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 Late Presentation: Does the Nominated Bank’s Certification Protect the Presentation? Intro Another interesting question on documentary examination: the documents were allegedly presented to the nominated bank within the stipulated presentation period, but the bank’s covering schedule … Read More
MT 202 or MT 103 – A Case Study You Won’t Find in Textbooks 13 Sep 2025 In trade finance, life is rarely as straightforward as the manuals suggest. Real transactions often bring up situations that don’t quite fit the “standard” rules. One such puzzle is deciding whether an LC payment should go out via MT202 (bank-to-bank transfer) or MT103 (customer credit). The following Q&A, based on a real-life case in Vietnam, illustrates how to untangle this …
Documents Presented Directly to the Issuing Bank – What Happens Next? 13 Sep 2025 Intro One common question in documentary credit practice is whether a beneficiary can bypass the nominated bank and present documents directly to the issuing bank. This situation often arises close to expiry dates, during holidays, or in domestic LCs. But once the documents land on the issuing bank’s desk, another set of questions follow: how does the issuing bank handle …
Can a Bill of Lading Be Issued Outside the Country of Shipment? 12 Sep 2025 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, …
Invoice Higher than the LC Amount – Can the Bank Pay More? 12 Sep 2025 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 …
When “Better” Is Not Good Enough 12 Sep 2025 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 …
Issuance Dates of Documents under UCP 600: What Does Sub-article 14(i) Really Mean? 10 Sep 2025 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 …
Late Presentation: Does the Nominated Bank’s Certification Protect the Presentation? Intro Another interesting question on documentary examination: the documents were allegedly presented to the nominated bank within the stipulated presentation period, but the bank’s covering schedule was dated after the latest date for presentation. The schedule also contained a certification that the documents were presented within the credit validity. Does that certification prevent the issuing bank from raising a “late … Read More
Lái xe công nghệ: Tự do hay tự lo? Hôm nay, Mr. Old Man đọc được một bài viết rất hay của Tiến sĩ Võ Duy Nghi với một cái tựa nghe qua đã thấy… hơi nhói: “Lái xe công nghệ: Tự do hay tự lo?” Một câu hỏi tưởng đơn giản mà không đơn giản chút nào. Bài viết đề cập đến cuộc sống và những vấn đề … Read More
Sudan Sanctions and D/P Collection: Can the Payment Be Routed Through Another Bank? Introduction A practical question has arisen concerning a D/P (Documents against Payment) collection involving goods of Sudanese origin. The goods—watermelon seeds—were shipped from Sudan and have already arrived at customs. The importer intends to make payment in AED to the beneficiary in Dubai. The collecting bank received an MT199 from Mashreq Bank New York setting out its sanctions and internal … Read More
Is the Central Bank Liable if the Issuing Bank Becomes Bankrupt? Introduction An issuing bank assumes a primary obligation to honor a complying presentation under article 7 of UCP 600. However, beneficiaries occasionally raise a more difficult question: What happens if the issuing bank becomes insolvent, is subject to international sanctions, or is otherwise unable to fulfill its undertaking? Would the central bank, the ministry of finance, or another government authority … Read More
Mistyping of the L/C Number on Documents: Is It a Valid Discrepancy? It is common for documentary credits to require that all presented documents indicate the credit number. In practice, however, typographical errors occasionally occur. A frequently asked question is whether an issuing bank may refuse documents when the credit number appears incorrectly, even though the mistake is merely the result of a typing error. The following question concerns a situation in … Read More
Late Payment Interest Claim under a Sight Letter of Credit Under a sight letter of credit, the issuing bank is required to honour a complying presentation. However, UCP 600 also grants banks up to five banking days to examine the documents. The question often arises whether an issuing bank that effects payment after the expiry of the five-day examination period is liable to pay late-payment interest, particularly when the credit … Read More
Does “Clean On Board” Eliminate the Need for a Dated Onboard Notation? A recurring question in documentary credit practice is whether the issue date of a bill of lading may be treated as the shipment date when the document is pre-printed “Received by the carrier” but also bears the wording “Clean On Board”. The answer is not always straightforward and depends on the interaction between UCP 600, ISBP, and ICC Banking Commission … Read More
Does a Certificate Stating Compliance with a Phytosanitary Certificate Satisfy the L/C Requirement? Introduction: The interpretation of documentary requirements containing multiple alternatives linked by the word “or” can sometimes lead to different conclusions between the issuing bank and the beneficiary. The following case concerns an L/C clause requiring a certificate relating to the treatment of wood packing material, where the issuing bank and the beneficiary bank adopted different interpretations of the same wording. … Read More
Origin Station vs. Airport of Departure on an Air Waybill A reader recently asked whether an air waybill would be discrepant if it uses the terms “Origin Station” and “Destination Station” instead of “Airport of Departure” and “Airport of Destination” required by the letter of credit. The reader also asked whether the presence of both a Master Air Waybill (MAWB) number and a House Air Waybill (HAWB) number, together with … Read More
