T21u—Ocean and Intermodal Bills of Lading

Subscriber price: $276.00, Non-subscriber price: $350.00
Estimated total study time: 20 hours 14 minutes [Enroll now]

This course addresses ocean and intermodal bills of lading (involving ocean transportation) in depth, beginning with attributes common to any contract of carriage, additional issues and procedures peculiar to ocean contracts of carriage and types of bills of lading, forms of consignment, and concluding with a field-by-field examination of the information placed into an ocean/intermodal bill of lading.

This course is intended for ocean freight forwarders and shippers who prepare their own bill of lading "instructions" or otherwise need an in-depth understanding of the operation of bills of lading.

This course includes information on U.S. government regulations affecting the preparation of ocean and intermodal bills of lading.

Introduction to Contracts of Carriage

To understand the unique characteristics of an ocean/intermodal bill of lading is "contract of carriage" we must first understand common characteristics or any contract of carriage via any mode of transportation.

(Estimated study time: 1 hour 20 minutes)

Functions of a Transportation Document (U.S.)

In order to understand the particular functions of an ocean/intermodal bill of lading, it is necessary to understand the functionality of transportation documents in general.

(Estimated study time: 1 hour 12 minutes)

Preparation of Ocean/Intermodal "B/L Instructions"

An ocean/intermodal bill of lading is issued by the carrier. Prior to issuance, however, the shipper or his freight forwarder must provide the carrier with detailed instructions as to how to prepare the B/L, and exactly what information must be shown in the various fields.

(Estimated study time: 1 hour 41 minutes)

B/L Terms, Format and Usage

This lesson addresses the well established format and pattern of use that ocean/intermodal bills of lading follow, including issuance in "sets" of multiple "originals."

(Estimated study time: 1 hour 23 minutes)

Forms of Consignment for a Negotiable B/L; Endorsement

Several alternate "forms of consignment" may be used when issuing an ocean/intermodal bill of lading, with important differences as to cargo control and delivery.

(Estimated study time: 59 minutes)

Endorsement Procedures and Carrier Delivery Concerns with Negotiable B/Ls

With a "to order" B/L, who must or may "endorse" and original B/L in order to obtain delivery or the cargo at destination? What concerns does an ocean carrier or its agent have in accepting a B/L endorsement? This lesson addresses these and additional operational issues.

(Estimated study time: 45 minutes)

"Straight" Bills of Lading; Dealing with Lost "Originals"

This lesson addresses "straight" (non-negotiable) bills of lading, which somewhat simplify destination procedures while reducing the ability of the shipper to control the delivery of the cargo. We also consider the consequences of the consignee not having an original bill of lading available at destination when needed for cargo delivery.

(Estimated study time: 1 hour 41 minutes)

Express Bills of Ladings and Electronic "Consignment Notes"

This lesson addresses non-traditional "bills of lading" that involve no "originals" ("express" B/Ls, also known as "consignment notes"), and no paper document at all (electronic consignments). We then summarize all the different forms of consignment and types of ocean/intermodal bills of lading.

(Estimated study time: 1 hour 7 minutes)

Preparing B/L Instructions to an Ocean/Intermodal Carrier

This lesson begins detailed coverage of the information required on an ocean/intermodal bill of lading. Data entry of B/L information into an automated documentation/electronic communication system follows an equivalent pattern.

(Estimated study time: 1 hour 14 minutes)

Place of Cargo Acceptance; Rate Basis

This lesson addresses the "cargo receipt" function of an ocean or intermodal bill of lading, and how the time and place of receipt by an ocean carrier affects the transportation rate applicable to the shipment.

(Estimated study time: 21 minutes)

Letter of Credit Requirements on a Bill of Lading; Form of Consignment

This lesson covers what the shipper and his forwarder must do when payment for goods shipped via ocean/intermodal bill of lading will be via a letter of credit. We also review "form of consignment."

(Estimated study time: 23 minutes)

Important Dates in the Issuance of an Ocean/Intermodal B/L

This lesson addresses the several dates involved in ocean shipping, and why each may be important for particular purposes.

(Estimated study time: 1 hour 9 minutes)

Freight Prepaid or Collect; Additional B/L Instruction Issues

This lesson addresses freight charges, who will pay for what, whether these charges are stated on the ocean bill of lading or separate freight invoice. We also cover when it is necessary to show cargo value on the bill of lading, how to communicate this information to the ocean carrier, and when to audit ocean freight charges on a bill of lading after it is issued.

(Estimated study time: 1 hour 8 minutes)

Parties Involved with Shipment (Aligned Form Master, Blocks 1 through 9)

This lesson begins field-by-field coverage of B/L information as shown on the aligned form master, the most widely used format for a paper ocean/intermodal bill of lading. Automated shipment processing and communication systems (EDI) contain data fields for this same information, typically organized in a similar sequence.

(Estimated study time: 1 hour 15 minutes)

Transportation Points/Carriers (Aligned Form Master Blocks, 10-17)

In this lesson we continue on with detailed, block-by-block, coverage of the information which must or may be entered into B/L instructions using the aligned form master.

(Estimated study time: 23 minutes)

Cargo Marks, Packages, Weight & Freight Charges (Aligned Form Master, Blocks 18-19, 21-25)

This lesson continues field-by-field B/L detail.
Note: Because of the range of possible information required under "Cargo Description," Block #20, this is addressed separately in the next lesson.

(Estimated study time: 1 hour 10 minutes)

Cargo Description; As-needed Dangerous Goods and L/C/ Information (Aligned Form Master Block #20)

This lesson addressed the three items of information always required in Block #20, plus Dangerous Goods information when required.

(Estimated study time: 1 hour 21 minutes)

Cargo Description & Issues (Aligned Form Master Block #20)

We continue this coverage of block #20 with the various issues which influence the cargo description.

(Estimated study time: 36 minutes)

Additional Information Sometimes Needed in Cargo Description Block (Aligned Form Master Block #20)

What the government of the origin and destination countries may require in Block #20, plus the meaning of the very important "clean-on-board" statement placed on a B/L when issued by the ocean carrier.

(Estimated study time: 1 hour 2 minutes)