The problem is the people. The solution is the people
It never stops to amaze me how the human mind works. Take as
an example the ISBP 745. The purpose of this publication is to guide the LC
community about how to do things right – of course with the hope that the
number of discrepant presentations will decrease – i.e. that the LC will serve
its purpose: to facilitate the payment for goods or services between a buyer
and a seller.
The making of ISBP 745 has been an enormous task – and we
now have 298 paragraphs to aid in that process. ISBP 681 had “only” 185
paragraphs.
In each of these 298 paragraphs great effort and care has
been placed in offering good guidance and good examples: the good banking
practice; so if ISBP is being followed then there is a fair chance that things
will work smoothly.
With that in mind it should be simple: go out there and use
time to promote the ISBP; do ISBP training; implement the principles of the
ISBP. That is where the focus should be.
However – from my chair this is not exactly what is
happening. I receive so many questions; that claim to be ISBP questions but is
not. These questions touch upon the borderline situations … they take the ISBP
content one step further; and the twist it a bit. One recent example is this:
A bill of lading is presented. It includes a “pre printed on
board notation.” In the field where the ocean vessel is mentioned the word
“intended” has been ^Delete^d by means of a correction. In this case what kind of
on board notation is required? And secondly: what if the “correction” has not
be done correctly?
To me this is NOT an ISBP question. This is NOT covered by
ISBP 745. If one read the on board requirements in the ISBP 745 there are
plenty of good ways to comply with UCP 600 article 20(a)(ii). If the
beneficiary and the shipping line were well acquainted with UCP 600 and ISBP
745 then this situation will never arise.
To me ISBP 745 is a cornucopia of fantastic and relevant
knowledge captured in one place. Take it! Use it! Train it! Promote it! Do not
waste in finding the holes in the cheese. This will only add confusion to the
content of the publication.
It is my opinion that the majority of LC related problems
are not there because of the LC as an instrument. They are there because of the
people that (mis)use it. Therefore the one main thing that can solve the LC
problems, is for the people that use it to start acting in a better – more
mature way. One way is to use more energy in promoting the good practice laid
out in the ISBP 745.
The above being said, I accept fully that crazy things
happen (!!) – so sometimes one must address the “stupid” “far out” questions –
but do not do so under the cover of it being an ISBP issue when it is not. And
if this is merely for academic purposes, then let it go and use your time
better:
And by the way – I just learned that ISBP 745 has been
published.
Go get it! Use it! Train it! Promote it!
Have a great weekend and take care of each other and the LC!
Kim