X12 304 Shipping Instructions
This Draft Standard for Trial Use provides the format and establishes the data contents of the Shipment Instructions Transaction Set (304) for use within the context of an Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) environment.
When this transaction set is transmitted to an ocean carrier, it provides all the information necessary to prepare and distribute a contract of carriage such as an ocean bill of lading, sea waybill, and other shipping documents. When this transaction set is transmitted to a freight forwarder or customs broker, it provides for the transmission of shipping and financial information required by the forwarder or customs broker to move cargo and provide the services requested.
- ~ Segment
- * Element
- > Component
- None included
Interchange Control Header
To start and identify an interchange of zero or more functional groups and interchange-related control segments
Code to identify the type of information in the Authorization Information
- 00
- No Authorization Information Present (No Meaningful Information in I02)
Information used for additional identification or authorization of the interchange sender or the data in the interchange; the type of information is set by the Authorization Information Qualifier (I01)
Code to identify the type of information in the Security Information
- 00
- No Security Information Present (No Meaningful Information in I04)
This is used for identifying the security information about the interchange sender or the data in the interchange; the type of information is set by the Security Information Qualifier (I03)
Qualifier to designate the system/method of code structure used to designate the sender or receiver ID element being qualified
Identification code published by the sender for other parties to use as the receiver ID to route data to them; the sender always codes this value in the sender ID element
Qualifier to designate the system/method of code structure used to designate the sender or receiver ID element being qualified
Identification code published by the receiver of the data; When sending, it is used by the sender as their sending ID, thus other parties sending to them will use this as a receiving ID to route data to them
Code to identify the agency responsible for the control standard used by the message that is enclosed by the interchange header and trailer
- U
- U.S. EDI Community of ASC X12, TDCC, and UCS
This version number covers the interchange control segments
- 00401
- Draft Standards for Trial Use Approved for Publication by ASC X12 Procedures Review Board through October 1997
A control number assigned by the interchange sender
Code sent by the sender to request an interchange acknowledgment (TA1)
- 0
- No Acknowledgment Requested
- 1
- Interchange Acknowledgment Requested
Code to indicate whether data enclosed by this interchange envelope is test, production or information
- I
- Information
- P
- Production Data
- T
- Test Data
Type is not applicable; the component element separator is a delimiter and not a data element; this field provides the delimiter used to separate component data elements within a composite data structure; this value must be different than the data element separator and the segment terminator
- >
- Component Element Separator
Functional Group Header
To indicate the beginning of a functional group and to provide control information
Code identifying a group of application related transaction sets
- SO
- Ocean Shipment Information (304, 306, 309, 311, 317, 319, 321, 322, 323, 324, 325, 350, 352, 353, 354, 355, 356, 357, 358, 361)
Code identifying party sending transmission; codes agreed to by trading partners
Code identifying party receiving transmission. Codes agreed to by trading partners
Time expressed in 24-hour clock time as follows: HHMM, or HHMMSS, or HHMMSSD, or HHMMSSDD, where H = hours (00-23), M = minutes (00-59), S = integer seconds (00-59) and DD = decimal seconds; decimal seconds are expressed as follows: D = tenths (0-9) and DD = hundredths (00-99)
Assigned number originated and maintained by the sender
Code used in conjunction with Data Element 480 to identify the issuer of the standard
- T
- Transportation Data Coordinating Committee (TDCC)
- X
- Accredited Standards Committee X12
Code indicating the version, release, subrelease, and industry identifier of the EDI standard being used, including the GS and GE segments; if code in DE455 in GS segment is X, then in DE 480 positions 1-3 are the version number; positions 4-6 are the release and subrelease, level of the version; and positions 7-12 are the industry or trade association identifiers (optionally assigned by user); if code in DE455 in GS segment is T, then other formats are allowed
- 004010
- Draft Standards Approved for Publication by ASC X12 Procedures Review Board through October 1997
Heading
Transaction Set Header
To indicate the start of a transaction set and to assign a control number
Code uniquely identifying a Transaction Set
- The transaction set identifier (ST01) used by the translation routines of the interchange partners to select the appropriate transaction set definition (e.g., 810 selects the Invoice Transaction Set).
