Mr Old Man Payment Q&A ORIGINAL BILLS OF LADING MUST INDICATE NUMBER OF ORIGINALS ISSUED By Mr Old Man Posted on February 13, 2025 1 min read 0 0 171 Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Google+ Share on Reddit Share on Pinterest Share on Linkedin Share on Tumblr QUESTION Dear Mr. Old Man, The beneficiary provides a draft bill of lading to his bank for checking before the shipping line issues the original bill of lading. The draft bill of lading shows “No of Copies: THREE (3)” (see attachment). The bank notes that the words “No of Copies” should be changed to “Number of Originals”. Do you think the bank is right in requesting such a revision? Thank you so much. Best regards, Phoebe —- ANSWER Hi, The bank’s opinion is based on the wording of UCP 600 sub-article 20 (a) (iv) and ISBP 821 para. E11(a), which requires a bill of lading to indicate the NUMBER OF ORIGINALS that have been issued. It is understood that the above provision is applied to the original bill of lading, not draft bill of lading. When original bills of lading are issued, they must indicate “Number of Originals (issued) to comply with the above provision. Best regards, Mr. Old Man