【Task Description 】任务描述

Safe and smooth delivery of the goods is an important guarantee for the sellers to effectively perform their duty of delivering the goods based on international sales contract. Having invited the client to modify the L/C and received the client’s notification about the modification, Zheng Hao starts to arrange the production at once. Towards the end of production, Zheng Hao negotiates and confirms ship chartering, space booking and other relevant details of shipment to ensure timely shipment. After the goods are shipped, Zheng Hao gives notification to his client.

【Knowledge Link】知识链接

按照合同规定，交付货物、移交一切与货物有关的单据和转移货物所有权是卖方的三项基本义务。其中，按照合同规定交付货物是最基本的义务。做好货物出运工作，就是为履行出口合同准备基础，必须认真对待。特别注意以下几点：

（1）货物的品质、规格必须与出口合同的规定相一致。

（2）货物的数量必须符合出口合同规定。凡按重量计量而在合同中未规定按毛重还是净重计量者，按惯例应以净重计。

（3）货物的包装必须符合合同规定和运输要求。如合同未对包装做具体规定，则应按同类货物通用的方式装箱或包装。如没有此种通用方式，则应按照足以保全和保护货物的方式装箱或包装。

（4）货物备妥的时间应严格按照出口合同以及信用证上规定的装运期限，同时结合船期进行安排。为防止发生意外，造成延误装运期限的违约情况，一般还应适当留有余地。

（5）货物备齐后，还需按合同或信用证规定刷写包装标志，这是货物的特定化要求。

（6）凡属法检的出口商品，必须向当地出入境检验检疫局报验取得出口货物通关单后，才能装运出口。

【Task Underway】任务进行

安迪催促交货，郑好写邮件回复。

Dear Mr. Andy Burns,

We have acknowledged your e-mail dated Jan 3^rd in connection with earlier shipment under order No.9786.

Immediately upon receipt of your above e-mail, we contacted shipping company and regret to inform you that there is no direct container ship sailing from Shanghai to your port prior to Jan 10^th. In addition, workshop just advised me that the earliest finish date is Jan 12^th, even if goods have been manufactured at full speed.

We are extremely sorry for our inability to advance the shipment. However, we can assure you that special care will be given to your order and we shall do everything possible to catch the earliest shipment date as soon as the production of goods is finished.

Thanks & Best regards.

 

Zheng Hao

 

安迪告知郑好货物检验事宜。

Dear Mr. Zheng Hao,

Please find the details of sampling plan for goods inspection.

A. The first column in the sampling plan is the total lot size; the second column is number of pieces to be sampled.

B. If there are totally “X” cartons in which the entire lot is packed, then number of shippers from which samples have to be taken is (Square root of X + 1). This formula applies for X equal to 4 or greater than 4.

If X = 1, 2 & 3, then samples to be drawn from each box.

For understanding the Sampling plan, following examples may be helpful.

1. If total lot size of Pencils is 10,000 pcs, then samples needed are 200 pcs. If these 10,000 pcs are packed in 9 cartons, then (square root of 9 + 1 = 4) 4 cartons should be randomly selected & from these 4 cartons, total 200 pcs to be sampled.

2. If total lot size of pencils is 1,200 pcs packed in 4 cartons, then (square root of 4 + 1 = 3) 3 cartons should be selected & total 80 pcs from these 3 cartons should be sampled.

3. If the total lot size of pencils is 50,000 packed in 25 cartons, then (square root of 25 + 1 = 6) 6 cartons should be randomly selected & total 800 pcs should be sampled from these 6 cartons.

4. If total lot size is 25 packed in 2 boxes, and then total 5 pcs to be sampled from both the boxes. For a lot size of 150 pencils packed in 3 cartons, total 20 pcs need to be sampled from all the three cartons.

AQL (Acceptable Quality Level):A lot having Maximum 0.65% critical defect or Maximum 1.5% Major defect or Maximum 4.0% Minor defect can be accepted.

Critical defect for pencils : Broken lead; Damaged pencil; Unprinted or incorrectly printed pencils ( if printing is applicable);Failure in Microbial tests & stability; Very hard / very soft lead making application difficult; Wrong shade; Bad odour, dirt on lead; Incorrect dimensions which lead to hamper the packing, printing, cap fitment or use; Use of Incorrect & prohibited ingredients; Crumbling during application & sharpening.

Major defect for pencils: Very tight or very loose caps; Shade variation in lead; Heavily smudged or cut print including weight, brand name & address; End cap falling off, dust on barrel & cap; Scotch tape test failure; Major bur; Incorrect dimensions, major aesthetical defects. 

Minor defects for pencils: Slight cut or erased print or smudged print ( But not weight, brand name, Address); Minor difference in barrel color; Slight difference in print color or cap color, Minor aesthetical defects.

Best Regards.

