Glossary
What is the port of loading and port of discharge?
The port of loading (POL) is where goods are loaded onto the vessel. The port of discharge (POD) is where they are unloaded. Both appear on shipping documents and customs entries, and together they define the sea leg of a movement. |
Port of loading vs port of discharge
- POL — where cargo goes aboard. Under FOB, CFR and CIF, risk passes to the buyer here.
- POD — where cargo comes off. Not necessarily the final destination.
- Neither is the place of receipt or place of delivery, which cover the inland legs either side.
Port of lading or port of loading?
Both appear on documents. ‘Port of lading’ is older usage that survives mainly in the phrase bill of lading; ‘port of loading’ is standard on modern paperwork and in Incoterms practice. They mean the same thing but follow whichever form your carrier uses, because mismatches between invoice, transport document and declaration cause queries.
Why customs care about these fields
The port of loading determines which safety and security declarations apply and when they are due. The port of discharge determines where the import entry is filed. Get either wrong and the entry will not match the manifest at an inventory-linked port, that means the goods are not released.
iCustoms pulls port fields straight from your transport documents so entry and manifest always agree. |
