Logistics Terms
What Is a Sea Waybill and How It Differs from a B/L
3 min read
A sea waybill is a transport document that serves as a receipt for the goods and evidence of the contract of carriage, but unlike a bill of lading it is non-negotiable and does not have to be surrendered to release the cargo.
How it differs from a bill of lading
- A sea waybill is non-negotiable; an original bill of lading can be a document of title.
- No physical original needs to be presented to release cargo under a sea waybill.
- The named consignee simply identifies themselves to take delivery.
When to use a sea waybill
Sea waybills suit trusted relationships, intra-company moves, and cases where speed matters and payment is not tied to surrendering documents. Where security of payment requires control over title, a bill of lading or telex release may be preferred.