A trader in Lagos ships goods to a buyer in Port Harcourt by sea. The document issued by the shipping company that serves as a receipt, a contract of carriage, and a document of title is called a

A bill of lading is issued by a shipping company and serves three key purposes: it is a receipt for goods shipped, a contract of carriage between the shipper and the carrier, and a document of title that can be used to claim the goods. An airway bill serves a similar purpose but is used in air transport, not sea transport.