HOW TO DETERMINE SHIPMENT DATE IN A CHARTER PARTY BILL OF LADING?

QUESTION

Dear Mr. Old Man,

I have a query regarding on board date for a Charter party BL

BL states as below

“SHIPPED ON BOARD

FREIGHT PAYABLE AS PER CHARTER PARTY

XXXXX

XXXXX

LOADING COMPLETED ON 23 May 2024”

No other on board notation anywhere. And date of issue is 23 Jul 2024

What will be the shipment date for maturity calculation, 23 May or 23 Jul

Confused between G5a and 6c of ISBP.

Also what exactly counts as “pre-printed “on board notation.

Thanks & Regards,

Alok Pathak

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ANSWER

Hi,

“Shipped on board” refers to the date when the goods have been shipped on board the ship completely.

According to sub-article 22 (a) (ii) UCP 600, the date of issuance of the charter party bill of lading (CPBL) will be deemed the date of shipment unless the CPBL contains an on board notation indicating the date of shipment, in which case the date stated in the on board notation will be deemed to be the date of shipment.

The CPBL in question contains a shipped on board notation that states the loading was completed on 23 May 2024.This date is deemed to be the shipment date.

I see G5 and G6c ISBP 821 are clear as to how to determine the shipment date on a CPBL. No confusion!

Best regards,

Mr. Old Man

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For Readers’ convenient reference:

ISBP 821 para. G5) a:

When a pre-printed “Shipped on board” charter party bill of lading is presented, its issuance date will be deemed to be the date of shipment unless it bears a separate dated on board notation. In the latter event, such date will be deemed to be the date of shipment whether that date is before or after the issuance date of the charter party bill of lading. The on board date may also be indicated in a designated field or box.

ISBP 821 para. G6) c:

Notwithstanding that a credit may require a charter party bill of lading to evidence a port-to-port shipment, when a charter party bill of lading:

1. indicates a place of receipt different from the port of loading, for example, place of receipt Amsterdam and port of loading Rotterdam, and there is an indication of a means of pre-carriage (either in the pre-carriage field or the place of receipt field), regardless of whether it is pre-printed “shipped on board” or “received for shipment”, it is to bear a dated on board notation which also indicates the name of the vessel and the port of loading stated in the credit. Such notation may also appear in a designated field or box. The date appearing in the on board notation or designated field or box will be deemed to be the date of shipment.
2. indicates a means of pre-carriage (either in the pre-carriage field or the place of receipt field), no matter if no place of receipt is stated, or whether it is pre-printed “shipped on board” or “received for shipment”, it is to bear a dated on board notation which also indicates the name of the vessel and the port of loading stated in the credit. Such notation may also appear in a designated field or box. The date appearing in the on board notation or designated field or box will be deemed to be the date of shipment.