Names on a master bill
On a consolidated or NVOCC shipment, the MBL shipper is usually the NVOCC's origin office or agent, and the consignee is its destination office or agent. The real exporter and importer usually appear only on the house bill. When a cargo owner books directly with a carrier, there is just one carrier bill and no house bill, though people sometimes still call it the master.
Release runs through the MBL consignee
At destination, the carrier releases the container to the MBL consignee, usually the NVOCC's agent, once its own terms are met: originals surrendered, a telex release recorded or waybill conditions satisfied, and charges paid. The agent then releases the cargo to the house consignee. An importer who has paid its forwarder can still wait if the agent has not settled with the carrier.
Which number the carrier recognizes
Carrier systems know the MBL number and the container numbers, but rarely the house bill number, which sits in the NVOCC's own system. So when a consolidated shipment needs chasing with the line, ask the forwarder for the MBL number early. Tracking through the carrier, whether on its website or in a tool built on carrier data, therefore starts from the master or a container number.
Example
A forwarder consolidates cargo from four suppliers into one 40-foot container; the carrier issues a single MBL to the forwarder, and the forwarder issues four house bills to its customers.
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Questions
What does Master Bill of Lading (MBL) mean?
A master bill of lading (MBL) is the bill the ocean carrier issues for a shipment. When an NVOCC books the cargo, the MBL names the NVOCC or its agents as shipper and consignee, and the cargo owner receives a separate house bill.
What is the difference between an MBL and an HBL?
The carrier issues the MBL to the NVOCC or forwarder that booked the space. That intermediary issues the HBL to the actual shipper, so the cargo owner usually sees only the house bill.
Can I get a copy of the master bill of lading?
Ask your forwarder. The MBL belongs to the forwarder's contract with the carrier, so some forwarders share a copy and others share only the MBL number.