- 304
- Shipping Instructions
Identifying control number that must be unique within the transaction set functional group assigned by the originator for a transaction set
Beginning Segment for Shipment Information Transaction
To transmit basic data relating to shipment information
Example: B2PPSCACCIX01925PP~
Code specifying the types of services for rating purposes
- DD
- Door-to-Door
- DP
- Door-to-Pier
- PD
- Pier-to-Door
- PP
- Pier-to-Pier
Standard Carrier Alpha Code
- B202 contains the Standard Carrier Alpha Code (SCAC) of the carrier that will receive the bill of lading.
- B202 is mandatory for transaction set 204.
Carrier's SCAC should be provided to fulfill EDI requirement. N1_02_93 with N1_01_98 ="CA" will be used for carrier identification.
Identification number assigned to the shipment by the shipper that uniquely identifies the shipment from origin to ultimate destination and is not subject to modification; (Does not contain blanks or special characters)
Shipment Identification Number will be the key / identifier of a Shipping Instruction for Amendment.
If N902 (with qualifier N901= SI) is used, same value as B204 should be
provided.
Code identifying payment terms for transportation charges
- CC
- Collect
- MX
- Mixed
- PP
- Prepaid (by Seller)
Set Purpose
To allow for positive identification of transaction set purpose
Example: B2A*00~
Code identifying purpose of transaction set
For any unrecognized value, CargoSmart will default to Original transaction.
- 00
- Original
- 05
- Replace
Reference Identification
To transmit identifying information as specified by the Reference Identification Qualifier
Booking Number should always be provided.
Example: N9BN1001801570~
Code qualifying the Reference Identification
- BM
- Bill of Lading Number
- BN
- Booking Number
Mandatory.
- CEC
- Enterprise Code for Consignee
For custom manifest purpose.
- CG
- Consignee's Order Number
- CR
- Customer Reference Number
- CS
- Condition of Sale Document Number
- CT
- Contract Number
- EP
- Export Permit Number
- FI
- File Identifier
- FN
- Forwarder's/Agent's Reference Number
- HB
- Bill & Hold Invoice Number
House Bill of Lading Number.
- IK
- Invoice Number
- NEC
- Enterprise Code for Notify Party
For custom manifest purpose.
- PO
- Purchase Order Number
- Q1
- Quote Number
- RF
- Export Reference Number
- SEC
- Enterprise Code for Shipper
For custom manifest purpose.
- SI
- Shipper's Identifying Number for Shipment (SID)
Please provide the same value in B2_04_145 to uniquely identify Shipping Instruction. If different values are provided, B2_04_145 will be used to submit to carrier.
- SO
- Shipper's Order (Invoice Number)
- TN
- Transaction Reference Number
Used to provide ITN (Internal Transaction Number), or NDR (No Declaration Required) if ITN is not required for AES (Automated Export Systems).
Reference information as defined for a particular Transaction Set or as specified by the Reference Identification Qualifier
Vessel Identification
To provide vessel details and voyage number
CargoSmart supports ONLY 1 V1 segment.
Example: V19301794Jakarta ExpressHK021WOOLU**L~
Name of ship as documented in "Lloyd's Register of Ships"
Identifying designator for the particular flight or voyage on which the cargo travels
Standard Carrier Alpha Code
- V105 identifies the ocean carrier.
Carrier's SCAC should be provided to fulfill EDI requirement. N1_02_93 with N1_01_98="CA" will be used for carrier identification.
Code specifying vessel code source
- C
- Ship's Radio Call Signal
- L
- Lloyd's Register of Shipping
Name
To identify a party by type of organization, name, and code
For SOLAS VGM (Verified Gross Mass), weighing party can be provided in N1 with N101 = R1. If VGM are obtained by multiple weighing parties, N1_04_67 should be used to specify the container number with check digit and N1_03_66 = "ZZ".
