Mr Old Man PARTIAL SHIPMENTS UNDER SUB-ARTICLE 31 (B) QUESTION Dear Mr. Old Man, LC does not allow partial shipments. Documents were presented to the issuing bank in two separate covering schedules. The first set reached the issuing bank’s counter on 5 O… Read More
Mr Old Man From Negotiation to Payment: What’s Behind the Confirming Bank’s Request? Not all L/C amendments are about shipment dates, amounts, or documents. Sometimes, a confirming bank requests changes that appear quite technical, such as changing a credit from “available by ne… Read More
Insurance Cut-Off Dates & Signer Capacity — What Do They Really Mean? 26 Nov 2025 A practical Q&A with Mr. Old Man Intro In trade finance, insurance documents often come with wording that looks simple but can cause uncertainty at the time of document examination. Priya recently wrote to ask about two common issues: the meaning of an insurance “attaching after” cut-off date, and whether the signer’s capacity must be explicitly identified. Let’s take a …
Are “Destination Haulage Charges Collect” a Discrepancy Under an LC? 26 Nov 2025 A Practical Q&A with Mr. Old Man In trade finance, additional charges shown on a bill of lading often cause unnecessary anxiety—especially under CIF/CIP terms where the line between commercial responsibility and LC compliance can get blurry. In today’s question, Julia raises a common concern: does the notation “Destination Haulage Charge Collect” create a discrepancy? Let’s break it down. Question …
“Commencing on the Same Means of Conveyance” — What Exactly Does Article 31(b) Mean? 26 Nov 2025 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 …
LC Practice Insight: “Any Port in Vietnam” & Understanding ISBP 821 B2(e)(i) 25 Nov 2025 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 …
When Four Routing Fields Appear… but the LC Still Asks for an AWB 25 Nov 2025 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 …
Feeder Vs. Ocean Vessel: Which One Must the On Board Notation Indicate? 24 Nov 2025 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 …
From Negotiation to Payment: What’s Behind the Confirming Bank’s Request? Not all L/C amendments are about shipment dates, amounts, or documents. Sometimes, a confirming bank requests changes that appear quite technical, such as changing a credit from “available by negotiation” to “available by payment” or moving the place of expiry from one country to another. Are such amendments merely operational preferences, or do they have legal and risk implications for … Read More
Nomophobia – A New Word, A Familiar Feeling This morning, while enjoying a cup of coffee and scrolling through Facebook, Mr. Old Man came across a word he had never seen before: Nomophobia. The word refers to the fear or anxiety of being without a mobile phone or being unable to use it. When Mr. Old Man was studying English some decades ago, this word did not exist … Read More
Nomophobia – Hội chứng sợ không có điện thoại bên mình Hôm nay lướt Facebook, Mr. Old Man bắt gặp một từ tiếng Anh khá lạ: nomophobia. Ví dụ minh họa đi kèm rất dễ hiểu: “Many teenagers experience nomophobia when they forget their phones at home.” Tạm dịch: “Nhiều bạn trẻ trải qua hội chứng sợ không có điện thoại khi để quên điện thoại ở nhà.” Nomophobia được hiểu … Read More
Tắm Vitamin D (phần 2): Thay đổi quan điểm Hồi đầu tháng 5, Mr. Old Man từng viết bài “Tắm Vitamin D”, kể lại cảnh buổi sáng ở bãi biển Thanh Khê có nhiều cô chú lớn tuổi vùi mình dưới cát, nằm phơi nắng để “nạp Vitamin D” – theo cách nói vui của các cô chú là để tăng sức đề kháng, giảm đau lưng, đau chân, … Read More
