Beneficial Cargo Owner Definition:
This is an individual or entity that takes possession of a shipment or container when it gets to its destination.
A BCO is known as the importer on record. This is the actual owner or importer who takes physical possession of the cargo when it arrives at the destination. They usually assume ownership rights even if they don't own the legal title. It also means that the BCO has vested interests in the shipment and stands to benefit from its arrival. BCOs usually work with several parties or entities, such as container transport owners, service providers, and other shipping and logistics systems and processes.
