What is transferability of bill of lading? Can a Bill of Lading be transferred?

1. Yes, Bill of lading is a negotiable instrument and a document of title.

2. As an exporter you should keep in mind that, without original bill of lading, the
buyer can not take delivery of your cargo at destination.
3. Once Bill of Lading issued to the shipper by the ship owner or his agent at port of
loading, the said original Bill of Lading (normally in triplicate) is submitted to
shippers bank to send to the overseas buyer (consignee).
4. Transferability of Bill of Lading The foreign buyer, once after receiving the original
bill of lading from the bank submit the Original Bill of Lading with the ship owner or
his agent, duly endorsed on the back side of original bill of lading.
5. The ship owner or his agent deliver cargo to the consignee only after receiving the
original bill of lading duly endorsed.

How does transferability take place in Bill of Lading?

1. The shipping company as a carrier of goods delivers cargo to the consignee or
consignees order.
2. Means, if the bill of lading shows To order XYZ bank, the shipping company who
carries goods can deliver the goods to the party whom XYZ bank instructs to deliver.
3. This Delivery instruction by XYZ bank has to be given in the form of Delivery Order
to the carrier.
4. Delivery order can be in separate document or can be written on the back side of
original Bill of Lading affixing the rubber stamp of XYZ Bank.
5. Once the ship owner or his agent (carrier of goods) receives the Delivery order to
whom the cargo to be delivered from XYZ, the cargo is delivered to the said party.
6. If the consignee has been mentioned a party other than actual buyer, the consignee
has to endorse the bill of lading to buyer by signing on back side of bill of lading
authorizing the buyer to take delivery of goods