BUSAN KOREA AND BUSAN SOUTH KOREA

QUESTION

Dear Mr. Old Man,

Could you please do me a favour?

L/C stipulates: PORT OF DISCHARGE: BUSAN, SOUTH KOREA

B/L presented shows: PORT OF DISCHARGE: BUSAN, KOREA

Am I correct if I say the B/L is acceptable?

Looking forward to hearing from you soon.

Regards,

DTT

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ANSWER

Hi,

You are correct. The described B/L is acceptable. “Busan, Korea” and “Busan, South Korea” are one. No misunderstanding!

What’s more. The B/L is acceptable even if the name “Korea” or “South Korea” is not indicated.

According to ICC Opinion TA708rev, there is no requirement in UCP or international standard banking practice for the country name to appear against a stated city shown as the place of receipt, port of loading, port of discharge … Absence of the country name is not a reason for refusal, notwithstanding that such words are stated in the L/C.

The above ICC Opinion was incorporated into ISBP 745 and now ISBP 821 paragraph E9:

“E9) A bill of lading is to indicate the port of discharge stated in the credit. When a credit indicates the port of discharge by also stating the country in which the port is located, the name of the country need not be stated”.

Best regards,

Mr. Old Man