In the ocean freight export process, bill of lading (B/L) confirmation stands as a crucial step that must be completed by the shipper or consignor. The bill of lading serves as the legal document of transport, recording both the ownership of goods and shipping arrangements, making timely confirmation essential to avoid subsequent complications.
Shipping companies typically establish a confirmation deadline, usually 4-5 days before the estimated time of departure (ETD) . For example:
- For a Friday departure, B/L information must be confirmed by Monday
- For a Sunday departure, confirmation is required by Tuesday
- For a Monday departure, confirmation must be completed the preceding Thursday
Notably, some regions—particularly in Southern China —implement a two-stage B/L confirmation process . The first confirmation occurs during booking and covers known information such as consignor/consignee details. After container pickup and loading, a " B/L supplement " follows to provide container numbers, seal numbers, and precise cargo details including quantity, gross weight, and dimensions.
When critical information (like container numbers) remains unconfirmed by the deadline, the standard solution involves specifying " container numbers " or " box numbers " to ensure uninterrupted shipping operations. To prevent shipment delays and operational disruptions, shippers should confirm B/L information as early as possible , well before the carrier's cutoff date.