Examples:
N1N1SHANGHAI HAOYUN INTL LOGISTICS CO LTD~
N1CAOOLU~
N1R1LOADING CO PTEZZCNTR1234567~
Code identifying an organizational entity, a physical location, property or an individual
- CA
- Carrier
CargoSmart Required.
- CN
- Consignee
CargoSmart Required.
- FW
- Forwarder
- N1
- Notify Party no. 1
Notify Party.
- N2
- Notify Party no. 2
Additional Notify Party.
- R1
- Party to Receive Scale Ticket
For SOLAS VGM (Verified Gross Mass) weighing party.
- SH
- Shipper
CargoSmart Required.
- SI
- Shipping Schedule Issuer
CargoSmart Required.
Free-form name
This is mandatory for N1_01_98="CA",this field must be SCAC of the carrier. In case Consignee is pending to confirm, "TO ORDER" (case sensitive) must be provided in this element.
Code designating the system/method of code structure used for Identification Code (67)
- 25
- Carrier's Customer Code
- ZZ
- Mutually Defined
Used when multiple weighing parties in 1 shipment.
Code identifying a party or other code
- This segment, used alone, provides the most efficient method of providing organizational identification. To obtain this efficiency the "ID Code" (N104) must provide a key to the table maintained by the transaction processing party.
If N1_01_98 = "R1", this element is container number with check digit. For other cases, carrier customer code can be provided. REQUIRED when N1_01_98="SI".
Additional Name Information
To specify additional names or those longer than 35 characters in length
If N101 = R1 (Weighing party), N2 should be provided as the signature (name in capitals of the person authorized) to sign the document declaring the verified gross mass.
Examples:
N2Canning Company Limited~
N2CHRIS WONG~
Address Information
To specify the location of the named party
Customer is required to preserve their Party information format in EDI. CargoSmart recommends to preserve a complete word in the same data element. The Party information will be truncated if exceeds maximum length supported by carrier
Example:
N3300 Park Blvd. Suite 350Itasca, IL 60143 (USA)~ (Correct)
N3300 Park Blvd. Suite 350, Itasca, IL 60143 (USA)~ (Incorrect)
Geographic Location
To specify the geographic place of the named party
Example: N4SAN PEDROCA90731US~
Free-form text for city name
- A combination of either N401 through N404, or N405 and N406 may be adequate to specify a location.
Code (Standard State/Province) as defined by appropriate government agency
- N402 is required only if city name (N401) is in the U.S. or Canada.
Code defining international postal zone code excluding punctuation and blanks (zip code for United States)
Code identifying type of location
- D
- Census Schedule D
- K
- Census Schedule K
- UN
- United Nations Location Code (UNLOCODE)
Contact
To identify a person or office to whom communications should be directed
Example:
G61ICLOS ANGELES OCEAN CARGO EXPORTTE(310) 241-1600~
Code identifying the major duty or responsibility of the person or group named
- IC
- Information Contact
Code identifying the type of communication number
- G6103 qualifies G6104.
- EM
- Electronic Mail
- FX
- Facsimile
- TE
- Telephone
Complete communications number including country or area code when applicable
Port or Terminal
Contractual or operational port or point relevant to the movement of the cargo
CargoSmart recommends using UN/ECE location Code to present location, where some carriers request it as mandatory information.
Example: R4RUNUSLAXLOS ANGELES, CA, USA*US~
Code defining function performed at the port or terminal with respect to a shipment
- D
- Port of Discharge (Operational)
Mandatory.
- E
- Place of Delivery (Contractual)
CargoSmart recommends to provide Place of Delivery as required by some carriers to avoid SI rejection from carrier.
- F
- Freight Payable At (Contractual)
- L
- Port of Loading (Operational)
Mandatory.
