Glossary · Ocean
Master bill of lading (MBL)
A master bill of lading documents the agreement a forwarder reaches with the carrier. It is generated alongside a house bill for each international shipment.
Also called Master BOL
The Bill of Lading described here is the contract of carriage between the forwarder and their customer. It is more properly called the House BOL, to distinguish it from a very similar document called the Master BOL. Both BOLs are created for each international shipment, but the Master Bill of Lading is the contract of carriage between the forwarder and the carrier.
See also
More ocean terms
- Bunker adjustment factor (BAF)
- Claused bill of lading
- Clean bill of lading
- Common carrier
- Container yard (CY)
- Deconsolidation
Go further
- What terminal handling charges (THC) cover
- Demurrage vs detention
- CBM calculator
- Chargeable weight calculator
Definitions are general information, not legal advice. Rules differ by country; check the source and the current regulation before you act on one.