I (Meaning and importance of Exports) Unit Structure

226 
13.11 DISTINGUISH BETWEEN M
ATE‘S RECEIPT AND 
BILL OF LADING 
Mate‘s Receipt 
Bill of Lading 
1) Meaning 
– 
Mate‟s receipt is a receipt 
issued by the mate i.e. master 
of the vessel after cargo is 
loaded in the ship. 
Bill of lading is the official 
receipt issued by the shipping 
company. This bill officially 
acknowledges the receipt of 
goods for transportation. 
2) Types 
–
It is generally two types i.e. 
clean mate‟s receipt and the 
other 
is 
claused 
mate‟s 
receipt. 
It is of several types, such as 
clean BL, claused BL, state 
BL, Freight, paid BL, Freight 
collect BL. 
3) Negotiability 
– 
Mate‟s receipt is not a 
negotiable document and as 
such it does not have any title 
to goods. 
Bill of lading is a negotiable 
documents and as such it has 
title of goods. 
4) Importer‟s Need – 
The copy of ma
te‟s Receipt is 
not required by importer. 
Bill of lading is essential to the 
importer. 
5) Number of copies 
– 
It can be prepared in three 
copies, one for the mate for 
his records, the second copy 
is 
sent 
to 
the 
shipping 
company and the third is 
handed over to the exporter. 
It is prepared in set with 2 
negotiable copies and several 
non-negotiable copies, only 
the negotiable copies have 
title to goods and non-
negotiable copies are used for 
record purpose. 
6) Signed by 
– 
Mate receipt is signed by the 
mate of the ship 
It is signed by the shipping 
company or its agent. 

---

227 
13.12 SUMMARY
Commercial invoice is an exporter‟s bill for the goods 
shipped. It contains such information as description of goods, price 
charged, term of shipment and the marks and numbers on the 
packages containing the merchandise. It is the seller‟s bill for the 
goods which contains complete particulars about the consignment.
Shipping Bill is the main documents on the basis of which 
the custom‟s permission for export is given.
Certificate of origin is the document certifying the origin of 
goods, without which clearance of imported goods is refused. 
Certificate of Origin contents description, quantity and value of 
goods, number of packages and markings there on, declaration by 
the shipper, certificate by the issuing authority. 
Consular invoice is a certificate issued by the Trade 
Consulate of the importer‟s country stating that goods of particular 
value are being imported from a particular country by a particular 
importer. 
After loading the cargo on the ship the commanding officer 
of the ship issues 
a receipt called the “Mate Receipt”. It is a prima 
facie evidence that goods are loaded in the vessel. 
Bill of Lading is issued by the shipping company and serves 
as a receipt from the shipping company which undertaken to deliver 
the goods at agreed destination on payment of freight. It is an 
acknowledgement indicating that the goods accepted for 
transportation are in order and in good condition. 
The GR form is a declaration form, wherein, the exporter 
guarantees to realize the full value of export proceeds within a 
stipulated period, which is normally 180 days from the date of 
exports.