How to complete consignee and notify fields on an air waybill?

Air waybill is a non-negotiable transport document, which is issued by the air cargo carrier or its agent on behalf of the carrier, used in international air shipments.

Just like other non-negotiable transport documents, air waybills cannot be issued "to order" or "to order of a named company (such as banks)".

As a result air waybills must be issued straight, in other words, consigned to a named company.

Today I would like to explain consignee and notify fields of the air waybill and how to complete them correctly.

What are the differences between air waybill and bill of lading?

Bill of lading and air waybill are two transport documents, which have been widely used in international trade businesses for decades.

Air waybill is a transport document, which is used in airport-to-airport air shipments.

Bill of lading is the generic name of transport documents, which are generally used in port-to-port sea shipments.

There are various types of bills of lading available on the market, each of them fulfilling different needs.

Today I would like to mention the differences between these two important transport documents.

What are the differences between Institute Cargo Clauses B and Institute Cargo Clauses C?

If you would like to secure your international cargo with an insurance policy, you will have 3 options in terms of scope of insurance coverage:

Institute Cargo Clauses (A), Institute Cargo Clauses (B) and Institute Cargo Clauses (C).

• Institute Cargo Clauses (A) known as All Risks insurance policy and offers the widest range of cover.
• Institute Cargo Clauses (B) supplies a medium term cargo insurance coverage.
• Institute Cargo Clauses (C) provides the minimum cargo insurance coverage.

On my previous article, I have explained the differences between Institute Cargo Clauses A and Institute Cargo Clauses C. 

Today I would like to mention the differences between Institute Cargo Clauses B and Institute Cargo Clauses C?

Who can issue and sign insurance policies?

Some documents used in international trade should be issued and signed by predefined parties in order that document could function its role.

For example, a bill of lading should be issued and signed by the carrier, master or their agents. 

Additionally freight forwarders could issue and sign bills of lading in some occasions.

Likewise, commercial invoices should be issued and signed by the sellers or exporters and pre-shipment inspection certificates are expected to be issued and signed by the independent surveyors.

Today I would like to explain the issuance party of the insurance policies.

What are the benefits of cargo insurance in international trade?

90% of international cargo transportation is carried out by sea. Again overwhelming amount of sea transportation is handled via containers by means of state of art container vessels.

Container shipment can be accepted as one of the safest mode of transportation in international logistics along with air and rail shipments, but even containerized sea shipments are not free of accidents.

Every year around 750 containers lost at sea in minor incidents. When you include catastrophic events 2000-3000 containers lost in aggregate every year in international sea transportation.

If you add piracy, terrorism, war and strike risks, you will reach substantial risk amount not only for sea transportation, but also other modes of transport as well.

The only way to get rid of risks associated with transportation is to secure the shipment with an appropriate cargo insurance. Today I would like to explain the benefits of cargo insurance in international trade.