سوالات متداول

TIR Carnet is a customs transit document used to prove the existence of the international guarantee for duties and taxes for the goods transported under the TIR system, within the limit of the amounts specified by the contracting parties and under conditions stipulated in the TIR Convention.

Am asking this question as the payment term to my buyer is “payment against fax copy of BL”. If buyer arranges shipment, our concern is that if buyer arranges for shipment for this FOB sale, he can direct shipping company to release cargo without a BL.

Food for thought..?? Previously, I wrote an article “Can the shipper’s address on the bill of lading be in another country“… At that time there were a few comments confirming that this was possible and this tied in with my experience as well… However, in the recent past (as recent as last week) I have had communications whereby it has become clear that not all countries allow this to be done.. For example, in India and Brazil, as per customs requirement (confirmed by a few forwarders to me), the shipper on the bill of lading has to be the actual exporter of the cargo who has filed the customs documentation and has to be based in the country of the port of load… This would then mean that there is no difference between an exporter and a shipper as far as India or Brazil is concerned, as the shipper on the bill of lading has to be the actual exporter… So that got me thinking as to how many other countries are there that have the same requirement..??
Hazardous cargo, Dangerous Goods, DG, IMCO Cargo – it is known by many names in the industry… But something that still confuses several people involved in shipping and freight is how the SEGREGATION of Dangerous Goods works..
Master Bill of Lading (MBL) is a transport document which is issued by main carrier of goods on receipt of goods from a freight forwarder to deliver at destination as per agreed terms. House bill of lading (HBL) is a transport document which is issued by a freight forwarder on receipt of goods from shipper agreeing to deliver goods at destination
Master bill of lading (MBL) is a transport document, which is used in sea shipments, issued and signed by the sea cargo carrier or its agent, generally on a pre-printed carrier's bill of lading format, evidences the terms and conditions of the carriage of goods between port of loading to port of discharge.

• Master bill of lading generally issued on a pre-printed bill of lading form of an issuer carrier.

• Master bill of lading issued and signed by the carrier or an agent on behalf of the carrier.

• A master bill of lading (MBL) is subject to Hague Rules, The Hague-Visby Rules and US COGSA (US Carriage of Goods by Sea Act 1936.  ) etc.

• Master bill of lading is signed by the actual carrier and states the terms and conditions of the carriage, as a result consignee may have protection in case the goods are damaged or lost in transit.