- Q
- Bill of Lading Origin of Goods (Contractual)
- R
- Place of Receipt (Contractual)
CargoSmart recommends to provide Place of Receipt as required by some carriers to avoid SI rejection from carrier.
- W
- Bill of Lading Release Office (Operational)
Code identifying type of location
- D
- Census Schedule D
- K
- Census Schedule K
- UN
- United Nations Location Code (UNLOCODE)
CargoSmart highly recommends UN/ECE code, which generally accepted by carriers.
Code which identifies a specific location
This field is mandatory for R401="L" and R401="D".
Free-form name for the place at which an offshore carrier originates or terminates (by transshipment or otherwise) its actual ocean carriage of property
Code (Standard State/Province) as defined by appropriate government agency
Route Information
To specify carrier and routing sequences and details
Example: R2OOLUO**********02~
Code describing the relationship of a carrier to a specific shipment movement
- O
- Origin Carrier (Air, Motor, or Ocean)
Code specifying extent of transportation service requested
- 02
- FCL/FCL
- 03
- LCL/LCL
- 82
- FCL/LCL
- 83
- LCL/FCL
Certifications and Clauses
To specify applicable certifications and clauses
Example: C8*20No Shipper's Export Declaration Required~
Code identifying certification/clause information
- 01
- Shipper's Load and Count
- 02
- Shipper's Load, Stowage and Count
- 03
- Laden on Board
- 04
- Laden on Board Vessel
- 11
- Memo Bill of Lading Only
- 20
- No Shipper's Export Declaration Required (Section 30.39)
- 22
- On Board Rail
- 24
- On Board Vessel
- 25
- Received For Shipment
- 34
- Laden on Board Named Vessel
- CC
- Custom
Free-form description of commercial invoice certification/clause
Certifications Clauses Continuation
To specify additional applicable certifications and clauses
Example: C8C*CERT CLAUSE TEXT~
Free-form description of commercial invoice certification/clause
Free-form description of commercial invoice certification/clause
Free-form description of commercial invoice certification/clause
Detail
Assigned Number
To reference a line number in a transaction set
Example: LX*1~
Number assigned for differentiation within a transaction set
Equipment Details
To identify the equipment
CargoSmart accepts only one L0 loop in each LX loop, while N7 loop can be multiple. Please refer the detailed container load plan in N7 and L0 loop at the end of implementation guideline.
Example:
N7XXXX8516627616.21G*58.825X*N*K3*42G0~
Prefix or alphabetic part of an equipment unit's identifying number
- N701 is mandatory for rail transactions.
Sequencing or serial part of an equipment unit's identifying number (pure numeric form for equipment number is preferred)
Code identifying the volume unit
- E
- Cubic Feet
- X
- Cubic Meters
Code indicating the relationship of equipment to carrier or ownership of equipment
- N
- Not Customer Owned or Leased
Carrier Provided Container.
- S
- Customer Owned or Leased
Shipper Owned Container (SOC).
Code specifying the weight unit
- E
- Metric Ton
- K
- Kilograms
- L
- Pounds
Number which designates the check digit applied to a piece of equipment
Quantity
To specify quantity information
To indicate the number of outer package of the commodity that is loaded into the container.
Example: QTY3920~
Code specifying the type of quantity
- 39
- Shipped Quantity
Numeric value of quantity
Number of Outer package which the cargo packed into the container. Must be valid whole number with no decimal and commas.
Seal Numbers
To record seal numbers used and the organization that applied the seals
Maximum 35 characters for the seal number can be used. M702 and M703 will be used if seal number is longer than 15 characters.
Example: M7284520***CA~
Code identifying an organizational entity, a physical location, property or an individual
- M705 indicates the name of the organization which applied the seal(s).
Required for carrier and shipper as seal issuer.
