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Can a bill of lading be changed after the ship has sailed?
Why B/L confirmation is importantWhen goods are exported, it is required that the information on the customs declaration, manifest, and bill of lading are identical. This includes detailed information such as the name and data. Once the ship has sailed, it will be very difficult to change any of the information.
Also, different shipping companies have different rules for confirming orders. Some companies have a deadline, after which the bill of lading information cannot be changed. Some companies require that you submit all the information only once, but any change, even a small one, will cost money.
So, before you send your goods, make sure you understand the rules for reordering your shipment.
Categorization of reorderingThere are mainly three cases of reordering:
Spelling errors: spelling errors in the name, address, or description of the person or company receiving the goods are more common, especially errors in punctuation. For example, the English company name 'LTD' is often misspelled as '...'. Mistakes about how much is ordered: The quantity and weight of a shipment are often incorrect.
Quantity/Weight Errors: The number of items or the weight of the shipment does not match the actual number or weight.
Cargo description error: the information about the goods, such as their name and specifications, does not match the actual goods.
Incorrect terms and conditions: Payment terms, transport terms, etc. are inconsistent with the contract.
Change of important information: such as port, consignee information, etc. are requested to be changed in the middle of the journey.
Procedures related to change orders
Confirm the type and severity of the error
First of all, it is necessary to clarify which type of error this is, and assess how bad it is. You also need to know if it will affect customs clearance and pick-up of goods at the destination. Errors in key information such as name, quantity, and address information must be corrected.
Contact the relevant partiesIf the consignor needs to change the bill of lading, he can contact the shipping company or agent to explain the situation and request a correction. If the person receiving the shipment needs to make corrections, they may also need to ask the person who shipped the goods for help with things like guarantees.
To request a correction, submit an application to the shipping company. If you need to change the product name or other important information, you will also need to provide contracts, packing lists, invoices, customs declarations, and other supporting materials.
Attention:
Please note that B/L correction is charged on a per-trip basis. The charges vary among major shipping companies, usually between RMB 350 and 500. Also, for countries that need to submit ENS or AMS, you will need to pay extra charges for customs declaration amendment.
If the goods have already arrived at the port, you also need to consider the stowage fee and overdue container handling fee.
Confirmation of correction result and issuance of new bill of lading: After submitting the correction application, you need to follow up on the processing progress. After confirming that the information on the bill of lading is correct, the shipping company will usually issue a new bill of lading or make changes to the original bill of lading and stamp it with a seal.