Documents for International Transport
A brief overview of the necessary documentation in international transport operations.
A brief overview of the necessary documentation in international transport operations.
When we conduct an import or export, regardless of the mode of transport, it is necessary to prepare a series of documents that provide essential information about the goods being transported, required by customs authorities. This will depend on the chosen mode of transport and will be determined by the conditions previously agreed upon, when choosing a specific Incoterm®.
These international transport documents, usually issued by transport companies, are processed by the freight forwarding company to facilitate the control of logistics operations for their clients.
At CAYCO, we handle, among other tasks, the processing of these documents; however, it is important for the exporting or importing company to have a basic understanding of the content of these declarations associated with the shipments to expedite all procedures.
BILL OF LADING [B/L]
This international transport document is issued by the transport company and must be signed by the ship’s captain. The Bill of Lading (also known as Sea Waybill in the USA and Canada) contains the conditions previously agreed between the exporter, consignee, shipper, carrier, and importer. It serves as a cargo receipt, as evidence of a transport contract, and can act as a title document.
It must include the ship’s name, voyage number, ports of loading and unloading, name of the sender and consignee, detailed description of the goods, quantity or weight, number of packages, and their apparent condition.
Sometimes reflects the freight cost – the cost of maritime transport – the freight surcharges – costs associated with transport – the currency in which this amount has been calculated, and whether the freight has been paid at the origin – freight prepaid – or is payable at the destination – freight collect.
This document can be presented in three forms: physical, telex, and online. It depends on the required speed and efficiency in each case, although the most commonly used format is still physical (paper), as it, despite potentially causing some delays, remains the most secure form of accreditation.
In Spain, maritime transport by Bill of Lading is regulated by the Law of December 22, 1949, on the Maritime Transport of Goods under Bill of Lading, and Articles 246 to 266 of Law 14/2014, of July 24, on Maritime Navigation.
