To-order (negotiable) bill of lading

An order bill is made out "to order" or to the order of a named person rather than simply to a named consignee. The Explanatory Notes to the UK Electronic Trade Documents Act 2023 describe indorsement as a written annotation on a document of title directing that the obligation be performed to the order of a named person or simply "to order" (paragraph 62). The DCSA shipping glossary describes endorsement as transferring title from shipper to consignee, or consignee to a new consignee, by the current title holder. The Rotterdam Rules (2008; not in force as at 17 October 2026) define a negotiable transport document as one indicating, by wording such as "to order" or "negotiable", that the goods are consigned to the order of the shipper, the consignee or to bearer (article 1(15)). Its holder is the person in possession who is named as shipper or consignee or to whom it is duly endorsed; a blank-endorsed order document makes the bearer the holder (article 1(10)(a)). In UK law, the Carriage of Goods by Sea Act 1992 treats a person who obtains the bill through a completed indorsement and delivery as its holder (section 5(2)(b)). Electronically, MLETR article 15 and section 3(1) of the 2023 Act allow indorsement of an electronic record.