Booking and booking confirmation? Have you seen written on a bill of lading – booking number or booking confirmations number? What does these mean in importation? The purpose of this article is to explain the terms booking and booking confirmations.
Table of Contents
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WHAT IS BOOKING?
Booking is the process of arranging with a carrier for reservation of freight space or vessel. It includes agreement on terms and conditions of carriage. Issuance of booking number confirms that booking is complete. Booking is not a document, but booking confirmation is.
WHAT IS BOOKING CONFIRMATION?
This is a document issued by the freight Forwarder, confirming booking and booking details. The confirmation once issued is given to all parties involved in the trade. Such parties include the consignee, the shipper and perhaps the buyer, if different from the consignee. The booking confirmation document helps all parties carry out transactions with the bank. However, the bank must be informed that this confirmation is not a substitute for the bill of lading. The bill of lading is a receipt or confirmation of shipping.
CONTENTS OF BOOKING CONFIRMATION DOCUMENT
The following are contents of the booking confirmations:
- Unique booking reference or booking number
- The freight Forwarder’s information and contact
- Also, the Shipper’s information and contact
- The Consignee detail
- Type of transportation service
- Cargo details
- Additional services rendered
- Details of Forwarder’s warehouse and address or any warehouse useful to the shipment
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In Conclusion:
Booking entails a whole lot of arrangement done to secure freight space or vessel with shipping line or airline. Thus, the booking confirmations area visible evidences that bookings are done. Finally, the unique booking reference stands as control number until the bill of lading is issued.