Pier to pier

Pier-to-pier is a carriage basis where the carrier’s responsibility runs from the load-port pier to the discharge-port pier, not inland of either terminal. It is the container equivalent of port-to-port: the line takes the box at the origin terminal and delivers it at the destination terminal, leaving inland pre-carriage and on-carriage to the merchant. Pier-to-pier contrasts with door-to-door and intermodal through rates, where the carrier extends the contract to inland points. The bill of lading places the place of receipt and place of delivery at the two terminals, fixing where the carrier’s liability begins and ends.