Shipment Advice by Fax or Email – Does It Comply?

Intro

Banks often face questions where documents show multiple modes of communication—fax, email, courier—and applicants or beneficiaries wonder which one prevails. Priya brings us a classic case: LC requires Shipment Advice by email, but the document mentions fax as well. Let’s untangle this.

QUESTION

Dear Mr. Old Man,

LC requires Shipment Advice to be sent via email to the insurance company and a copy of the email to be presented.

Shipment Advice is evidenced to be sent through fax as it is mentioned as facsimile message.

Also, they have given an email where they have attached the Shipment Advice.

Is this acceptable or do we need to raise a discrepancy as Shipment Advice sent by fax instead of email?

My opinion is that it’s acceptable, as the email copy has the attachment of Shipment Advice, which fulfills the LC terms of sending it by email — both as Shipment Advice and as an email copy.

Please clarify and share your expert opinion.

Thanks and regards,

Priya

_____

ANSWER

Hi Priya,

You are correct. Since the Shipment Advice is evidenced as being sent by email (with the advice attached), it complies with the LC requirement. The reference to fax is simply additional detail and does not create a conflict under UCP 600.

No discrepancy.

Best regards,

Mr. Old Man