⚓ Mate’s Receipt vs Bill of Lading

 ⚓ Mate’s Receipt vs Bill of Lading

A Small Change on Paper That Can Sink the Ship

If you have spent enough time on deck or in operations, you already know this truth:
Most serious shipping problems do not begin with storms — they begin with paperwork.

A quiet request.
A “commercial adjustment.”
A friendly assurance: “We will give you a letter.”

And suddenly, the Master is standing between what actually happened on board and what someone wants written on paper.

This blog is about one such situation — common, uncomfortable, and dangerously underestimated.

 

🚢 1️⃣ When the Mate’s Receipt and Bill of Lading Don’t Match

On paper, it looks simple.

The cargo is loaded.
The Mate’s Receipt (MR) is signed at the load port showing Shipper = ABC.
Later, Charterers ask for the Bill of Lading (BL) to show Shipper = XYZ, a different company, often in a different country.

They may say:

• “Cargo ownership changed”
• “It’s only for banking”
• “This is common in trade”

⚠️ But onboard reality does not change.

The MR is a factual document.
It records who delivered the cargo to the ship — not who bought or sold it later.

Once you allow MR and BL to tell two different stories, the ship is exposed.

Hashtags:
#BillsOfLading #MatesReceipt #ShipDocumentation #MaritimeRisk

 

🧭 2️⃣ The Golden Rule Every Master Must Remember

There is one rule that has protected ships for decades:

The Bill of Lading must exactly match the Mate’s Receipt.

Not mostly.
Not commercially.
Exactly.

Why?

Because the Master signed the MR confirming:

“I received this cargo from this shipper at this place.”

Issuing a BL with a different shipper means the vessel is now stating something that may not be true.

That is how:

• Allegations of misrepresentation start
• P&I cover comes under question
• Masters are personally named in claims

This is not theory.
This is how real cases begin.

Hashtags:
#MasterResponsibility #ShippingLawBasics #PandiProtection #Seamanship

 

⚠️ 3️⃣ ‘We Will Give You a Letter’ — Why That Is Not Enough

Charterers often offer:

• A letter of undertaking
• A side letter
• An LOI

Let us be very clear — these letters protect you only against Charterers.

They do not protect you against:

• Banks
• Receivers
• Cargo interests
• Courts
• P&I Clubs (in many cases)

When a claim arises, the question will be simple:

Why did the ship issue a Bill of Lading that did not match the Mate’s Receipt?

At that moment, the letter quietly disappears from relevance.

Hashtags:
#LOIRisk #ShippingClaims #MaritimeReality #ShipOpsInsights

 

🚨 4️⃣ Re-Issuing or Changing the Mate’s Receipt — The Red Line

This is where risk becomes serious.

The MR is not a commercial document.
It is a statement of fact.

Changing or re-issuing it after loading can be viewed as:

• Document manipulation
• Misrepresentation
• In extreme cases, alleged fraud

From a ship’s perspective, this is the biggest danger point.

Once facts are altered on paper, the ship carries the burden — not the trader.

Hashtags:
#MaritimeCompliance #DocumentIntegrity #ShipSafety #MastersDuty

 

🧠 5️⃣ The Practical Master’s Conclusion

Let us summarise calmly and honestly:

✔️ Yes, this practice exists
❌ No, it is not safe
⚠️ Risk always sits with Owners and the Master

The safest approach remains:

• Issue BL exactly as per original MR
• Let Charterers manage their trade paperwork separately

If change is unavoidable:

• Cancel the original MR formally
• Obtain strong LOI
• Take P&I Club guidance
• Never allow two versions to exist simultaneously

Hashtags:
#ShipMasters #OperationalWisdom #RiskManagement #ShippingLife

 

☕ Final Word from the Bridge

“If the Mate’s Receipt is changed, the risk is transferred to the ship.”

This is not about being difficult.
It is about protecting:

• The Master
• The Owners
• The integrity of the voyage

Shipping rewards those who stay calm, clear, and correct — even under pressure.

 

🤝 Call to Action

If this situation sounds familiar, you are not alone.

👍 Like this post if it reflects real shipboard life
💬 Share your experience — how did you handle it?
🔁 Pass this on to a fellow Master or operator
➕ Follow ShipOpsInsights with Dattaram for grounded maritime wisdom

Let’s keep learning — together, honestly, and safely. ⚓