Chapter 10   Transport

Section 1  Introduction
Section 2  Specimen letters
Section 3  Useful Expressions (Self study after class)
Section 4  Guide to Writing
Section 5  Exercises

 

 

Contract of carriage (承运合同)

consignment note (寄售单, issued by post office)

air waybill (AWB) (航空货运单); railway bill (铁路货运单); roadway bill (公路货运单)

a charter party or a bill of lading (租船契约或提单)

 

Purposes of messages (letters) on transportation

 to hire a vehicle

 to urge an early shipment,

 to amend the shipping terms,

 to give shipping advice (装运通知),

 to dispatch shipping documents, etc.

Section 2  Specimen Documents

Specimen 1: An inquiry of chartering shipping by fax

We would like to charter (包租) a ship with capacity of about 4000 tons for a single voyage (单程航行) from Avonmouth (埃文茅斯), Great Britain to Xingang, China for heavy lifts (重型升降机).

We shall give 40 days in advance definite notice of cargo readiness (货物准备就绪) and expect the ship to be at Avonmouth on 31 March ready to take cargo on board.

 Would you kindly answer the two questions:

 Is such a ship available?

 If so, on what terms would you arrange for the voyage?

Your early reply would be most appreciated.

Specimen 2: An enquiry for shipping container by email

Could you arrange for your shipping container (船运集装箱) to collect a consignment (收货) ?

We have ten cases of art goods at Xingang, ready for despatch to London. Each case weighs 40 kgs. As the L/C of our client stipulates that shipment be not later than 8 August, please quote us for a shipping container from Xingang to London before that deadline.

Your early quotation would be appreciated.

A possible reply by a broker (经纪人) (negative)

We feel sorry for our inability to quote for shipping your ten cases of art goods to London by shipping container.

We have contacted quite a few shipping companies as well as shipping agents only to find (结果却发现) no shipping container (海运集装箱) sailing from Xingang to London prior to 15 August. Fortunately, COSCO (中国远洋运输公司) m/v (motor vessel) “Seal (海豹号)” is scheduled to sail from China port to European main ports on or about 20 August.

Could you manage to ship the ten cases of art goods via m/v “Seal”?

A possible follow-up (随后) confirmation

This is to confirm that we can ship the ten cases of art goods via (通过) m/v “Seal” scheduled to sail from Xingang on or about 20 August.

We have received our client’s advice of agreeing to extend the shipment date of their L/C to 30 August. Please book (预订) the shipping container (船运集装箱) for us.

We are looking forward to your quotation and the shipping arrangement.

Specimen 3: Urging shipment

    Re: 200 Cases of Children’s Toys under S/C No. 345676

L/C No. 0987 for the above goods was opened through the Bank of Scotland yesterday.

Would you please arrange for the shipment not later than 31 October? Last year, we profited from your arrangement for the shipment to catch (赶上) the Christmas season. We therefore hope that you will not delay the October shipment as contracted. Otherwise, we would very likely miss the high demand for toys as Christmas presents.

Thank you in anticipation of your cooperation and we look forward to receiving your shipping advice (装运通知).

Specimen 4: Refusing request for an early delivery

    Re: 1000 Sewing Machines under L/C No. 2345l

In reply to your letter of 10 June asking us to allow you to amend the above L/C to bring forward (提前) the delivery, we regret to say that it will not be possible.

At your request, we approached our suppliers, but were informed that they are not in a position to advance the delivery because they are already heavily tied up with orders during the next few months. In this case, they can only ship 1000 sewing machines in one lot (一批) within the contracted time of shipment, i.e. October this year.

While we are extremely sorry for our inability to advance the time of shipment of 500 sewing machines to August to meet your urgent need, we can assure you that special care will be given to your order and that we shall do everything possible to ensure trouble-free and punctual (准时的) shipment of the contracted goods.

 Specimen 5: Giving shipping advice

     500 cases of children’s toys under L/C No. 23451 have been shipped on board the S/S “Red Star”, which is scheduled to leave for London on 15 October.

     We are enclosing one set of the shipping documents covering (关于) this consignment, consisting of:

one copy of non-negotiable B/L (非议付的提单)

commercial invoice (商业发票) in duplicate

one copy of insurance policy (保险单)

one copy of certificate of quality (品质证书)

one copy of packing list (包装单)

    The original (原件) of each document is being sent to you through our banker.

    We believe that the consignment will reach you in due time and you will find the goods to your entire satisfaction.

     Thank you for your efforts in promoting the sale of our goods in your market, and we hope for more business with you in the future.

Specimen 6: Booking (预订) a container (Part I)

1）Enquiry (询价)

     We have 5000 cases of medicines and chemical reagents (化学试剂) ready for shipment from Qingdao to Rotterdam. Each case weighs 60 kg. Could you arrange to collect (接走) them?

      Our buyer requires shipment not later than November 15. Please quote us for a shipping container (船运集装箱) from Qingdao to Rotterdam. Your quotation needs to reach us by October 31.

       We look forward to receiving your prompt (迅速的) attention.

Specimen 6: Booking a container (Part II)

2）A possible reply to the above

Thank you for asking us to quote for a shipping container to Rotterdam for 5000 cases of medicines and chemical reagents.

Containers of two sizes, 20′ and 40′, are available, with a capacity of 20m/t (metric ton) and 30m/t respectively. They can be opened at both ends and accordingly can be loaded and unloaded at the same time. Freight charges (运费) can be saved when separate consignments intended for the same port of destination are carried in one container.

We enclose a copy of our freight tariff (运费表) and look forward to your instructions.