Differences Bettwen Sea Waybill (SWB) and Bill of Lading

SWB,full name Sea Waybill, is a kind of maritime bill of lading, mainly used for maritime cargo transportation.SWB is issued by the carrier, is the contract of carriage between the carrier and the shipper.SWB bill of lading is issued to indicate that the carrier has received the shipper’s goods, and undertakes to deliver the goods to the designated port of destination.

Several features of Sea Waybill

Sea Waybill of lading are issued faster

The traditional ocean bill of lading usually needs to be issued after the goods are loaded on the ship, while the Sea Waybill can be issued before the goods are loaded on the ship. This is a great advantage for shippers who need to transport goods quickly.

Sea Waybill of Lading cost less

While a traditional ocean bill of lading is usually costly, an SWB is relatively inexpensive. This is a great advantage for shippers who need to save on transportation costs.

Sea Waybill of Lading are more secure

While traditional ocean bills of lading are easy to forge, Sea Waybill are very difficult to forge. This is a great advantage for shippers who need to ensure the security of their goods.

 

Sea Waybill

 

Sea Waybill Issuance Process

The issuance process of SWB B/L is as follows:

  • The shipper submits the goods transportation power of attorney to the carrier.
  • The carrier issues SWB B/L according to the information in the cargo transportation authorization.
  • The shipper hands over the goods to the carrier.
  • Carrier delivers the goods to the designated port of destination.
  • The consignee picks up the goods at the port of destination on the basis of SWB.

Legal effect of Sea Waybill

SWB is a contract of carriage between the carrier and the shipper, and has legal effect.The issuance of SWB indicates that the carrier has received the goods from the shipper and promised to deliver the goods to the designated port of destination. If the carrier fails to fulfill its obligations, the shipper can claim compensation from the carrier according to the SWB.

Scope of Application of SWB B/L

SWB B/L is mainly applicable to ocean cargo transportation. However, SWB bill of lading can also be used in other modes of transportation, such as air transportation, railroad transportation, road transportation and so on.

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Advantages of Sea Waybill

SWB has the following advantages:

  • Fast issuance: SWB B/L can be issued before the goods are loaded on the ship, which is a great advantage for shippers who need to transport the goods quickly.
  • Low cost: SWB bill of lading has relatively low cost, which is a great advantage for shippers who need to save transportation cost.
  • High security: SWB Bills of Lading are difficult to forge, which is a big advantage for shippers who need to secure their goods.

 

LSS Charges

 

Disadvantages of Sea Waybill

SWB Bills of Lading also have the following disadvantages:

  • Not applicable to all cargoes.SWB B/L is mainly applicable to sea cargo transportation, not applicable to other modes of transportation, such as air transportation, rail transportation, road transportation, etc.
  • Limitation of Liability.The limitation of liability in SWB is usually low, which may be a disadvantage for shippers.

Sea Waybill vs. traditional ocean bill of lading

  • Faster and slower issuance
  • Lower and higher costs
  • Higher and lower security

Ocean bill of lading related post:

Ocean Bill Of Lading | Ultimate Guide

CIC charges in shipping

 

SWB bill of lading is a new type of ocean bill of lading, which has the characteristics of faster issuance speed, lower cost and higher security. For shippers who need to transport goods quickly, save transportation costs and ensure the safety of goods, SWB bill of lading is a good choice.

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