- CA
- Carrier
- SH
- Shipper
Equipment and Temperature
To relate equipment type and required temperatures
Example: W09CZ0CE4V*10~
Code identifying type of equipment used for shipment
- CZ
- Refrigerated Container
Temperature
- W0902 is the minimum allowable temperature condition for shipment; (the qualifying temperature scale is specified in W0903).
Code specifying the units in which a value is being expressed, or manner in which a measurement has been taken
- CE
- Centigrade, Celsius
- FA
- Fahrenheit
Code specifying the units in which a value is being expressed, or manner in which a measurement has been taken
For reefer container air flow unit.
- 2L
- Cubic Feet Per Minute
- 4V
- Cubic Meter Per Hour
Free-form text
- W0906 is used to describe the environment required within an ocean-type, refrigerated container when other than normal air is required.
Remarks for Reefer Containers.
Numeric value of quantity
- W0909 is the number of air exchanges per hour.
For reefer container air flow value.
Verified Gross Mass Measurement Method
To transmit identifying information as specified by the Reference Identification Qualifier
To specify the SOLAS VGM (Verified Gross Mass) value, unit and measurement method. If SOLAS VGM value is provided, VGM unit and measurement method should also be provided.
Example:
N9VGD1~
Code qualifying the Reference Identification
- VGD
- Verified Gross Mass Measurement Method
Reference information as defined for a particular Transaction Set or as specified by the Reference Identification Qualifier
- 1
- Method 1
- 2
- Method 2
Verified Gross Mass Unit
To transmit identifying information as specified by the Reference Identification Qualifier
To specify the SOLAS VGM (Verified Gross Mass) value, unit and measurement method. If SOLAS VGM value is provided, VGM unit and measurement method should also be provided.
Example:
N9VGUK~
Code qualifying the Reference Identification
- VGU
- Verified Gross Mass Unit
Reference information as defined for a particular Transaction Set or as specified by the Reference Identification Qualifier
- K
- Kilograms
- L
- Pounds
Verified Gross Mass Value
To transmit identifying information as specified by the Reference Identification Qualifier
To specify the SOLAS VGM (Verified Gross Mass) value, unit and measurement method. If SOLAS VGM value is provided, VGM unit and measurement method should also be provided.
Example:
N9VGM5212.6~
Code qualifying the Reference Identification
- VGM
- Verified Gross Mass Value
Reference information as defined for a particular Transaction Set or as specified by the Reference Identification Qualifier
Line Item - Quantity and Weight
To specify quantity, weight, volume, and type of service for a line item including applicable "quantity/rate-as" data
CargoSmart accepts only one L0 loop in each LX loop, while N7 loop can be multiple. Please refer the detailed container load plan in N7 and L0 loop at the end of implementation guideline.
Example: L0119136G16.550X17*PCSL~
Sequential line number for a lading item
Code defining the type of weight
- G
- Gross Weight
- N
- Actual Net Weight
Code identifying the volume unit
- E
- Cubic Feet
- X
- Cubic Meters
Number of units (pieces) of the lading commodity
- L008 is the number of handling units of the line item tendered to the carrier.
Code for packaging form of the lading quantity
Please refer to the Appendix for the full list.
Code specifying the weight unit
- E
- Metric Ton
- K
- Kilograms
- L
- Pounds
Measurement
To describe physical dimensions and quantities
Required for Awkward Cargo.
Example: L4111X*7~
Largest horizontal dimension of an object measured when the object is in the upright position
Shorter measurement of the two horizontal dimensions measured with the object in the upright position
Vertical dimension of an object measured when the object is in the upright position
Code specifying the linear dimensional unit
- C
- Centimeters
- N
- Inches
Description, Marks and Numbers
To specify the line item in terms of description, quantity, packaging, and marks and numbers
Each L503 supports only 1 HS code. For multiple HS codes within same L0 group, multiple L5 segments should be provided.
Example: L52BIO-CHLOR IN 25KG BAGS~
Sequential line number for a lading item
Description of an item as required for rating and billing purposes
- L502 may be used to send quantity information as part of the product description.