 

Andy Burns

【Communication Skills】沟通技巧

货物出运涉及的工作较多，如交货时间的最终确定、货物检验、租船订舱、报关、运输单据获得等。一方面，在出运前，买方通常会将出运要求函告卖方，书面通知卖方出运须知；另一方面，卖方通常在收到出运须知后，要与客人就须知的内容进行磋商、确认，函电内容一定要具体、明确、完整，不能有遗漏，用词简单明了。函电回复一定要及时，不能拖延。一旦有所遗漏、拖延的话，就会留下未来发生纠纷的隐患，甚至在纠纷中处于被动的地位。

需要注意的是，货物装船后开船前应及时向买方发出装船通知，告知买方货物已出运，特别在FOB、C&F术语项下，向买方发出装船通知尤为重要。装船通知延误发出，买方因此没有及时购买保险，一旦货物发生灭失或损坏，卖方将承担由此造成的损失。装船通知一般包含订单号或信用证号、品名、包装件数、船名、船期，有时应客人要求，还要将货物总值包含在内。

【Task Extension】任务扩展

Letter 1  

Communication about the Shipping Details of the Cargo

Dear Sirs,

We are in receipt of your e-mail dated July 23^rd requesting us to ship all 200,000pcs pencils under order No.97847 in one lot before Aug 15^th.

We have to inform you that it is very difficult to comply with your wishes after checking this matter with workshop. When we offered the pencils it was clearly stated that shipment would be effected in September. So, your order has not been manufactured yet. If you desire earlier delivery, we can only make a partial shipment of 100,000pcs before Aug 15^th and the remaining 100,000pcs in September. We hope this arrangement will be agreeable to you. Should this be so, please amend the covering credit to allow partial shipments under advice to us.

Please advise me your confirmation so that we can request the manufacturers to expedite delivery.

 

Yours faithfully,

Letter 2

Issuing Shipment Advice to Clients

Dear Sirs,

Invoice No.11CM184

We give full details of shipment to you under documentary credit number 560101101 as follows:

Port of loading: Shanghai port of China

Port of discharge: IZMIR TURKIYE

Weight: 3,251.80KGS

Value of goods: USD20,957.33

Shipment date: Aug 21^st, 2016

Vessel name: XINPUDONG/V.1134W

Description of goods: Cosmetic pencil

We are glad to have been able to execute your order as contracted and trust that the goods will reach you in good time to meet your need and that they will turn out to your entire satisfaction.

Availing ourselves of this opportunity, we wish to assure you of our prompt and careful attention at all times.

 

Yours faithfully,

Letter 3

Contract No.3485

Dear Sirs,  

Referring to our previous emails, we wish to call your attention to the fact that up to the present moment no news has come from you about the shipment under the captioned contract.

As you have been informed in one of our previous emails, the users are badly in need of the goods for Christmas decoration and are in fact pressing us for assurance of timely delivery.

Under the circumstances, it is obviously impossible for us to again extend our L/C No.3059, which expires on November 10^th. We have been involved in much trouble by your delay and as the goods are in urgent need by our customers, we are now requiring you to do your utmost to deliver the first 10,000 pieces. As your prompt attention to shipment is most desirable to all parties concerned, we hope you will let us have your shipping advice by fax without fail.

 

Yours faithfully,

 

Letter 4

Shipping Advice

Dears Sirs,

We thank you for your letter of November 1^st, contents of which have been duly noted.

Upon receipt of your previous letters we lost no time in getting in touch with the manufacturers and pressed them for prompt delivery. However they failed to let us have a prompt reply with the result that we were not sure about the time of shipment and that is why we could not reply to your said letter any sooner, for which, please accept our regrets.

After repeated efforts, we have eventually succeeded in booking space on s/s “Dongfeng” which is scheduled to sail on or about the 15^th of this month. We shall fax you as soon as the loading is completed.

 

Yours faithfully,

【Writing Q&A】写作答疑

交货在国际货物买卖中是卖方的基本义务。交货时间直接影响买方生产、消费或转售的需要，对买方来说是一个重要的问题。那么在外贸函电写作中与客人确认交货时间时，应考虑哪些因素呢？通常应考虑以下因素：

（1）货源情况：货源是履行合同的基础，与客人确定交货时间时必须考虑货物生产安排的可能性、生产周期的长短、生产进度。对交货量大的交易，还应考虑分批装运。

（2）市场情况：交货时间要与国外市场需求的季节性相适应，特别是供应节日商品和临时特殊需要的商品，还要适当考虑航程的远近。

（3）商品情况：确定交货时间，应考虑商品本身的性质和特点，同时考虑商品的包装、检验和国内运输情况。

（4）运输情况：国际贸易合同中如规定由我方负责租船订舱，在确定交货时间时，应考虑航线、港口条件、运输能力。例如，对有直达船和航次较多的港口，交货时间可以短些，但对无直达船或比较偏僻的港口以及虽然有直达船但航次较少的港口，交货时间就要长些。

【Useful Expression】交流表达

1. Please see to it that each package is stenciled with…

请注意每件货物要用模板印上……

2. The packing must be strong enough to withstand rough handling.

包装必须足够牢固足以经得起野蛮装卸。

3. Taking into consideration the transport conditions at your end, we have especially reinforced our packing so as to minimize the extent of any possible damage to the goods.

