Master B/L
Category: Documents
Also searched as: Master bill of lading
Definition (plain English)
The carrier bill of lading issued to the freight forwarder or NVOCC for the main ocean movement.
Why it matters commercially
Master BL details drive carrier-level release, vessel routing, container data, and alignment with house BL documents.
Example
A forwarder corrected the master BL container count before issuing matching house bills to the buyer and supplier.
Common mistake
Checking only the house BL while master BL data conflicts on vessel, container, freight terms, or release status.
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