Code describing a commodity or group of commodities
Code identifying the commodity coding system used for Commodity Code
- J
- Harmonized System-Based Schedule B
Marks and numbers used to identify a shipment or parts of a shipment
Reference Identification
To transmit identifying information as specified by the Reference Identification Qualifier
Code qualifying the Reference Identification
- IX
- Item Number
- PO
- Purchase Order Number
- SKU
- Stock Keeping Unit
- TN
- Transaction Reference Number
- TS
- Tariff Number
Reference information as defined for a particular Transaction Set or as specified by the Reference Identification Qualifier
Hazardous Material
To specify information relative to hazardous material
H1 Loop is required for Dangerous Cargo.
Example: H112633IPAINT604-986-4617***III~
Code relating to hazardous material code qualifier for regulated hazardous materials
Code specifying the kind of hazard for a material
Code which qualifies the Hazardous Material Class Code (209)
- I
- Intergovernmental Maritime Organization (IMO) Code
Phone number and name of person or department to contact in case of emergency
The United Nations page number as required for the international transport of hazardous materials
The flashpoint temperature for hazardous material
- H107 is the lowest temperature for hazardous materials.
Code specifying the units in which a value is being expressed, or manner in which a measurement has been taken
- CE
- Centigrade, Celsius
- FA
- Fahrenheit
Code indicating degree of danger in terms of Roman number I, II or III
Additional Hazardous Material Description
To specify free-form hazardous material descriptive data in addition to the information provided in the H1 segment
H2_02 will be handled as supplement information for related hazard material if below qualifier is provided in H2_01.
EMS: EMS number
PSN: Proper Shipping Name
Example: H2PSNPROPER SHIPPING NAME~
Summary
Total Weight and Charges
To specify the total shipment in terms of weight, volume, rates, charges, advances, and prepaid amounts applicable to one or more line items
Example: L323276.65G*****16X*1K~
Code identifying the volume unit
- E
- Cubic Feet
- X
- Cubic Meters
Number of units (pieces) of the lading commodity
Paperwork
To identify the type or transmission or both of paperwork or supporting information
Only 1 of document type (BL, SW or ZZ) should be provided. ZZ is supported by some carriers only with specific usage and not for BL print purpose, e.g. custom manifest purpose.
Example: PWKBLEI*0~
Code indicating the title or contents of a document, report or supporting item
CargoSmart supports all 4 types below, while only few carriers extends support for House Bill of lading (ZZ).
- BC
- Bill of Lading Copy
- BL
- Bill of Lading
For Original Bill of Lading, please use BL.
- SW
- Sea Waybill
- ZZ
- Mutually Defined
House Bill of Lading.
Code defining timing, transmission method or format by which reports are to be sent
- CS
- CargoSmart Online BL
- EI
- EDI Transmission
- EL
- Electronically Only
- FX
- By Fax
- OT
- Others
- PO
- Printed Original Required
The number of copies of a report that should be sent to the addressee
A free-form description to clarify the related data elements and their content
- PWK07 may be used to indicate special information to be shown on the specified report.
For freighted bill of lading, please provide FREIGHTED.
Remarks
To transmit information in a free-form format for comment or special instruction
Example:
K1*FCL/FCL Shippers Weight, Load,*Stowage and Count Non Negotia~
Transaction Set Trailer
To indicate the end of the transaction set and provide the count of the transmitted segments (including the beginning (ST) and ending (SE) segments)
Total number of segments included in a transaction set including ST and SE segments
Identifying control number that must be unique within the transaction set functional group assigned by the originator for a transaction set
Functional Group Trailer
To indicate the end of a functional group and to provide control information
Total number of transaction sets included in the functional group or interchange (transmission) group terminated by the trailer containing this data element
Assigned number originated and maintained by the sender
Interchange Control Trailer
To define the end of an interchange of zero or more functional groups and interchange-related control segments
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