Can an Issuing Bank Advise an LC Directly to the Beneficiary? One of the fundamental safeguards in documentary credits is the authentication process performed by an advising bank. But what happens if an issuing bank sends the LC directly to the beneficiary without involving an advising bank? Is this permissible under UCP 600, and what risks should the parties consider? Let’s look at a question from Gerson Mário. Question Dear Mr. … Read More
Does a Longer L/C Expiry Date Mean Greater Risk? And Is the Word “Clean” Really Necessary on a Bill of Lading? In international trade, many disputes arise not because parties misunderstand UCP 600, but because they mix up legal requirements with commercial practices. A reader recently asked Mr. Old Man about two common concerns in timber imports from Africa: whether the L/C expiry date must be linked to the shipping transit time, and whether removing the word “Clean” from “Clean On … Read More
Does Field 39A Cover Quantity Tolerance? A reader recently sent Mr. Old Man an interesting question about quantity tolerance under an L/C. The issue sounds simple at first glance, but in practice it often creates confusion between sales contract terms, the wording of the credit, and the application of UCP 600 Article 30. Here is the question and discussion. Question Dear Mr. Old Man, I would … Read More
CAN A COMMERCIAL INVOICE EXCEED THE LC AMOUNT? One area that occasionally causes confusion under UCP 600 is the relationship between Article 18(b) and Article 30(a). Many practitioners assume that a commercial invoice may exceed the LC amount only where the credit expressly allows a tolerance, or where the words “about” or “approximately” are used in connection with the credit amount under Article 30(a). However, Article 18(b) provides … Read More
Đừng để “ngoại ngữ” thành… “ngại ngữ” Hôm nay một bạn hiện đang định cư ở Mỹ đăng tút khoe đang tập nói tiếng Anh. Bạn lớn tuổi rồi mới bắt đầu học nói nên giọng còn ngọng nghịu, nghe chưa rõ lắm. Nhưng Mr. Old Man thấy vậy lại quý. Ở tuổi đó mà vẫn chịu khó mở miệng học cái mới đã đáng nể rồi. … Read More
CFR TERM, CHARTER PARTY BILLS OF LADING, AND FREIGHT NOTATIONS: DOES “FREIGHT PAYABLE” CREATE A PROBLEM? Lading (CPBL), and freight notations on the bill of lading. If a credit is issued under CFR terms, should the bill of lading necessarily indicate “Freight Prepaid”? And if the LC instead requires “Freight Payable as per Charter Party”, would that create a discrepancy or inconsistency with the stated Incoterm? This Q&A discusses the difference between documentary compliance under UCP … Read More
Mr Old Man From Negotiation to Payment: What’s Behind the Confirming Bank’s Request? Not all L/C amendments are about shipment dates, amounts, or documents. Sometimes, a confirming bank requests changes that appear quite technical, such as changing a credit from “available by ne… Read More
Does a Longer L/C Expiry Date Mean Greater Risk? And Is the Word “Clean” Really Necessary on a Bill of Lading?
CFR TERM, CHARTER PARTY BILLS OF LADING, AND FREIGHT NOTATIONS: DOES “FREIGHT PAYABLE” CREATE A PROBLEM?
Mr Old Man From Negotiation to Payment: What’s Behind the Confirming Bank’s Request? Not all L/C amendments are about shipment dates, amounts, or documents. Sometimes, a confirming bank requests changes that appear quite technical, such as changing a credit from “available by ne… Read More
Does a Longer L/C Expiry Date Mean Greater Risk? And Is the Word “Clean” Really Necessary on a Bill of Lading?
CFR TERM, CHARTER PARTY BILLS OF LADING, AND FREIGHT NOTATIONS: DOES “FREIGHT PAYABLE” CREATE A PROBLEM?
