandatory in case of number of containers	Mandatory
57	Carrier Clauses	Additional clauses for a specific shipment added by the carrier to the bill of lading, subject to local rules/guidelines or certain mandatory information required to be shared with the customer.	Standard text	Conditional	Clauses added by the carrier to the bill of lading subject to local rules / guidelines or certain mandatory information required to be shared with the customer. Is not a separate field on the bill of lading and usually printed below cargo description	Conditional (see column I)
58	Unit	The unit of measurement for the charge.	A unit of measure	Optional		Optional
59	Currency	The currency in which the charge is billed.	Currency unit; 3-character code (ISO 4217)	Optional		Optional
60	Prepaid Amount	The amount to be paid prior to shipment being affected.	Numeric string in the form of currency with a maximum of 2-digit decimals.	Optional		Optional
61	Collect Amount	The amount to be paid upon the release of the cargo.	Numeric string in the form of currency with a maximum of 2-digit decimals.	Optional		Optional
62	Service Contract	Reference number for agreement between shipper and carrier through which the shipper commits to provide a certain minimum quantity of cargo over a fixed period and the carrier commits to a certain rate or rate schedule	Unique numeric string as provided by the shipper and confirmed by the carrier.	Optional		Optional
63	Declared Value	Filled out when the shipper declares the value of the cargo in order to avoid the carrier's limitation of liability and "Ad Valorem" freight is paid, i.e., freight is calculated on the basis of the value of the goods declared by the shipper.	Numeric value	Optional	If customers want the value to show, evidence is required, and customers need to approve additional insurance fee charge from the carrier (very exceptional).	Conditional
64	Disclaimer	A clause used when printing an electronic B/L that specifies that it is not valid on paper.	Text - "original electronically issued, not valid on paper".	Conditional	Only applicable for EBL.	Conditional
65	Transport document type	Specification of the transport document type to be issued by the carrier. Options are either B/L or Sea Waybill.	Text - two input options: B/L or Sea Waybill.	Mandatory		Mandatory
66	Reefer Temperature setting	The setting requested by the customer at time of booking request for the carrier to operationally set when releasing containers. May be expressed as a range min/max and a date range.	Fahrenheit /Celsius; Positive/Negative.	Conditional	Conditional on being a live reefer (as opposed to non-operating reefer).	Conditional
67	Reefer Humidity	The setting requested by the customer at time of booking request for the carrier to operationally set when releasing containers. May be expressed as a range min/max and a date range.	PCT	Conditional	Conditional on being a live reefer (as opposed to non-operating reefer).	Conditional
68	Reefer Ventilation	The setting requested by the customer at time of booking request for the carrier to operationally set when releasing containers. May be expressed as a range min/max and a date range.	CBM/HR	Conditional	Conditional on being a live reefer (as opposed to non-operating reefer).	Conditional
69	Forwarding agent Reference Number	Identification number provided by forwarding agent.	String of letters and numbers (alphanumeric input).	Optional		Optional
70	Consignee Reference Number	Identification number provided by Consignee.	String of letters and numbers (alphanumeric input).	Optional		Optional