Do Bills of Lading Need to Be Numbered 1/3, 2/3, 3/3 and Show Total Weight?

In documentary credit practice, banks sometimes raise discrepancies based on expectations that are not expressly required under UCP 600 or ISBP 821. Two common issues are the numbering of original bills of lading and the indication of total weight.

A reader recently asked:

✅ Question

Dear Mr. Old Man,

A credit requires presentation of 3/3 original bills of lading plus one non-negotiable copy.

The credit does not specify any requirement for the bill of lading to indicate net weight, gross weight or any other such details.

The bill of lading presented:

• ☑️ indicates “Number of Originals: THREE (3)”
• ☑️ consists of three originals (each comprising multiple pages), all marked “ORIGINAL”
• ☑️ does not show numbering such as 1/3, 2/3, 3/3
• ☑️ shows gross weight per package, but no total gross or net weight

The confirming bank raised the following discrepancies:

1️⃣ The bill of lading does not indicate “first, second and third original” nor show numbering (1/3, 2/3, 3/3), therefore a full set is not evidenced.

2️⃣ The bill of lading does not indicate total gross and net weight (only partial or itemized weights).

Are these discrepancies valid?

Best regards,

Arun Ambar

___________

✅ Answer

Dear Arun,

Thank you for your clear and practical question.

1️⃣ Numbering of originals

There is no requirement under UCP 600 or ISBP 821 for a bill of lading to indicate “first, second and third original” or to be numbered 1/3, 2/3, 3/3.

What matters is that:

• ☑️ the bill of lading indicates the number of originals issued, and
• ☑️ the documents presented appear to constitute the full set of originals

In your case:

• ☑️ the bill of lading clearly indicates “THREE (3)” originals
• ☑️ all presented documents are marked “ORIGINAL”
• ☑️ non-negotiable copies are clearly identified

In addition, each bill of lading consists of multiple pages which are to be treated as one document in accordance with ISBP 821 A24.

Accordingly, the presentation appears to constitute a full set of 3/3 originals.

The absence of wording such as “first, second and third original” or numbering (1/3, 2/3, 3/3) does not render the document discrepant.

This discrepancy is not justified.

2️⃣ Gross and net weight

Neither UCP 600 nor ISBP 821 requires a bill of lading to indicate total gross or net weight unless such a requirement is expressly stated in the credit.

In this case:

• ☑️ the credit does not require total weight

In the absence of a specific requirement in the credit, the lack of total gross or net weight does not constitute a discrepancy.

This discrepancy is also not justified.

 Conclusion

Based on the information provided, the discrepancies raised by the confirming bank do not appear to be valid grounds for refusal.

A small practical note

Shipping lines almost always show weight.
Banks sometimes expect to see it.

But:

Market habit is not a rule.
And banks cannot add conditions not stated in the credit.

Best regards,
Mr. Old Man