Clean On-Board Bill of Lading: Meaning for Letter of Credit Payment
What 'clean' and 'on board' mean on a bill of lading presented under a Letter of Credit.
Reviewed by LCCheck team (owner-approved) · 2026-10-12
Short answer
A clean bill of lading bears no clause or notation expressly declaring a defective condition of the goods or packaging (UCP 600 Art. 27). An on-board bill of lading shows the goods were loaded on a named vessel, either by pre-printed wording or an on-board notation (Art. 20(a)(ii)). Banks accept only clean transport documents, and the word 'clean' need not appear.
| Clean | No clause declaring defective goods or packaging (Art. 27) |
|---|---|
| On board | Pre-printed wording or dated notation (Art. 20) |
| 'Clean' word needed? | No |
Not clean
- 'Packaging torn'.
- 'Cartons wet'.
- 'Goods damaged on receipt'.
Usually acceptable
- 'Shipper's load and count'.
- 'Said to contain'.
Check
- Notations on every original.
- On-board date before 44C.
Sources
General guidance, not legal advice. Your bank examines documents independently.
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