Opinions that were approved at the ICC Banking Commission meeting held in Dubai on 29-30 April.

By Gary Collyer

In this newsletter, we look at the Opinions that were approved at the ICC Banking Commission meeting held in Dubai on 29-30 April.

In total, 13 draft Opinions were put forward for consideration. Three were not concluded at the meeting. TA798 was held over pending further discussions with the ICC Banking Commission Executive Board. TA803 and TA804 is the subject of further discussions with the submitting ICC national committee.

TA793rev

This query was a follow up to TA775 and the question of whether a charter party bill of lading can be signed by a carrier or the impact if such a document indicates the name of the carrier.

The submitting national committee indicated that there was an increasing frequency of charter party bills of lading being signed by a carrier and offered two new scenarios for consideration.

Case 1 – the credit required presentation of bills of lading, and indicated charter party bills of lading are acceptable. The credit also indicated that the bills of lading were to be marked “freight payable as per charter party”.

The presented bill of lading was signed by an agent of a named carrier and the reverse of the document indicated typical (full) terms and conditions of carriage. It was also marked “freight payable as per charter party”.

The contention of the nominated bank was that other than the freight statement, there was nothing to suggest that the bill of lading was subject to a charter party contract. The issuing bank disagreed, arguing that the document was not signed in accordance with sub-article 22 (a) (i). The negotiating bank disagreed stating that the freight statement was not sufficient evidence that a charter party was involved.

The conclusion of the ICC Banking Commission was that the issuing bank was correct to refuse the documents citing ISBP 745 paragraphs G1 and G2 (b).

Case 2 - the credit required presentation of bills of lading, and indicated charter party bills of lading marked ‘freight prepaid’ or ‘freight payable as per charter party’ acceptable.

The presented bill of lading was on a ‘Congenbill’ form and was signed by an agent for the master. The document also indicated the name of the carrier.

The national committee sought the opinion of the Banking Commission as to whether the inclusion of the carrier name created a discrepancy.

The conclusion of the Banking Commission was that the document would be compliant. The addition of the name of the carrier would not detract from the fact that the document otherwise complied with article 22.

See TA.793rev for the full transcript of the opinion.

TA794rev

This query focused on an insurance certificate and the clause “not transferable unless countersigned”. This clause was pre-printed on the document.

A bank had raised a discrepancy stating that the clause should read “only valid unless countersigned by the insured” and that without such a clause the document would be incorrect.

The conclusion stated that there was no discrepancy. The analysis highlighted that such wording is a matter of practice for the insurance industry or the individual insurance company and is not governed by the UCP or ISBP 745.

See TA.794rev for the full transcript of the opinion.

TA795rev

This query was also referring to a previously approved Opinion - TA700 (R741). This Opinion had concerned the deduction of charges by an issuing bank from its reimbursement or settlement under a credit. The initiator of TA795 was looking for a reversal or change to the previous Opinion.

It would seem that the initiator was the advising bank of a credit and sent documents to the issuing bank unchecked. The issuing bank sent an MT910 to the advising bank indicating a deduction of EUR100 as a discrepancy fee. No refusal notice had been sent to the advising bank.

The advising bank contacted the issuing bank stating that the discrepancy fee was only due if a refusal notice was issued. The issuing bank rejected this stance, stating that if the bank wanted to know the discrepancies it should ask.

The view of the initiator was that if an issuing bank determines discrepancies, all discrepancies should be quoted in an MT734 or MT752 message, otherwise they are precluded from claiming that the documents are discrepant, and accordingly unable to claim a discrepancy fee.

The conclusion stated that the conclusion to TA700 (R741) required an issuing bank to indicate the discrepancies in its advice of taking up the documents, and especially where an indication of the deduction of a discrepancy fee is given. The conclusion to TA795 reiterated the requirements expressed in the previous opinion.

See TA.795rev for the full transcript of the opinion.

TA796rev

This query related to the determination of what was “Any North European Port”? The credit had required shipment to be effected from such a port without any further qualification as to what constituted a North European Port.

The nominated bank had accepted a bill of lading indicating shipment from Antwerp Port as an indication of shipment from a North European Port. The issuing bank refused the documents stating that Antwerp port is not within the geographical area or range stated in the credit, and that Antwerp (Belgium) is in Western Europe.

The conclusion stated that the applicant and the issuing bank must bear the risk of ambiguity in its instructions and that the document was not discrepant.

See TA.796rev for the full transcript of the opinion.

TA797rev

This query relates to a documentary collection subject to URC 522.

