MBL and HBL (Master and House Bill of Lading)
Two layers of bills of lading: the MBL issued by the ocean carrier to a forwarder, and the HBL issued by the forwarder or NVOCC to the actual shipper.
TL;DR: The Master Bill of Lading (MBL) is issued by the shipping line, usually to a freight forwarder. The House Bill of Lading (HBL) is issued by that forwarder or NVOCC to the real shipper of the goods.
When a freight forwarder or NVOCC books space with an ocean carrier, the carrier issues an MBL. On the MBL, the forwarder or its agent is usually shown as shipper, and its destination agent as consignee. The forwarder then issues its own HBL to the seller, showing the seller as shipper and the buyer, or a bank, as consignee.
This setup is very common for LCL, where one forwarder consolidates cargo from many shippers into one container under a single MBL. Each shipper gets its own HBL. It is also common for FCL shipments booked through a forwarder.
For the buyer, the practical point is knowing which document releases the cargo. With an HBL, you usually collect a delivery order from the forwarder’s destination agent, not directly from the shipping line. The agent must receive release from the carrier under the MBL first. Delays or unpaid charges at either level can hold up delivery.
When a shipment is booked through a forwarder, ask whether you will receive an MBL or an HBL, and get the MBL number too. The container is usually tracked on the carrier’s website using the MBL or container number, which gives a more direct view than the forwarder’s updates. See also Bill of Lading, Freight Forwarder, and NVOCC.