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More Incoterms & Transport Documents

Sea Waybill

Also known as: Express Bill of Lading, Straight Waybill

A sea waybill is a non-negotiable ocean transport document that serves as a receipt for the goods and evidence of the carriage contract but, unlike a negotiable bill of lading, is not a document of title and does not need to be surrendered to obtain the cargo. The carrier simply delivers to the named consignee upon proof of identity, which speeds release and avoids the delays and risks of couriering original paper documents. Sea waybills suit trusted trading relationships and intra-company shipments where the goods are not being sold or financed in transit, so title transfer is not required.

The JFS takeLicensed customs broker · Filer 82G

A non-negotiable receipt, and what most container trade should use. No original travels, so nothing gets lost in a courier bag and cargo is released to the named consignee on arrival. The tradeoff is that you cannot sell the goods in transit by transferring the document.

Where it matters for compliance

  • Not a document of title, so release does not depend on presenting an original.

Related terms

Bill of LadingA bill of lading is the foundational document of ocean freight, issued by a carrier to a shipper, that serves three distinct functions at once: a receipt confirming the carrier has taken the described goods into its custody, evidence of the contract of carriage setting out the terms of transport, and — when issued in negotiable form — a document of title whose holder controls delivery of the cargo.Telex ReleaseA telex release is an instruction, transmitted electronically from the load port to the discharge port, confirming that the shipper has surrendered the original bills of lading at origin so that the carrier may release the cargo to the consignee at destination without the physical presentation of paper documents.

Reviewed by a licensed customs broker. Definitions are general information, not legal or customs advice for a particular shipment. Duty rates, tariff programs and agency requirements change frequently.