From Negotiation to Payment: What’s Behind the Confirming Bank’s Request? Not all L/C amendments are about shipment dates, amounts, or documents. Sometimes, a confirming bank requests changes that appear quite technical, such as changing a credit from “available by negotiation” to “available by payment” or moving the place of expiry from one country to another. Are such amendments merely operational preferences, or do they have legal and risk implications for … Read More
Nomophobia – A New Word, A Familiar Feeling This morning, while enjoying a cup of coffee and scrolling through Facebook, Mr. Old Man came across a word he had never seen before: Nomophobia. The word refers to the fear or anxiety of being without a mobile phone or being unable to use it. When Mr. Old Man was studying English some decades ago, this word did not exist … Read More
Nomophobia – Hội chứng sợ không có điện thoại bên mình Hôm nay lướt Facebook, Mr. Old Man bắt gặp một từ tiếng Anh khá lạ: nomophobia. Ví dụ minh họa đi kèm rất dễ hiểu: “Many teenagers experience nomophobia when they forget their phones at home.” Tạm dịch: “Nhiều bạn trẻ trải qua hội chứng sợ không có điện thoại khi để quên điện thoại ở nhà.” Nomophobia được hiểu … Read More
Tắm Vitamin D (phần 2): Thay đổi quan điểm Hồi đầu tháng 5, Mr. Old Man từng viết bài “Tắm Vitamin D”, kể lại cảnh buổi sáng ở bãi biển Thanh Khê có nhiều cô chú lớn tuổi vùi mình dưới cát, nằm phơi nắng để “nạp Vitamin D” – theo cách nói vui của các cô chú là để tăng sức đề kháng, giảm đau lưng, đau chân, … Read More
Can an Issuing Bank Advise an LC Directly to the Beneficiary? One of the fundamental safeguards in documentary credits is the authentication process performed by an advising bank. But what happens if an issuing bank sends the LC directly to the beneficiary without involving an advising bank? Is this permissible under UCP 600, and what risks should the parties consider? Let’s look at a question from Gerson Mário. Question Dear Mr. … Read More
Does a Longer L/C Expiry Date Mean Greater Risk? And Is the Word “Clean” Really Necessary on a Bill of Lading? In international trade, many disputes arise not because parties misunderstand UCP 600, but because they mix up legal requirements with commercial practices. A reader recently asked Mr. Old Man about two common concerns in timber imports from Africa: whether the L/C expiry date must be linked to the shipping transit time, and whether removing the word “Clean” from “Clean On … Read More
Does Field 39A Cover Quantity Tolerance? A reader recently sent Mr. Old Man an interesting question about quantity tolerance under an L/C. The issue sounds simple at first glance, but in practice it often creates confusion between sales contract terms, the wording of the credit, and the application of UCP 600 Article 30. Here is the question and discussion. Question Dear Mr. Old Man, I would … Read More
CAN A COMMERCIAL INVOICE EXCEED THE LC AMOUNT? One area that occasionally causes confusion under UCP 600 is the relationship between Article 18(b) and Article 30(a). Many practitioners assume that a commercial invoice may exceed the LC amount only where the credit expressly allows a tolerance, or where the words “about” or “approximately” are used in connection with the credit amount under Article 30(a). However, Article 18(b) provides … Read More
Đừng để “ngoại ngữ” thành… “ngại ngữ” Hôm nay một bạn hiện đang định cư ở Mỹ đăng tút khoe đang tập nói tiếng Anh. Bạn lớn tuổi rồi mới bắt đầu học nói nên giọng còn ngọng nghịu, nghe chưa rõ lắm. Nhưng Mr. Old Man thấy vậy lại quý. Ở tuổi đó mà vẫn chịu khó mở miệng học cái mới đã đáng nể rồi. … Read More
CFR TERM, CHARTER PARTY BILLS OF LADING, AND FREIGHT NOTATIONS: DOES “FREIGHT PAYABLE” CREATE A PROBLEM? Lading (CPBL), and freight notations on the bill of lading. If a credit is issued under CFR terms, should the bill of lading necessarily indicate “Freight Prepaid”? And if the LC instead requires “Freight Payable as per Charter Party”, would that create a discrepancy or inconsistency with the stated Incoterm? This Q&A discusses the difference between documentary compliance under UCP … Read More
Mr Old Man From Negotiation to Payment: What’s Behind the Confirming Bank’s Request? Not all L/C amendments are about shipment dates, amounts, or documents. Sometimes, a confirming bank requests changes that appear quite technical, such as changing a credit from “available by ne… Read More
Does a Longer L/C Expiry Date Mean Greater Risk? And Is the Word “Clean” Really Necessary on a Bill of Lading?
