Difference between Ocean, Seaway and Memo Bill of Lading

Difference between Ocean, Seaway and Memo Bill of Lading – are there any..??

Ocean Bill of Lading: is a bill of lading issued by the shipping line/carrier to their customer after the payment of all charges and submission of all customs/port documents relevant to that country..

An Ocean Bill of Lading is a Negotiable document which serves also as an Evidence of Contract of Carriage, Receipt of Goods and Document of Title.. Usually issued as 3 originals (signed and stamped and negotiable) 3 non-negotiable copies.

Using an Ocean Bill of Lading, shipper has the option to consign the shipment to either

• To a direct customer (in this case the bill of lading becomes a Straight Bill of Lading and is no longer Negotiable although it still retains the other two characteristics of a Receipt of Goods and Evidence of Contract of Carriage)
• To Order of a customer
• To Order of a Bank
• To Order of Shipper (To Order)

This bill of lading when  consigned to either of the last three mentioned parties, allows the goods to be endorsed to another party in case the original buyer decides to resell the cargo..

If it is a Straight Bill of Lading, cargo can be delivered to the nominated consignee but ONLY after the bill of lading is presented to the discharge port agents..

Seaway Bill of Lading: is a bill of lading issued by the shipping line to their customer after the payment of all charges and submission of all customs/port documents relevant to that country.

A Seaway Bill of Lading is NOT a Negotiable document as there is NO ORIGINAL ISSUED.. It is also NOT a Document of Title..

A Seaway Bill of Lading serves as an Evidence of Contract of Carriage and Receipt of Goods. This document is more relevant for non-commercial transactions, intercompany sale or where there is no involvement of any documentary credits..

A Seaway Bill of Lading CANNOT BE CONSIGNED TO ORDER of someone else.. It has to be consigned to a direct customer only.. Delivery of cargo covered under a Seaway Bill of Lading can be made ONLY to the consignee on the bill of lading or his authorized representative..

A Consignee thus properly identified, is not required to present any transport document at the port of discharge.

A Seaway Bill of Lading is usually issued:

• when the shipper and consignee are part of the same business group and there are no negotiations required between the two either directly or via bank for release of the cargo
• the shipment doesn’t involve any bank and the shipper doesn’t really need to submit original bill of lading to secure his payment
• when the shipper doesn’t have the time to print the original bills and courier the same to the consignee
• the shipper is a freight forwarder and he wants to issue a house bill of lading to his customers

When the cargo covered under a Seaway Bill is released, the release maybe termed as Express Release..

Memo Bill of Lading: Short for Memorandum bill of lading, it is basically a non-negotiable, non-transferable, unfreighted bill of lading that is only used as a receipt of goods and DOES NOT classify as a Document of Title.