外贸英语函电Unit thirteen.pptVIP

Unit ThirteenSHIPMENT Introduction Shipment is one of the indispensable terms of a sales contract. Upon the conclusion of a contract, the party responsible for the arrangement of shipment as provided under the contract will have to perform his obligation of making shipping arrangements. In practice, shipment involves such procedures as clearing the goods through the customs, booking shipping space or chartering a ship, completing shipping documentation, dispatching shipping advises, etc. Shipment is mostly made by ocean vessels – tramp or liner. A tramp is a freight-carrying vessel which has no regular route or schedule of sailings. It is first in one trade and then in another, always seeking those ports where there is a demand at the moment for shipping space. A liner is a vessel with regular sailings and arrivals on a stated schedule between specified ports. In making a single shipment by liner, the first step is to ascertain the rate. The quotation of a rate for a certain shipment constitutes an offer on the part of the carrier. If the shipper wishes to make this rate binding, he must accept the proposal promptly at the rate quoted. The carrier then reserves the required space and delivers to the shipper or his agent a shipping permit (shipping order). This permit is addressed to the receiving clerk at the dock. When the goods are delivered to the dock, the shipping permit is exchanged for a dock receipt or a mate’s receipt, which is a brief statement from the carrier’s representative at the dock, indicating that the shipment has been received in apparent good order. This is a temporary receipt which must be exchanged for the regular ocean bill of lading before the vessel sails. The ocean bill of lading is an essential document in making a shipment. It presents three aspects. → it is a receipt of the goods. → it is a contract for the performance of certain services upon certain conditions. → it serves also as evidence of ownership of the goods descr