CFR TERM, CHARTER PARTY BILLS OF LADING, AND FREIGHT NOTATIONS: DOES “FREIGHT PAYABLE” CREATE A PROBLEM?
Mr Old Man From Negotiation to Payment: What’s Behind the Confirming Bank’s Request? Not all L/C amendments are about shipment dates, amounts, or documents. Sometimes, a confirming bank requests changes that appear quite technical, such as changing a credit from “available by ne… Read More
Does a Longer L/C Expiry Date Mean Greater Risk? And Is the Word “Clean” Really Necessary on a Bill of Lading?
CFR TERM, CHARTER PARTY BILLS OF LADING, AND FREIGHT NOTATIONS: DOES “FREIGHT PAYABLE” CREATE A PROBLEM?
Mr Old Man From Negotiation to Payment: What’s Behind the Confirming Bank’s Request? Not all L/C amendments are about shipment dates, amounts, or documents. Sometimes, a confirming bank requests changes that appear quite technical, such as changing a credit from “available by ne… Read More
Does a Longer L/C Expiry Date Mean Greater Risk? And Is the Word “Clean” Really Necessary on a Bill of Lading?
CFR TERM, CHARTER PARTY BILLS OF LADING, AND FREIGHT NOTATIONS: DOES “FREIGHT PAYABLE” CREATE A PROBLEM?
Mr Old Man From Negotiation to Payment: What’s Behind the Confirming Bank’s Request? Not all L/C amendments are about shipment dates, amounts, or documents. Sometimes, a confirming bank requests changes that appear quite technical, such as changing a credit from “available by ne… Read More
Does a Longer L/C Expiry Date Mean Greater Risk? And Is the Word “Clean” Really Necessary on a Bill of Lading?
CFR TERM, CHARTER PARTY BILLS OF LADING, AND FREIGHT NOTATIONS: DOES “FREIGHT PAYABLE” CREATE A PROBLEM?
From Negotiation to Payment: What’s Behind the Confirming Bank’s Request? 6 Jun 2026 Not all L/C amendments are about shipment dates, amounts, or documents. Sometimes, a confirming bank requests changes that appear quite technical, such as changing a credit from “available by negotiation” to “available by payment” or moving the place of expiry from one country to another. Are such amendments merely operational preferences, or do they have legal and risk implications for …
Nomophobia – A New Word, A Familiar Feeling 5 Jun 2026 This morning, while enjoying a cup of coffee and scrolling through Facebook, Mr. Old Man came across a word he had never seen before: Nomophobia. The word refers to the fear or anxiety of being without a mobile phone or being unable to use it. When Mr. Old Man was studying English some decades ago, this word did not exist …
Nomophobia – Hội chứng sợ không có điện thoại bên mình 5 Jun 2026 Hôm nay lướt Facebook, Mr. Old Man bắt gặp một từ tiếng Anh khá lạ: nomophobia. Ví dụ minh họa đi kèm rất dễ hiểu: “Many teenagers experience nomophobia when they forget their phones at home.” Tạm dịch: “Nhiều bạn trẻ trải qua hội chứng sợ không có điện thoại khi để quên điện thoại ở nhà.” Nomophobia được hiểu …
Tắm Vitamin D (phần 2): Thay đổi quan điểm 5 Jun 2026 Hồi đầu tháng 5, Mr. Old Man từng viết bài “Tắm Vitamin D”, kể lại cảnh buổi sáng ở bãi biển Thanh Khê có nhiều cô chú lớn tuổi vùi mình dưới cát, nằm phơi nắng để “nạp Vitamin D” – theo cách nói vui của các cô chú là để tăng sức đề kháng, giảm đau lưng, đau chân, …
Can an Issuing Bank Advise an LC Directly to the Beneficiary? 4 Jun 2026 One of the fundamental safeguards in documentary credits is the authentication process performed by an advising bank. But what happens if an issuing bank sends the LC directly to the beneficiary without involving an advising bank? Is this permissible under UCP 600, and what risks should the parties consider? Let’s look at a question from Gerson Mário. Question Dear Mr. …
