Master Bill of Lading vs House Bill of Lading: Key Differences

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The documentation involved in international shipping is extremely comprehensive. Such intense paperwork is bound to lead to confusion and complications. Do you, too, often confuse the master bill of lading (MBL) with the house bill of lading (HBL), and vice versa? The MBL and HBL are the two documents that are extremely crucial for the cross-border shipping of goods. They serve different purposes and include different components.

This blog highlights the major differences between MBL and HBL and the role of different parties involved in the international shipping process. The need for understanding the two documents is vital when you are a global trader. The components and processes included in MBL and HBL are also discussed in this blog.

Master Bill of Lading (MBL) and House Bill of Lading (HBL)
Master Bill of Lading: What is it?
A master bill of lading (MBL) is a crucial shipping document provided by the company estonia phone number list that owns the ship transporting the goods. The carrier provides such a contract for shipping parcels from one place to another. When you are working with a freight forwarding company or even a shipping company, they will provide you with an MBL. It will contain all the primary details like destination, sender and receiver details, the person in possession of the goods, and more. This document is extremely crucial for sea shipping. The shipping service provider or the freight forwarding firm will write, sign, and provide this document to the company that booked the shipment.