Shipping and Freight Resource

These are 4 terms that some people are not clear about, with regards to the various types of endorsements on the bill of lading.. 

• Received for Shipment
• Shipped on Board
• Clean on Board
• Clean Shipped on Board

Bill of lading endorsed with Received for shipment  : confirms that the carrier has “received” the containers at the port facility for loading onto a specific ship or voyage.. This DOES NOT mean that the container(s) has been shipped on board..

Bill of lading endorsed with Shipped on board : confirms that the carrier has received and loaded the containers physically on board the specified ship or voyage.. This is DEFINITE proof that the container(s) have been loaded..

Bill of lading endorsed with Clean on board : is a bill of lading that is predominantly used for non-containerised cargoes that are loaded on the break-bulk or multi-purpose vessels.. This confirms that the cargo has been received the carrier in GOOD ORDER AND CONDITION and by certifying this, the shipowner, carrier and/or master can be liable for any damages that the consignee might notice to the cargo upon discharge and as such is a dangerous clause as far as a carrier is concerned..

In containerised shipping this clause is not accepted or granted by any shipping line UNLESS UNDER VERY RARE circumstances as in the case of FCL containers, the carrier is NOT aware of what has been packed in the container and in what condition..

It is important that the Implications of issuing a Clean on Board bill of lading are fully understood..

Bill of lading endorsed with Clean Shipped on board : (or Shipped Clean on Board) is basically the same as a Clean on board bill of lading, just a fancier term shown on an L/C..