Sea Waybill
A sea waybill is a sea transport document that is not a document of title. The consignee named on it can collect the goods without presenting an original.
In plain words
Like a Bill of Lading, a sea waybill is a receipt for the goods and evidence of the contract of carriage. But it is not negotiable. The goods go to the consignee named on it, and nobody needs to hand in a paper original. This makes release fast and simple.
A sea waybill works well when the shipper trusts the buyer, for example between companies of the same group, or when the buyer has already paid. It is usually not suitable when the seller or a bank needs control of the goods until payment, as with many letters of credit. In that case, a Bill of Lading is the usual choice.
Example from real shipping
A Turkish company sends a container of spare parts to its own branch in Spain. There is no payment risk, so the shipper asks for a sea waybill. When the ship arrives, the branch shows its identity to the shipping line's agent and collects the container. No originals travel by courier.
Related terms
- B/LA Bill of Lading (B/L) is the main document for sea freight. The carrier issues it when it takes the goods. It shows who can collect the goods at the destination.
- eBLAn eBL is the digital version of a paper Bill of Lading. It does the same jobs, but it moves between companies electronically instead of by courier.
- AWBAn air waybill (AWB) is the transport document for air freight. It is a receipt for the cargo and evidence of the contract with the airline. It is not a document of title.
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Request a QuoteThis glossary is general information, not legal or customs advice. Rules, fees, and practice can differ by carrier, port, and country.