海运提单(Marine Bill of Lading or Ocean Bill of Lading),或简称为提单(Bill of Lading, B/L),是国际结算中的一种最重要的单据。《汉堡规则》给提单下的定义是:Bill of lading, means a document which evidences a contract of carriage by sea and the taking over or loading of the goods by the carrier, and by which the carrier undertakes to deliver the goods against surrender of the document. A provision in the document that the goods are to be delivered to the order of the document. A provision in the document that the goods are to be delivered to the order of a named person, or to order, or to bearer, constitutes such an undertaking.
《中华人民共和国海商法》(
提单的主要关系人是签订运输合同的双方:托运人和承运人。托运人即货方,承运人即船方。其他关系人有收货人和被通知人等。收货人通常是货物买卖合同中的买方,被通知人是承运人为了方便货主提货的通知对象,可能不是与货权有关的当事人。如果提单发生转让,则会出现受让人、持有人等提单关系人。