Shipping Instructions meaning in ocean freight.

The draft B/L starts here

What the shipping instructions say usually becomes the draft B/L word for word, so errors travel straight onto the document. Carriers also use SI data for advance cargo filings that some countries require before loading, which is why many now ask for HS codes and full party details. Typing the consignee's name the way it appears in customs records saves corrections later.

Late instructions and amendment fees

The SI deadline appears on the booking confirmation and often falls on or before the cargo cut-off. Instructions that arrive late can leave a container off the manifest even though it sits in the terminal, and the box may be rolled. Some carriers accept late SIs for a fee. Changes made after the bill is issued become amendments, which some carriers also charge for.

Records the carrier compares before loading

The carrier compares several records before loading. Container and seal numbers on the SI should match what the terminal logged at gate-in, the equipment should match the booking, and the weight should square with the VGM submission, which many carriers take separately. When the records disagree, the carrier may hold the container back until someone confirms which version is right. Checking the gate-in record before submitting helps prevent these mismatches.

Example

Before the documentation cut-off, a forwarder submits shipping instructions listing HLBU2456904, its seal number, 1,200 cartons of furniture, the consignee and notify party, and a request for a sea waybill.

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