BILL OF LADING

Standard Commercial — Ocean / Multimodal

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. Shipment Information
2. Parties
3. Goods Description
4. Freight and Charges
5. Terms and Conditions of Carriage
6. Liability and Limitation
7. Claims and Time Bar
8. General Provisions
9. Execution

SECTION 1: SHIPMENT INFORMATION

☐ SHIPPED ON BOARD — Date: [__/__/____]
☐ RECEIVED FOR SHIPMENT — Date: [__/__/____]

SECTION 2: PARTIES

Shipper / Consignor

Name: [________________________________]
Address: [________________________________]
Contact / Tel: [________________________________]

Consignee

☐ To the Order of: [________________________________] (negotiable)
☐ Named Consignee: [________________________________] (non-negotiable / straight)

Address: [________________________________]

Notify Party

Name: [________________________________]
Address: [________________________________]
Contact / Tel: [________________________________]

Carrier

Name: [________________________________]
Address: [________________________________]
SCAC Code (if applicable): [________________]" or simply "To Order." Title transfers by endorsement and delivery of the original bill per U.C.C. § 7-501.]

SECTION 3: GOODS DESCRIPTION

Container Number(s) / Seal Number(s):
[________________________________]

Total Packages: [________________]
Total Gross Weight: [________________] kg
Total Measurement: [________________] cbm

☐ Shipper's Load and Count — The Carrier has received the number of containers or packages said to contain the goods as described by the Shipper. The Carrier has not opened, inspected, or verified the contents, weight, or measurement thereof (U.C.C. § 7-301).

☐ Said to Contain (STC): [________________________________]

SECTION 4: FREIGHT AND CHARGES

Freight Payment:
☐ Prepaid
☐ Collect
☐ Third-Party Billing: [________________________________]

SECTION 5: TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF CARRIAGE

5.1 — Applicable Law and Convention

This Bill of Lading is subject to:

☐ The Carriage of Goods by Sea Act (COGSA), 46 U.S.C. § 30701 note, for shipments to or from U.S. ports;
☐ The Hague-Visby Rules (International Convention for the Unification of Certain Rules of Law Relating to Bills of Lading, as amended by the Brussels Protocol 1968);
☐ U.C.C. Article 7 (domestic U.S. shipments);
☐ Other: [________________________________].

Where no mandatory convention applies, the parties agree that ☐ COGSA ☐ the Hague-Visby Rules shall apply by contractual incorporation ("clause paramount").

5.2 — Carrier's Obligations

The Carrier undertakes to carry the goods from the port of loading to the port of discharge and to deliver them to the consignee or lawful holder of this Bill of Lading, subject to the terms herein. The Carrier shall exercise due diligence to (Hague-Visby Art. III, r.1):

(a) Make the vessel seaworthy before and at the beginning of the voyage;
(b) Properly man, equip, and supply the vessel;
(c) Make the holds and cargo spaces fit and safe for reception, carriage, and preservation of the goods.

5.3 — Shipper's Obligations

The Shipper warrants that:

(a) The particulars of the goods as described herein are accurate (Hague-Visby Art. III, r.5);
(b) The goods are lawfully tendered for shipment and comply with all export, import, and transit regulations;
(c) The goods are properly packed, marked, and labeled;
(d) The Shipper shall indemnify the Carrier against all loss, damage, or expense arising from inaccuracy of such particulars.

5.4 — Dangerous Goods

Dangerous goods must be declared in writing and clearly marked. If shipped without the Carrier's knowledge and consent, the Carrier may land, destroy, or render innocuous such goods at any time without compensation (Hague-Visby Art. IV, r.6).

SECTION 6: LIABILITY AND LIMITATION

6.1 — Carrier's Liability

The Carrier shall be liable for loss of or damage to the goods occurring between receipt and delivery, except where loss or damage arises from causes for which the Carrier is not responsible under the applicable convention (Hague-Visby Art. IV, r.2; COGSA § 4(2)).

