“Commencing on the Same Means of Conveyance” — What Exactly Does Article 31(b) Mean? INTRO Every now and then, a single word in UCP 600 sparks an entire chain of questions. This time, it’s the word “commencing” in Article 31(b)—a term that often confuses practitioners when multiple bills of lading, pre-carriage, transshipment, and partial shipments are involved. Below is my detailed response to a reader’s excellent set of questions on how Article 31(b) interacts … Read More
LC Practice Insight: “Any Port in Vietnam” & Understanding ISBP 821 B2(e)(i) Alfred recently raised two excellent questions on port flexibility in LCs and the meaning of multiple on-board dates under ISBP. Here is a quick breakdown for practitioners: “Any port in Vietnam” — one port or multiple? When an LC states “shipment from any port in Vietnam”, the BL must show one specific port of loading (e.g., Hai Phong Port). It … Read More
When Four Routing Fields Appear… but the LC Still Asks for an AWB Every now and then, Mr. Old Man receives a question that quietly whispers: “Somebody drafted this LC on a Friday afternoon…” Today’s case is one of those — when the LC includes all four routing fields (44A, 44E, 44F, 44B) but still requires an Air Waybill. Let’s untangle the knot. QUESTION Dear Sir, Under airfreight with EXW – Seller’s Factory … Read More
Feeder Vs. Ocean Vessel: Which One Must the On Board Notation Indicate? Intro Under a port-to-port LC (fields 44E and 44F), the bank expects a marine bill of lading that evidences shipment on board the ocean-going vessel performing the voyage from the stated port of loading to the stated port of discharge. In practice, many BLs also show a pre-carriage or feeder vessel, and this sometimes leads to an on-board notation being … Read More
Can the Issuing Bank Refuse Based on the Applicant’s ‘Late Sailing’ Investigation? INTRO Every now and then, Mr. Old Man receives a question that perfectly illustrates how easily a clean, compliant LC presentation can get tangled when buyers panic—usually when prices fall. And very often, someone in the chain suddenly “investigates” and claims the vessel sailed late… even though the Bill of Lading says otherwise. So here’s a real case from India … Read More
Nếu em là Thị Nở… Vụ “cướp tù như phim hành động” của một phụ nữ Việt Nam ngay giữa sân tòa án sơ thẩm ở Svay Rieng (Campuchia) để giải thoát chồng và 5 phạm nhân khác—toàn những “nhân tài” trong lĩnh vực ma túy, bắt cóc và “đào lửa” —đã làm cả thế giới… trợn tròn cả hai con mắt. Trong khi đa … Read More
TOLERANCE — UNDERSTANDING SUB-ARTICLE 30(c) INTRO Understanding sub-article 30(c) of UCP 600 can be tricky, especially when an LC specifies a fixed quantity and unit price. Many practitioners wonder how the credit amount can be reduced without causing a discrepancy. In this Q&A, Mr. Old Man clarifies the purpose of the 5% tolerance rule and illustrates it with a practical CIF example. QUESTION Dear Mr. … Read More
Từng người tình bỏ ta đi… Từng người tình bỏ ta đi… Thỉnh thoảng trên Facebook của Mr. Old Man lại có một follower lặng lẽ rời đi, không một lời từ biệt. Mr. Old Man chẳng biết bạn đó là ai, nhưng biết chắc một điều: bạn ấy không còn hứng thú với những chia sẻ của Mr. Old Man nữa, thậm chí có khi … Read More
Want to scroll Facebook after you die??? I’ve got this Indian friend — a proper, dignified banking expert who usually speaks in pure academic Sanskrit-level vocabulary. But every now and then… he goes full troll mode. The other day, he posted a cartoon on LinkedIn about social-media addiction. The character in the drawing: bald head, big nose, bulging eyes, staring intensely at a billboard that says: “Do … Read More
Lại bàn về “sự cố chữ nghĩa” với cụm từ “cựu người học” Một lỗi dùng từ nhỏ trên backdrop — “cựu người học” — lại đang tạo nên một cuộc tranh luận không nhỏ. Cụm từ nghe có vẻ bao quát, thậm chí “đúng luật”, nhưng khi đặt dưới lăng kính ngôn ngữ học, nó lộ rõ sự lệch chuẩn trong cấu trúc Hán – Việt. Bài viết này ghi lại ý … Read More