“Commencing on the Same Means of Conveyance” — What Exactly Does Article 31(b) Mean? 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 … Read More
Sub-article 31(b) UCP 600 – And Why the Same Ship Can Have Multiple Sets of Transport Documents Intro Sub-article 31(b) of UCP 600 often puzzles practitioners. On the one hand, it explains when multiple transport documents are not to be treated as partial shipments; on the other, it raises the practical question: how can the same ship and the same voyage end up with more than one set of bills of lading? Let’s unpack both sides. QUESTION … Read More