House bill of lading (HBL) is a transport document, which is used in sea shipments, issued and signed by a freight forwarder, generally on a freight forwarder's bill of lading format, evidences the terms and conditions of the carriage of goods as specified by the freight forwarder.
House bill of lading generally issued on a freight forwarder's bill of lading format. House bill of lading issued and signed by a forwarder without indicating any signing authority either carrier or as agent of the carrier. In some occasions forwarder companies sign HBLs "as carrier", especially when their clients require a letter of credit compliant bill of lading. A house bill of lading (HBL) may or may not be subject to Hague Rules, The Hague-Visby Rules and US COGSA (US Carriage of Goods by Sea Act 1936.  ) etc. House bill of lading is signed by the forwarder and states the terms and conditions of carriage for the forwarder company's perspective. House bill of lading does not contain actual carrier's carriage contract, as a result shipper stated on the house air waybill is not the direct participant of the carriage contract indicated on the master bill of lading.
Air transport document or air waybill (AWB) is a transport documents used in air shipments. Air waybill is “the shipping document used for the transportation of air freight. It includes conditions, limitations of liability, shipping instructions, description of commodity, and applicable transportation charges. It is generally similar to a straight non-negotiable bill of lading and is used for similar purposes. Important Note: Air transport document is not a document title of goods, which means that air waybill is a non-negotiable transport document. As a result air carriers will be able to deliver goods to the consignee without obtaining one original copy of air waybill. For this reason exporters and banks (issuing bank and confirming bank) have to be very careful when working with a letter of credit containing an air waybill as a transport document because neither exporters nor banks could secure goods as a collateral.  Air Transport Document a. An air transport document, however named, must appear to: i. indicate the name of the carrier and be signed by: - The carrier, or - A named agent for or on behalf of the carrier. ii. Indicate that the goods have been accepted for carriage. iii. Indicate the date of issuance. This date will be deemed to be the date of shipment unless the air transport document contains a specific notation of the actual date of shipment, in which case the date stated in the notation will be deemed to be the date of shipment. Any other information appearing on the air transport document relative to the flight number and date will not be considered in determining the date of shipment. iv. Indicate the airport of departure and the airport of destination stated in the credit. v. be the original for consignor or shipper, even if the credit stipulates a full set of originals. vi. Contain terms and conditions of carriage or refer to another source containing the terms and conditions of carriage. Contents of terms and conditions of carriage will not be examined. b. For the purpose of this article, transshipment means unloading from one aircraft and reloading to another aircraft during the carriage from the airport of departure to the airport of destination stated in the credit. c. i. An air transport document may indicate that the goods will or may be transshipped, if the entire carriage is covered by the same air transport document. ii. An air transport document indicating that transshipment will or may take place is acceptable, even if the credit prohibits transshipment. Special Hints on Air Transport Document / Air Waybill from ISBP 2007: • If a credit requires presentation of an air transport document covering an airport-to-airport shipment, UCP 600 article 23 is applicable. • If a credit requires presentation of an “air waybill”, “air consignment note” or similar, UCP 600 article 23 applies. To comply with UCP 600 article 23, an air transport document must appear to cover an airport-to-airport shipment but need not be titled “air waybill”, “air consignment note” or similar.. • The air transport document must appear to be the original for consignor or shipper. A requirement for a full set of originals is satisfied by the presentation of a document indicating that it is the original for consignor or shipper.
In international trade transactions, a pre-forma invoice means a trade document that states a commitment from the seller (exporter) to sell goods to the buyer (importer) at specified conditions. A pre-forma invoice is not a valid invoice in terms of accounting. Because of this reason pre-forma invoices cannot be recorded as an accounts receivable by the exporters nor can they be recorded as an accounts payable by the importers. Pre-forma invoices are widely used in today’s international trade transactions in substitution of sales contracts. It is easy to create a one page pre-forma invoice instead of writing a multiple page in detail sales contract.   A pre-forma invoice used in an international trade transaction should cover below points:  1. Name of the Exporter, address and contact details. 2. Name of the Importer, address and contact details. 3. Title of the document, pre-forma invoice number, pre-forma invoice date : "Pre-forma Invoice Date : 26.June.2012", "Pre-forma Invoice No : PI26062012" 4. Definition of goods: "Crushing and Screening Machine" etc... 5. Delivery term : "CIF NEW YORK PORT, Incoterms 2010", "FOB STOCKHOLM PORT, Incoterms 2000" etc... 6. Quantity, Unit Price, Currency, Total Price: "10Mtons of "Titanium Dioxide Rutile" from 3.000USD per MT, Total Amount is 30.000,00USD CIF HAMBURG PORT, Incoterms 2010." 7. Payment Terms : "Irrevocable Letter of Credit payable at 90 Days from Bill of Lading Date", "Cash Against Documents at Sight" etc... 8. Delivery Period : "4 weeks after confirmation", "5 weeks after issuance of the letter of credit" 9. Bank account details of the exporter and all other additional conditions regarding the sales. Pre-forma Invoices in Letters of Credit Transactions: 1. After seller (exporter) and buyer (importer) agreed upon certain conditions of the transaction, buyer demands a pre-forma invoice from the exporter. 2. Exporter prepares the pre-forma invoice on their company letterhead and completes it with a signature.  3. Exporter sends the pre-forma invoice by e-mail and/or air courier to the importer. Most of the times an e-mail copy of the pre-forma invoice would be sufficient for the importers. 4. Importer applies to its bank with the pre-forma invoice to open a letter of credit in favor of the exporter. 5. Banks will be using the details on the pre-forma invoice along with the information they gather from the importers via "Letter of Credit (L/C) Application Forms" (Import Documentary Credit Application Forms).  6. As a common practice banks refer to pre-forma invoice date and number on the description of goods part of letters of credit texts.