6.2 — Limitation of Liability

Unless the nature and value of the goods have been declared by the Shipper before shipment and inserted herein, the Carrier's liability shall not exceed:

☐ COGSA: $500 per package or customary freight unit (46 U.S.C. § 30701 note, § 4(5));
☐ Hague-Visby Rules: 666.67 SDR per package or 2 SDR per kilogram of gross weight, whichever is higher (Hague-Visby Art. IV, r.5(a));
☐ Other agreed limit: [________________________________].

Declared Value (if any): $[________________]

6.3 — Excepted Perils

The Carrier shall not be liable for loss or damage arising from: act of God; act of war; act of public enemies; seizure under legal process; quarantine; act or omission of the Shipper; strikes or lockouts; saving or attempting to save life or property at sea; inherent vice of the goods; insufficiency of packing; or any other cause arising without the fault or privity of the Carrier (Hague-Visby Art. IV, r.2; COGSA § 4(2)).

SECTION 7: CLAIMS AND TIME BAR

7.1 — Notice of Loss or Damage

Written notice of loss or damage must be given to the Carrier at the port of discharge:

• Apparent damage: At or before the time of removal of goods (Hague-Visby Art. III, r.6);
• Non-apparent damage: Within three (3) consecutive days of delivery.

7.2 — Time Bar for Suit

☐ COGSA / Hague-Visby: Suit must be brought within one (1) year after delivery of the goods or the date when the goods should have been delivered (Hague-Visby Art. III, r.6; COGSA § 3(6)).
☐ U.C.C. Article 7: Per applicable state statute of limitations.

7.3 — Jurisdiction and Arbitration

Any dispute arising under this Bill of Lading shall be:

☐ Subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts at [________________________________];
☐ Resolved by arbitration at [________________________________] under the rules of [________________________________].

SECTION 8: GENERAL PROVISIONS

8.1 — Through Transport / Multimodal

Where the carriage includes stages other than ocean transport, the Carrier acts as agent only for such other stages and shall not be liable for loss, damage, or delay occurring during such stages except to the extent of the Carrier's own negligence (U.C.C. § 7-302).

8.2 — Lien

The Carrier shall have a lien on the goods and any documents relating thereto for all freight, charges, demurrage, and expenses due under this Bill of Lading (U.C.C. § 7-307).

8.3 — Deviation

Any deviation in saving or attempting to save life or property at sea, or any reasonable deviation, shall not be considered a breach of this contract (Hague-Visby Art. IV, r.4).

8.4 — Both-to-Blame Collision Clause

If the vessel comes into collision with another vessel as a result of the negligence of the other vessel and any act, neglect, or default in the navigation or management of the carrying vessel, the Shipper and Consignee agree to indemnify the Carrier against all claims by the other vessel's owners.

8.5 — General Average

General average shall be adjusted, stated, and settled at [________________________________] according to the York-Antwerp Rules in effect at the time of the event giving rise to the general average act.

SECTION 9: EXECUTION

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Carrier or its authorized agent has signed [____] original Bill(s) of Lading, all of the same tenor and date, one of which being accomplished, the others to stand void.

Place and Date of Issue: [________________________________], [__/__/____]

FOR THE CARRIER:

________________________________
Authorized Signature

________________________________
Name and Title

________________________________
As Agent for: [________________________________] (Carrier)

SHIPPER'S ACCEPTANCE:

________________________________
Authorized Signature

________________________________
Name and Title

PRACTITIONER GUIDANCE

SOURCES AND REFERENCES

• U.C.C. Article 7 — Documents of Title (2003 Revision)
• Carriage of Goods by Sea Act, 46 U.S.C. § 30701 note
• Hague-Visby Rules (Brussels Protocol 1968)
• 49 U.S.C. § 80101 et seq. — Federal Bills of Lading Act
• York-Antwerp Rules (2016 revision)

This template is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Consult with legal counsel experienced in transportation and admiralty law before use.