Intro Every now and then, Mr. Old Man receives a question that looks simple at first glance but becomes rather complicated once you bring UCP 600, two confirming banks, and two places of expiry into the picture. Here is a recent question from Firas about whether an LC can be structured with two confirming banks and two places of expiry, …

  Introduction Two seemingly simple questions can sometimes hide an important documentary point: what exactly does the wording of the credit or document require us to establish? In the first question, the issue is whether an “ON BOARD AWB” must evidence the actual flight date. In the second, it is whether an amount shown as an “Inland Transit Limit” can …

Introduction In documentary credit examination, a question may arise when the credit requires a specific type of certificate, but the presented document bears a different title. For example, the credit requires a “Certificate of Quantity and Quality”, while the presented document is titled “Certificate of Analysis”. At first sight, the two titles do not appear to be similar. Does the …

  Introduction In documentary credit examination, a small difference in wording can sometimes make a significant difference. But does “survey agent” satisfy a credit requirement for a “claim settling agent”? Here is a question on this point. Question Dear Mr. Old Man, I have a question for you. The LC states: “Insurance policy should indicate claim settling agent in the …

Introduction A question was raised about a transferable LC in which the original credit specifically requires the Commercial Invoice to be issued in the name of the Applicant. At first glance, this may appear to create a problem for the First Beneficiary’s right to substitute its own invoice under UCP 600 Article 38(h). However, Article 38(g) provides an important mechanism …

Intro A small detail, but an interesting one. A bill of lading shows the Place of Receipt and Port of Loading as the same place. At first glance, one might think there is no need to mention the port of loading in the on-board notation. But what if the B/L also indicates a means of pre-carriage? That seemingly minor detail …

A question from Jawad Ahmed, Pakistan, raises two interesting issues in documentary credits: Can an LC requirement be deleted by amendment after documents have already been presented and a discrepancy has been raised? Can the requirement for a draft at sight in Field 42C be removed? Here is my answer. Question Dear Sir, Hope you are doing well. I wanted …

Introduction When a letter of credit is available by negotiation and Field 42C identifies the Issuing Bank as the drawee, does the beneficiary necessarily have to present a draft? Or can the Issuing Bank reject the documents if no draft is presented? This question from Firas raises an interesting point about the role of drafts under documentary credits and, in …

A question from Jawad Ahmed, Pakistan, regarding the relationship between the latest date of shipment, the actual shipment date and the period for presentation under an LC. Question Dear Sir, I hope you are doing well. I wanted to ask regarding the subject matter. Can you please clarify Field 44C, i.e. the latest date of shipment, and the shipped on …

Introduction This question illustrates a common misunderstanding: a presentation period stipulated in the LC does not operate independently of the LC expiry date. Even where the stipulated period extends beyond the expiry date, the beneficiary cannot use that period to keep the credit alive after expiry. Question Dear Mr. Old Man, LC expiry date: 1/8/2026 Latest shipment date: 1/8/2026 Field …