Commercial invoice is a commercial document which is used mostly in international trade transactions. It is a commercial document required by customs to determine true value of the imported goods, for assessment of duties and taxes. Content of the Commercial Invoice   Although there is no standard format exist for commercial invoices a commercial invoice to be used in an international trade transaction should cover below points; • Name of the Exporter, address and contact details. : "consignor" • Name of the Importer, address and contact details : "consignee" • Title of the document, commercial invoice number, commercial invoice date : "Commercial Invoice Date : 26.June.2012", "Commercial Invoice No : CI26062012" • Definition of goods: "Crushing and Screening Machine" etc... • Delivery term : "FAS ANTWERP PORT, Incoterms 2010", "FOB PORT OF SINGAPORE, Incoterms 2000" etc... • Quantity, Unit Price, Currency Code, Total Price : "10Mtons of "Titanium Dioxide Rutile" from 3.000USD per MT, Total Amount is 30.000,00USD CIF HAMBURG PORT, Incoterms 2010." • Payment Terms : "Irrevocable Letter of Credit payable at 30 Days from Bill of Lading Date", "Cash Against Documents at Sight" etc... • Delivery Period : "4 weeks after confirmation", "5 weeks after issuance of the letter of credit" • Bank account details of the exporter and all other additional conditions regarding the sales. • Insurance coverage and cost (if applicable) • Shipping charges (if applicable) • Signature and stamp (not required under letter of credit rules but it is asked by most of the custom authorities and government institutions.) Commercial Invoices in Letters of Credit Transactions: o A letter of credit requiring an “invoice” without further definition will be satisfied by any type of invoice presented such as commercial invoice, customs invoice, tax invoice, final invoice, consular invoice, etc. But invoices identified as “provisional”, “pro-forma” or the like are not acceptable under letters of credit rules and standard banking practices. o When a credit requires presentation of a commercial invoice, a document titled “invoice” will be acceptable.  o The description of the goods, services or performance in the invoice must correspond with the description in the letter of credit text. o The description of goods, services or performance in an invoice must reflect what has actually been shipped or provided. o An invoice must evidence the value of the goods shipped or services or performance provided.  o Unit price(s), if any, and currency shown in the invoice must agree with that shown in the credit.  o The invoice must show any discounts or deductions required in the credit. o The invoice may also show a deduction covering advance payment, discount, etc., not stated in the credit. (with this article letters of credit rules allow mixed payments under letter of credit payments. For example %25 advance payments outside letter of credit and %75 payable by at sight letter of credit is possible) o If a trade term is part of the goods description in the credit, or stated in connection with the amount, the invoice must state the trade term specified, and if the description provides the source of the trade term, the same source must be identified (e.g., a credit term “CIF Hamburg Port Incoterms 2000” would not be satisfied by “CIF CIF Hamburg Port Incoterms”). Charges and costs must be included within the value shown against the stated trade term in the credit and invoice. Any charges and costs shown beyond this value are not allowed. o The quantity of merchandise, weights and measurements shown on the invoice must not conflict with the same quantities appearing on other documents. Special Hints on Commercial Invoices for Letters of Credit Transactions: • Although it is not required by letter of credit rules please do not forget to sign and stamp commercial invoices that you need to present under letter of credit transactions. Signature and stamp on the commercial invoices are asked by most of the custom authorities and government institutions. • Please pay attention to your company name indicated on the letter of credit text correctly. If your company name is written mistakenly contact with your customer and have it corrected. • Please make sure that description on the commercial invoice is matching with the description stated on the letter of credit text. • Do not write additional product names to the invoice which are not mentioned on the letter of credit rules even if you give them free of charge.
Cargo insurance is defined as an insurance policy taken up to protect insurance policy holder/assured against loss of or damage to the goods during the transportation. Cargo insurance is one of the most important elements of the international trade transactions. Definition: Insurance defined by Merriam-Webster dictionary as "a coverage by contract whereby one party undertakes to indemnify or guarantee another against loss by a specified contingency or peril." Insurance covers a wide range of activities including but not limited to agricultural insurance, health insurance, life insurance, vehicle insurance etc... We will be focusing on Cargo Insurances on this page. Cargo Insurance: Cargo insurance is defined as an insurance policy taken up to protect insurance holder against loss of or damage to the goods during the transportation. Cargo insurance is one of the most important elements of the international trade transactions. Details of the cargo insurance should be determined under the sale contracts.  • Who is going to arrange and pay for the cargo insurance: If, either CIF (Cost Insurance Freight) or CIP (Carriage and Insurance Paid to a named place of destination) trade terms is chosen, then the cargo insurance premium must be paid for and arranged by the exporter. Otherwise parties can freely determine the insurer party.   • What kind of cargo insurance is required for the purpose of the business transaction: There are 3 main cargo insurance types available for sea and road shipments. Institute Cargo Clauses (A), Institute Cargo Clauses (B) and Institute Cargo Clauses (C). Institute Cargo Clauses (A), which is also known as all risk insurance, has the widest protection coverage. Institute Cargo Clauses (C) has the minimum insurance coverage. Institute Cargo Clauses (Air) used in air shipments.              *    Institute Cargo Clauses (A) 1/1/09             *    Institute Cargo Clauses (B) 1/1/09              *    Institute Cargo Clauses (C) 1/1/09             *    Institute Cargo Clauses (Air) (excluding sendings by Post) 1/1/09       • Which additional clauses should be included in to the cargo insurance policy : Whatever cargo insurance type is selected importer or issuing bank may want to see some additional clauses on the cargo insurance policy. Some of the most frequently used clauses on the letter of credit texts are,             *    Institute War Clauses (Cargo)             *    Termination of Transit Clause (Terrorism) Amended             *    War and Strikes Cancellation Clause (Cargo) • Starting and Ending Point of the Cargo Insurance Coverage : Normally cargo insurance covers the losses that is occurred between the starting and ending point of the main carriage. For example cargo insurance covers the losses that is occurred between port of loading and port of discharge on a port-to-port sea shipment. But sometimes issuing banks may want to extend these distances. The most frequently used clause for these kind of extension is "warehouse to warehouse" insurance coverage.  Special Hints on Insurance Documents for Letters of Credit Transactions: Insurance documents covered under article 28 in UCP 600 titled with "Insurance Document and Coverage".  • An insurance document, must appear to be issued and signed by an insurance company, an underwriter or their agents or their proxies. Any signature by an agent or proxy must indicate whether the agent or proxy has signed for or on behalf of the insurance company or underwriter. • An insurance policy is acceptable in lieu of an insurance certificate or a declaration under an open cover. • Cover notes will not be accepted. • The date of the insurance document must be no later than the date of shipment, unless it appears from the insurance document that the cover is effective from a date not later than the date of shipment. • The insurance document must indicate the amount of insurance coverage and be in the same currency as the credit. • An insurance document indicating that it covers Institute Cargo Clauses (A) satisfies a condition in a credit calling for an “all risks” clause or notation. (ISBP 2007)
A Health Certificate is a document used in export import transactions, issued by the governmental organizations at the countries of origin, to certify that a food shipment is fit for human consumption, and meeting safety standards or other required legislations for exporting.