Telex Release
A Telex Release is a message from the carrier or origin agent to the destination agent authorising release of the cargo without presentation of an original bill of lading. It is issued after the shipper surrenders all the original bills at origin, confirming they no longer hold title, so the goods can be released to the named consignee at destination.
The name is a legacy of the telex era; today it is an electronic confirmation. A telex release solves the common problem of original bills not reaching the destination before the cargo does — avoiding demurrage while originals are couriered — while still using a negotiable bill of lading rather than a sea waybill.
Cargo often arrives before the paper does. A telex release lets the shipper surrender the originals at origin and have the goods released at destination on that authorisation — keeping the negotiable bill of lading while avoiding the demurrage and courier risk of moving originals across the world.
How does a telex release work?
The shipper surrenders all original bills of lading at origin; the origin agent then messages the destination agent to release the cargo without an original.
How is a telex release different from a sea waybill?
A telex release still uses a negotiable bill of lading (surrendered at origin); a sea waybill is non-negotiable from the outset.