Which statement best describes a Sea Waybill in relation to a Bill of Lading?

• A. Sea Waybill is a document of title.
• B. Sea Waybill is not a document of title and cannot normally transfer title.
• C. Sea Waybill always includes cargo insurance.
• D. Sea Waybill and Bill of Lading are identical.

Answer: (B)

A Sea Waybill serves as evidence of the contract of carriage and as a receipt for the goods, but it is not a document of title and cannot normally transfer ownership. That distinction matters because a bill of lading can be a document of title; when it is negotiable, title to the goods can pass by endorsement or delivery of the document. With a Sea Waybill, delivery is typically to a named consignee without transferring title through the document itself, which is why it’s non‑negotiable. Insurance for the cargo is not automatically included in a Sea Waybill and would be a separate arrangement. So this statement correctly highlights that a Sea Waybill is not a document of title and cannot normally transfer title, unlike a bill of lading.