What is a straight bill of lading?

You have to be very carefull when completing the consignee field of a bill of lading, because it does not only define to whom the goods should be delivered, but also explains delivery procedures of the consignment.

If the bill of lading issued in a negotiable form, to order (shipper) or to the order of a named party, at least one original bill of lading must be surrendered to the carrier's agent at the port of discharge in order to get the consignment.

But what happens if a bill of lading not issued in negotiable form by simply completing the consignee field writing direct consignee's name and address. 

On this article I will be explaining the straight bill of lading, which is a type of bill of lading that is issued in a non-negotiable form.

Negotiable Bill of Lading Example 1: "To Order" and Blank Endorsed

According to Incoterms 2010 FOB, CFR, CIF trade terms rules, the seller is required either to deliver the goods on board the vessel or to procure goods already so delivered for shipment.

The reference to “procure” here caters for multiple sales down a chain (‘string sales’), particularly common in the commodity trades.

Above definition explains seller's delivery obligation under FOB, CFR and CIF trade terms according to Incoterms 2010 rules. As mentioned on the 1st paragraph, incoterms rules allow multiple sales or string sales.

But what sort of bill of lading the seller (exporter) should supply to his buyer, which becomes the new seller and trades the same goods to another potential buyer with the same bill of lading?

What is the function of a "to order" bill of lading?

On my previous article I have explained the differences between a negotiable bill of lading and a non-negotiable bill of lading.

I have also described the importance of negotiable bill of lading in international trade on the same article.

I strongly recommend you to see my previous article titled with "How to complete consignee and notify fields of a bill of lading?" before reading this page in order to better understand today's post.

Today I want to explain the function of a "to order" bill of lading in foreign trade businesses.

How to complete consignee and notify fields of a bill of lading?

Today on this post, I will be explaining with examples one of the key elements of a bill of lading in international trade.

Bill of lading is a negotiable transport document, only when it is issued in a negotiable form.

Negotiable bill of lading plays a key role in international export-import transactions, where the exporter or exporter's bank does not want to release the goods to the importer without surrendering at least one original bill of lading to the carrier's agent at the port of discharge.

Today on this article I will try to answer below questions:

• What is a negotiable transport document? 
• What are the differences between negotiable bill of lading and non-negotiable bill of lading? 
• How does a bill of lading could be issued in a negotiable form? 
• What is a consignee field on the bill of lading? 
• What is a notify field on the bill of lading? 
• How to complete consignee and notify fields of a bill of lading? (explanations with examples)

What does cy/cy mean on a bill of lading?

Bill of lading, which is a transport document evidences receipt of cargo, contract of carriage and represents title of goods, is mostly used in international port-to-port sea shipments.

A bill of lading should normally state the port of loading and port of discharge.

Port of loading is the place where the goods are shipped on board a vessel. Port of discharge is the place where the vessel is off-loaded and the goods are distributed to their respective consignees.

Some bills of lading contain "cy/cy" term in addition to port of loading and port of discharge.

Today I would like to explain the meaning of "cy/cy" term as seen on the bills of lading.