Bill of Lading or Multimodal Transport Document? Which UCP 600 Article Applies? A credit requires a “full set clean on board bill of lading” but, at the same time, field 44A specifies an inland place of taking in charge, while fields 44E and 44F indicate the port of loading and port of discharge. A multimodal transport document is subsequently presented, bearing only the notation “Received for Shipment” and no dated on-board notation. … Read More
Mr Old Man Late Presentation: Does the Nominated Bank’s Certification Protect the Presentation? Intro Another interesting question on documentary examination: the documents were allegedly presented to the nominated bank within the stipulated presentation period, but the bank’s covering schedule … Read More
Mr Old Man Late Presentation: Does the Nominated Bank’s Certification Protect the Presentation? Intro Another interesting question on documentary examination: the documents were allegedly presented to the nominated bank within the stipulated presentation period, but the bank’s covering schedule … Read More
Late Presentation: Does the Nominated Bank’s Certification Protect the Presentation? Intro Another interesting question on documentary examination: the documents were allegedly presented to the nominated bank within the stipulated presentation period, but the bank’s covering schedule was dated after the latest date for presentation. The schedule also contained a certification that the documents were presented within the credit validity. Does that certification prevent the issuing bank from raising a “late … Read More
Lái xe công nghệ: Tự do hay tự lo? Hôm nay, Mr. Old Man đọc được một bài viết rất hay của Tiến sĩ Võ Duy Nghi với một cái tựa nghe qua đã thấy… hơi nhói: “Lái xe công nghệ: Tự do hay tự lo?” Một câu hỏi tưởng đơn giản mà không đơn giản chút nào. Bài viết đề cập đến cuộc sống và những vấn đề … Read More
Sudan Sanctions and D/P Collection: Can the Payment Be Routed Through Another Bank? Introduction A practical question has arisen concerning a D/P (Documents against Payment) collection involving goods of Sudanese origin. The goods—watermelon seeds—were shipped from Sudan and have already arrived at customs. The importer intends to make payment in AED to the beneficiary in Dubai. The collecting bank received an MT199 from Mashreq Bank New York setting out its sanctions and internal … Read More
Is the Central Bank Liable if the Issuing Bank Becomes Bankrupt? Introduction An issuing bank assumes a primary obligation to honor a complying presentation under article 7 of UCP 600. However, beneficiaries occasionally raise a more difficult question: What happens if the issuing bank becomes insolvent, is subject to international sanctions, or is otherwise unable to fulfill its undertaking? Would the central bank, the ministry of finance, or another government authority … Read More
Mistyping of the L/C Number on Documents: Is It a Valid Discrepancy? It is common for documentary credits to require that all presented documents indicate the credit number. In practice, however, typographical errors occasionally occur. A frequently asked question is whether an issuing bank may refuse documents when the credit number appears incorrectly, even though the mistake is merely the result of a typing error. The following question concerns a situation in … Read More
Late Payment Interest Claim under a Sight Letter of Credit Under a sight letter of credit, the issuing bank is required to honour a complying presentation. However, UCP 600 also grants banks up to five banking days to examine the documents. The question often arises whether an issuing bank that effects payment after the expiry of the five-day examination period is liable to pay late-payment interest, particularly when the credit … Read More
Does “Clean On Board” Eliminate the Need for a Dated Onboard Notation? A recurring question in documentary credit practice is whether the issue date of a bill of lading may be treated as the shipment date when the document is pre-printed “Received by the carrier” but also bears the wording “Clean On Board”. The answer is not always straightforward and depends on the interaction between UCP 600, ISBP, and ICC Banking Commission … Read More
Does a Certificate Stating Compliance with a Phytosanitary Certificate Satisfy the L/C Requirement? Introduction: The interpretation of documentary requirements containing multiple alternatives linked by the word “or” can sometimes lead to different conclusions between the issuing bank and the beneficiary. The following case concerns an L/C clause requiring a certificate relating to the treatment of wood packing material, where the issuing bank and the beneficiary bank adopted different interpretations of the same wording. … Read More
Origin Station vs. Airport of Departure on an Air Waybill A reader recently asked whether an air waybill would be discrepant if it uses the terms “Origin Station” and “Destination Station” instead of “Airport of Departure” and “Airport of Destination” required by the letter of credit. The reader also asked whether the presence of both a Master Air Waybill (MAWB) number and a House Air Waybill (HAWB) number, together with … Read More
Bill of Lading or Multimodal Transport Document? Which UCP 600 Article Applies? A credit requires a “full set clean on board bill of lading” but, at the same time, field 44A specifies an inland place of taking in charge, while fields 44E and 44F indicate the port of loading and port of discharge. A multimodal transport document is subsequently presented, bearing only the notation “Received for Shipment” and no dated on-board notation. … Read More
Mr Old Man Late Presentation: Does the Nominated Bank’s Certification Protect the Presentation? Intro Another interesting question on documentary examination: the documents were allegedly presented to the nominated bank within the stipulated presentation period, but the bank’s covering schedule … Read More
