What is a Clean Bill Of Lading?

A clean bill of lading is a document issued by a carrier which indicates that the goods received in the vessel are in good condition and without any damage or defect. Product carriers issue a clean bill of lading when the bill is free from clauses, negative remarks, or notation of defects. Before carriers can issue a clean bill of lading, a thorough inspection of the goods in the vessel must take place in order to detect damage or loss that might have occurred.

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Specifics of a Clean Bill of Lading

A bill of lading is an official document between a carrier and shipper of goods, this document can also serve as evidence of the delivery of goods to an agreed location. A bill of lading contains the following information:

• The type of product being shipped.
• Quality and quantity of the products.
• The predetermined destination.

A clean bill of lading, however, indicates that a carrier received the shipped goods without any damage or loss to them. Absence of a clean bill of lading stalls the acceptance of goods by importers because it indicates that the losses, defects or damages have occurred to the goods.