Documents with a value of EUR53,040.00 were sent to a collecting bank with instructions to release them against payment. By an MT799 message, the remitting bank subsequently authorised the release of the documents against payment of EUR45,084.00 only.

In error, the collecting bank remitted EUR53,040.00 to the remitting bank and these funds were credited to the account of the drawer.

The collecting bank has been demanding repayment of EUR7,956.00 from the remitting bank without success. It would seem that the drawer and drawee have decided to offset the amount against other orders.

The collecting bank requested the Banking Commission’s agreement that the remitting bank was obliged to refund the difference.

The conclusion of the Banking Commission was that as settlement had been made, albeit erroneously, this was a matter outside the scope of URC 522 and may need to be settled according to the applicable law.

See TA.797rev for the full transcript of the opinion.

TA798rev

This query has been held over pending further discussions with the ICC Banking Commission Executive Committee.

TA799rev

A credit required, among other documents, the presentation of a bank guarantee from an international first class bank payable in country X in an amount equivalent to EUR xxxx and with a stated validity.

The presented guarantee was issued by a bank in country Y and was stated to be subject to the laws of country Y. The applicant of the letter of credit was shown as the beneficiary of the guarantee. The amount and expiry date were compliant. There was no mention of the guarantee being payable in country X.

The confirming bank accepted the guarantee, but the issuing bank refused it due to the absence of an indication that it was payable in country X.

Various questions were asked concerning the guarantee including whether it needed to expressly indicate that it was payable in country X.

The conclusion of the Banking Commission was that the refusal was correct, given the absence of any indication that the guarantee was payable in country X.

See TA.799rev for the full transcript of the opinion.

TA800rev

This query related to the signing of a charter party bill of lading. The document indicated the name of the vessel and the name of the captain, and was signed. There was also a stamp that indicated the name of the vessel and stated “on behalf of Owners” without indicating the name of the owners. Given the requirements of sub-article 22 (a) (i), the initiator enquired as to the acceptability of the document as issued.

The conclusion indicated that the signature on the document is indicated as that of the master and that the master is signing for and on behalf of the owner. The document was deemed to be acceptable.

See TA.800rev for the full transcript of the opinion.

TA801rev

This query related to another URC 522 transaction.

This time, a number of sets of documents were sent from a remitting bank to a collecting bank during the period September to November 2013. Each collection instruction indicated the documents that were enclosed (including 3 original and 3 copies of bills of lading), that the collection was subject to URC 522, and that the documents were to be released against payment.

No response was received from the collecting bank, but investigations indicated that the goods had been released to the drawee against presentation to the carrier of an original bill of lading.

Following further SWIFT messages and telephone calls from the remitting bank, the collecting bank indicated that all the documents were still lying with them at their counters.

Later, the collecting bank indicated that it had only received 2/3 original bills of lading under each presentation. The remitting bank sought an answer from the Banking Commission as to whether the collecting bank was in breach of URC 522, and if the collecting bank were unable to return all the documents as indicated on the collection instructions would they be liable to effect payment?

The Banking Commission indicated that the collecting bank was in breach of URC 522 sub-article 12 (a) and was precluded from stating that one original bill of lading was missing from each collection instruction. If the bank is unable to return the documents as stated on the collection instruction, it must pay the collection. However, the conclusion also added “URC does not impose any payment obligation on banks, remedy would be outside URC”.

See TA.801rev for the full transcript of the opinion.

TA802rev

This query related to a standby letter of credit and a refusal thereunder stating “original standby LC not presented”. This was despite no such requirement appearing in the standby. The initiator also asked whether the issuer was able to raise additional discrepancies at a later stage.

The conclusion stated that the discrepancy was not valid and that a bank has only one opportunity at issuing a refusal notice for each presentation.

See TA.802rev for the full transcript of the opinion.

TA803rev and TA804rev

These queries are being held pending further discussions with the respective ICC national committee.

TA805rev

An issuing bank had refused documents due to “Health Certificate to be presented in 1 original and 2 copies but only presented in 1 Original and 1 copy.”

The nominated (confirming) bank confirmed that all the documents had been received within the time limits stated in the credit but in error it had only sent one copy of the Health Certificate. They requested the issuing bank to take a copy, or offered to courier the second copy to the issuing bank. Absent any response, the nominated bank couriered the copy to the issuing bank but by now the credit had expired. The issuing bank still refused to honour the presentation.

The conclusion stated that the initial discrepancy was valid. However, once the issuing bank received the second copy accompanied by the certification of the nominated bank as to its presentation with the other documents, the issuing bank must reimburse the nominated bank.

See TA.805rev for the full transcript of the opinion.