Mr Old Man Late Presentation: Does the Nominated Bank’s Certification Protect the Presentation? Intro Another interesting question on documentary examination: the documents were allegedly presented to the nominated bank within the stipulated presentation period, but the bank’s covering schedule … Read More
Mr Old Man Late Presentation: Does the Nominated Bank’s Certification Protect the Presentation? Intro Another interesting question on documentary examination: the documents were allegedly presented to the nominated bank within the stipulated presentation period, but the bank’s covering schedule … Read More
Mr Old Man Late Presentation: Does the Nominated Bank’s Certification Protect the Presentation? Intro Another interesting question on documentary examination: the documents were allegedly presented to the nominated bank within the stipulated presentation period, but the bank’s covering schedule … Read More
Late Presentation: Does the Nominated Bank’s Certification Protect the Presentation? 11 Aug 2026 Intro Another interesting question on documentary examination: the documents were allegedly presented to the nominated bank within the stipulated presentation period, but the bank’s covering schedule was dated after the latest date for presentation. The schedule also contained a certification that the documents were presented within the credit validity. Does that certification prevent the issuing bank from raising a “late …
Lái xe công nghệ: Tự do hay tự lo? 11 Aug 2026 Hôm nay, Mr. Old Man đọc được một bài viết rất hay của Tiến sĩ Võ Duy Nghi với một cái tựa nghe qua đã thấy… hơi nhói: “Lái xe công nghệ: Tự do hay tự lo?” Một câu hỏi tưởng đơn giản mà không đơn giản chút nào. Bài viết đề cập đến cuộc sống và những vấn đề …
Sudan Sanctions and D/P Collection: Can the Payment Be Routed Through Another Bank? 9 Aug 2026 Introduction A practical question has arisen concerning a D/P (Documents against Payment) collection involving goods of Sudanese origin. The goods—watermelon seeds—were shipped from Sudan and have already arrived at customs. The importer intends to make payment in AED to the beneficiary in Dubai. The collecting bank received an MT199 from Mashreq Bank New York setting out its sanctions and internal …
Is the Central Bank Liable if the Issuing Bank Becomes Bankrupt? 9 Aug 2026 Introduction An issuing bank assumes a primary obligation to honor a complying presentation under article 7 of UCP 600. However, beneficiaries occasionally raise a more difficult question: What happens if the issuing bank becomes insolvent, is subject to international sanctions, or is otherwise unable to fulfill its undertaking? Would the central bank, the ministry of finance, or another government authority …
Mistyping of the L/C Number on Documents: Is It a Valid Discrepancy? 8 Aug 2026 It is common for documentary credits to require that all presented documents indicate the credit number. In practice, however, typographical errors occasionally occur. A frequently asked question is whether an issuing bank may refuse documents when the credit number appears incorrectly, even though the mistake is merely the result of a typing error. The following question concerns a situation in …
Late Payment Interest Claim under a Sight Letter of Credit 8 Aug 2026 Under a sight letter of credit, the issuing bank is required to honour a complying presentation. However, UCP 600 also grants banks up to five banking days to examine the documents. The question often arises whether an issuing bank that effects payment after the expiry of the five-day examination period is liable to pay late-payment interest, particularly when the credit …
Does “Clean On Board” Eliminate the Need for a Dated Onboard Notation? 8 Aug 2026 A recurring question in documentary credit practice is whether the issue date of a bill of lading may be treated as the shipment date when the document is pre-printed “Received by the carrier” but also bears the wording “Clean On Board”. The answer is not always straightforward and depends on the interaction between UCP 600, ISBP, and ICC Banking Commission …
Does a Certificate Stating Compliance with a Phytosanitary Certificate Satisfy the L/C Requirement? 8 Aug 2026 Introduction: The interpretation of documentary requirements containing multiple alternatives linked by the word “or” can sometimes lead to different conclusions between the issuing bank and the beneficiary. The following case concerns an L/C clause requiring a certificate relating to the treatment of wood packing material, where the issuing bank and the beneficiary bank adopted different interpretations of the same wording. …
Origin Station vs. Airport of Departure on an Air Waybill 7 Aug 2026 A reader recently asked whether an air waybill would be discrepant if it uses the terms “Origin Station” and “Destination Station” instead of “Airport of Departure” and “Airport of Destination” required by the letter of credit. The reader also asked whether the presence of both a Master Air Waybill (MAWB) number and a House Air Waybill (HAWB) number, together with …
Bill of Lading or Multimodal Transport Document? Which UCP 600 Article Applies? 7 Aug 2026 A credit requires a “full set clean on board bill of lading” but, at the same time, field 44A specifies an inland place of taking in charge, while fields 44E and 44F indicate the port of loading and port of discharge. A multimodal transport document is subsequently presented, bearing only the notation “Received for Shipment” and no dated on-board notation. …
Mr Old Man Late Presentation: Does the Nominated Bank’s Certification Protect the Presentation? Intro Another interesting question on documentary examination: the documents were allegedly presented to the nominated bank within the stipulated presentation period, but the bank’s covering schedule … Read More
Mr Old Man Late Presentation: Does the Nominated Bank’s Certification Protect the Presentation? Intro Another interesting question on documentary examination: the documents were allegedly presented to the nominated bank within the stipulated presentation period, but the bank’s covering schedule … Read More