Does a Longer L/C Expiry Date Mean Greater Risk? And Is the Word “Clean” Really Necessary on a Bill of Lading? 3 Jun 2026 In international trade, many disputes arise not because parties misunderstand UCP 600, but because they mix up legal requirements with commercial practices. A reader recently asked Mr. Old Man about two common concerns in timber imports from Africa: whether the L/C expiry date must be linked to the shipping transit time, and whether removing the word “Clean” from “Clean On …
Does Field 39A Cover Quantity Tolerance? 3 Jun 2026 A reader recently sent Mr. Old Man an interesting question about quantity tolerance under an L/C. The issue sounds simple at first glance, but in practice it often creates confusion between sales contract terms, the wording of the credit, and the application of UCP 600 Article 30. Here is the question and discussion. Question Dear Mr. Old Man, I would …
CAN A COMMERCIAL INVOICE EXCEED THE LC AMOUNT? 3 Jun 2026 One area that occasionally causes confusion under UCP 600 is the relationship between Article 18(b) and Article 30(a). Many practitioners assume that a commercial invoice may exceed the LC amount only where the credit expressly allows a tolerance, or where the words “about” or “approximately” are used in connection with the credit amount under Article 30(a). However, Article 18(b) provides …
Đừng để “ngoại ngữ” thành… “ngại ngữ” 3 Jun 2026 Hôm nay một bạn hiện đang định cư ở Mỹ đăng tút khoe đang tập nói tiếng Anh. Bạn lớn tuổi rồi mới bắt đầu học nói nên giọng còn ngọng nghịu, nghe chưa rõ lắm. Nhưng Mr. Old Man thấy vậy lại quý. Ở tuổi đó mà vẫn chịu khó mở miệng học cái mới đã đáng nể rồi. …
CFR TERM, CHARTER PARTY BILLS OF LADING, AND FREIGHT NOTATIONS: DOES “FREIGHT PAYABLE” CREATE A PROBLEM? 3 Jun 2026 Lading (CPBL), and freight notations on the bill of lading. If a credit is issued under CFR terms, should the bill of lading necessarily indicate “Freight Prepaid”? And if the LC instead requires “Freight Payable as per Charter Party”, would that create a discrepancy or inconsistency with the stated Incoterm? This Q&A discusses the difference between documentary compliance under UCP …
Does a Longer L/C Expiry Date Mean Greater Risk? And Is the Word “Clean” Really Necessary on a Bill of Lading?
CFR TERM, CHARTER PARTY BILLS OF LADING, AND FREIGHT NOTATIONS: DOES “FREIGHT PAYABLE” CREATE A PROBLEM?
Mr Old Man From Negotiation to Payment: What’s Behind the Confirming Bank’s Request? Not all L/C amendments are about shipment dates, amounts, or documents. Sometimes, a confirming bank requests changes that appear quite technical, such as changing a credit from “available by ne… Read More
Does a Longer L/C Expiry Date Mean Greater Risk? And Is the Word “Clean” Really Necessary on a Bill of Lading?
CFR TERM, CHARTER PARTY BILLS OF LADING, AND FREIGHT NOTATIONS: DOES “FREIGHT PAYABLE” CREATE A PROBLEM?
Mr Old Man From Negotiation to Payment: What’s Behind the Confirming Bank’s Request? Not all L/C amendments are about shipment dates, amounts, or documents. Sometimes, a confirming bank requests changes that appear quite technical, such as changing a credit from “available by ne… Read More
Does a Longer L/C Expiry Date Mean Greater Risk? And Is the Word “Clean” Really Necessary on a Bill of Lading?
CFR TERM, CHARTER PARTY BILLS OF LADING, AND FREIGHT NOTATIONS: DOES “FREIGHT PAYABLE” CREATE A PROBLEM?