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Yes. The release notice that frees cargo at the destination may travel by telex, email, or fax; fax is common because it leaves a dated paper trail both sides can file. The consignee then collects the cargo with the faxed released-B/L copy. Never send a telex release until the original bill of lading is surrendered and freight is paid.
A telex release lets the consignee pick up cargo without presenting the original bill of lading. It is an instruction from the shipper (or the shipper's agent) to the carrier's destination agent: release this cargo to this consignee. The name is a fossil from the telex-machine era; today the message usually travels by fax or email, but the trade still calls it a telex release.
| Step | Who acts | How fax fits |
|---|---|---|
| Shipper surrenders the original B/L | Shipper or shipper's agent | The original goes back to the carrier's origin office |
| Freight and charges are paid | Shipper | Carriers will not release against unpaid freight |
| Release instruction sent to destination | Carrier's origin office | This message may go by telex, email, or fax |
| Destination agent releases the cargo | Carrier's destination agent | Consignee shows ID and the faxed release copy |
At minimum: the bill of lading number, vessel name and voyage number, port of loading, port of discharge, the consignee's name exactly as on the B/L, the container or booking reference, and a clear statement that the cargo is released without presentation of the original bill of lading. Add the date, the sender's company letterhead or stamp, and a signature. Vague wording ("please release shipment") causes port agents to call back; spell out the B/L number and the exact consignee.
Time and security. Mailing the original B/L to the consignee can take days, during which the container sits at the terminal racking up demurrage and detention charges. A telex release costs the shipper little and gets the cargo moving the same day. It also avoids the nightmare scenario: the original B/L lost in transit, with the cargo stuck while a lost-instrument process runs. For frequent trade partners who trust each other, the telex release is simply the cheaper, faster default.
The big one is releasing to the wrong party. Once the destination agent hands over the cargo, it is gone; if the release named the wrong consignee, recovering the goods is a legal mess. Confirm the consignee name letter by letter against the bill of lading before sending. Also confirm the destination fax number directly with the agent's office: a release faxed to the wrong terminal is both useless and a security problem, since it tells whoever receives it that cargo is ready for pickup.
Usually yes. The faxed release gets them in the door, but the terminal will also want photo ID matching the consignee name, and possibly an arrival notice, a delivery order, or a customs release form depending on the country and cargo. Tell the consignee what to bring before they drive to the port. Ports turn away under-prepared consignees routinely, and every return trip costs a day.
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