海運(yùn)提單(marine bill of lading or ocean bill of lading)，或簡稱為提單(bill of lading, b/l)，是國際結(jié)算中的一種最重要的單據(jù)?！稘h堡規(guī)則》給提單下的定義是：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.
《中華人民共和國海商法》(1993年7月1日施行)第71條規(guī)定：“提單，是指用以證明海上貨物運(yùn)輸合同和貨物已經(jīng)由承運(yùn)人接收或者裝船，以及承運(yùn)人保證據(jù)以交付貨物的單證。提單中載明的向記名人交付貨物，或者按照指示人的指示交付貨物，或者向提單持有人交付貨物的條款，構(gòu)成承運(yùn)人據(jù)以交付貨物的保證?！?br>提單的主要關(guān)系人是簽訂運(yùn)輸合同的雙方：托運(yùn)人和承運(yùn)人。托運(yùn)人即貨方，承運(yùn)人即船方。其他關(guān)系人有收貨人和被通知人等。收貨人通常是貨物買賣合同中的買方，被通知人是承運(yùn)人為了方便貨主提貨的通知對象，可能不是與貨權(quán)有關(guān)的當(dāng)事人。如果提單發(fā)生轉(zhuǎn)讓，則會出現(xiàn)受讓人、持有人等提單關(guān)系人。