Shipping Order (SO) 

A Shipping Order (SO) is a document issued by carriers to shippers confirming that both equipment and space for a shipment on a chosen ship is available and has been booked. 

An SO acts as a receipt of booking cargo space with a carrier and it can be used in insurance claims as evidence of shipment should cargo be damaged. But more importantly, an SO contains crucial information that the shipper and/or forwarder will need for a straightforward shipping experience. 

The SO will outline standard details about the shipment such as the shipper, receiver, and booking information. The Shipping Order will also state where the shipper can pick up their empty container from, the vessel number, and the sailing time. 

Most Shipping Orders contain: 

• The space booking number 
• Contact details of the shipper/customs broker/freight forwarder 
• The reference number of the vessel transporting the goods 
• The voyage number 
• When the vessel is due to depart 
• The delivery location and date 
• The number of packages in the consignment 

One final use for an SO is to keep all parties well-informed regarding the shipping agreement, what is being shipped, and to where, ensuring that all parties involved have the correct information. 

At the start of the shipping process, the carrier will issue an SO to the seller of the goods to confirm the booking. Once the carrier has transported the cargo, it will then issue a shipping order to the buyer which they can present to customs officials to facilitate the customs clearance process.