In documentary credit practice, a recurring question is whether a bill of lading must be issued at the port of loading or even in the country of shipment. With today’s centralized carrier systems and documentation hubs, the place of issuance may be far away from the actual port. But does this matter under UCP 600? Let’s see. ___ QUESTION Hi, …

In documentary credit operations, one of the recurring issues is when the presented commercial invoice shows an amount higher than that permitted under the letter of credit. Should the bank pay the full invoice value or restrict payment to the LC amount? Sub-article 18(b) of UCP 600 provides important guidance in this regard. Question Dear Mr. Old Man, We appreciate …

Intro In documentary credit practice, banks deal not with common sense but with strict compliance. Even if a document seems more reliable than what was asked for, the key question remains: does it match the LC conditions exactly? Question An L/C stated in Field 47A: “AT LEAST 14 DAYS DEMURRAGE AND DETENTION FREE AT DESTINATION TO BE CONFIRMED ON B/L …

In documentary credit practice, timing can make or break a presentation. One of the less talked-about rules in UCP 600 is sub-article 14(i), which deals with the issuance date of documents. Can a document be dated before the LC was even issued? And what happens if a document shows a date later than the day it was presented to the …

Intro In documentary credit practice, it’s not unusual to see slight variations in how applicant details are reflected on a bill of lading. A common concern is whether the applicant’s name and address must appear separately, or if details shown in the notify party field are sufficient. Here’s a recent query Mr. Old Man received. ________ Question Dear Mr. Old …

Bankruptcy of an LC applicant is one of those nightmare scenarios that beneficiaries and banks alike worry about. Does the issuing bank still have to pay if the applicant collapses before documents arrive? And if so, how can the bank protect itself? Let’s look at a real question I received and my response. __________ QUESTION Dear Mr. Old Man, First …

In documentary credit practice, questions often arise about the relationship between the bill of lading issue date and the on-board date—especially in cases involving switch bills of lading and high-seas sales. Can the two dates differ significantly, and if so, what do UCP 600 and ISBP 821 say about it? QUESTION Dear Mr. Old Man, May I seek your opinion …

Revolving letters of credit (RLCs) sound attractive for handling multiple shipments under one instrument. In theory, they save time and paperwork; in practice, they raise complex issues for both banks and traders. Before opening an RLC, it’s worth understanding how they work, the key points to watch out for, and why they are rarely used today. _______ QUESTION What are …

When it comes to trade finance, one of the recurring debates is whether to use a commercial Letter of Credit (LC) or a Standby Letter of Credit (SBLC). At first glance they may look similar, but in practice buyers and sellers have very different preferences. Buyers lean toward LCs, while sellers often push for SBLCs. The reasons lie in how …

Intro One of the recurring debates in Incoterms is whether FOB, CFR and CIF should ever be used for containerized shipments. The theory says “no,” but in practice, traders and banks keep using them every day without issue. Let’s look at why the theory clashes with practice, and what happens with FCL and LCL cargoes. _________ Question One of the …