考虑到贵方的运输条件，我方特别加固了包装以使货物可能遭到的损害减到最小。

4. The users are in urgent need of the goods contracted and are in fact pressing us for assurance of an early delivery.

用户迫切需要所订购的货物，事实上一再要求我们确保尽早交货。

5. Your failure to deliver the goods within the stipulated time has greatly inconvenienced us.

贵方未能在规定的时间交货给我方造成了极大的不便。

6. We have been put to considerable inconvenience by the long delay in delivery. We must insist on immediate delivery，otherwise we shall be compelled to cancel the order in accordance with the stipulations of the contract.

长时间的交货延误已给我方造成了极大的不便。我们坚持要求立即交货，否则，我们将不得不按照合同的规定取消订单。

【Notes】词汇与短语

1. acknowledge  vt.  告知；收到；承认

e.g.  We acknowledge your mail of June 5^th.=We acknowledge(the) receipt of your mail of June 5^th.（6月5日函悉。）

以上都是商业书信表示“收到”的陈旧说法。

e.g.  This is done by you unilaterally. We do not acknowledge it.（这是你们单方面做出的，我们不承认。）

2. in connection with关于；有关

e.g.  In connection with your enquiry of June 10^th, we are sorry to tell you that Steel Plates are unavailable at present.（关于贵方6月10日询盘，歉告钢板目前无货可供。）

connection n. 顾客；往来关系

e.g.  We have business connections all over the world.（我们在全世界各地都有业务往来户。）

e.g.  With our extensive connections, we can do a large amount of business with your firm.（由于我们联系广泛，我们能与贵公司做大量生意。）

in this connection  在这一点上

in that connection  在那一点上

e.g.  In this connection, we can not make any decision at present.（在这一点上我们目前不能做出决定。）

3. container n. 容器；集装箱 

e.g.  You may ship the goods in any suitable containers.（你们可用任何适当的容器装运该货。）

e.g.  Temperature-controlled containers are provided for this type of goods.（有为这种货物提供的温控集装箱。）

container B/L  集装箱提单

container service  集装箱业务

container ship  集装箱船

container-ship  v.  用集装箱船装运

shipping container  船运集装箱

containerize  v.  用集装箱发运

e.g.  We note your request for containerizing future shipments.（我们注意到贵方要求今后用集装箱发运。）

containerization  n.  集装箱化

e.g.  Containerization is regarded as a mode for more efficient shipment.（集装箱化被认为是一种高效率的运货方法。）

4. prior to（引导状语短语）在前；居先

e.g.  It is important that you time the shipment to arrive prior to the expiration of the import license.（你们必须安排此货在进口许可证期满之前到达，这是非常重要的。）

e.g.  This question must be settled prior to talking about fresh business.（在谈新交易之前，这个问题必须解决。）

5. ensure  v.  保证

ensure和 assure的用法略有不同，以人作主语表示某人保证某事时多用ensure；表示某人向别人承诺做某事则用assure；以事作主语，两词可以通用。

e.g.  We ensure that it will be completed in time.(We assure you that it will be completed in time.)［我们保证此事将按时完成（我们向你们保证此事将按时完成。）］

e.g.  Close cooperation will ensure(or: assure) the expansion of trade between us.（密切合作将保证我们之间的业务发展。）

6.in good time=in time  及时地；迅速地

e.g.  Please time your L/C so that it reaches us in good time for shipment.（请计算好开证时间，使贵方信用证能及时到达，不误装运。）

7.at all times=always 无论如何；一直

8.inspection  n.  检验；检查

reinspection  n.  复验，复查

9. column   n.  列

10.square root  平方根

11. AQL  可接受质量水平，指抽样检查中，认为可以接受的连续提交检查批的过程平均上限值

12. critical  adj.  严重的；极重要的

13. defect  n.  瑕疵；缺点；毛病

14. microbial  adj.  微生物的

15. lead  n.  笔芯

16. stability  n.  稳定（性）；稳固

17. odour  n.  气味

18.hamper  vt.  妨碍；束缚

19.ingredient  n.  成分

20.smudge  vt.  弄脏；使模糊

21.crumbling  v.（把……）弄碎；（使）碎成细屑( crumble的现在分词 )

22.scotch tape  透明胶带

23.aesthetical  adj.  美学的，审美的

24.shade  n.  文中指笔芯颜色

25.total lot size  整批货的数量

26.broken lead  笔芯断裂

27.cut print  跳印，指笔杆上烫印的文字字母之间间隔过大

28. printing  n.  笔杆烫印  v.  在笔杆上烫印

e.g.  if printing is applicable（如果有笔杆烫印的话）

29. application  n.  文中意思为用化妆笔化妆

applicable  adj  适用的（后接介词to）

e.g.  This rule is applicable to all parties concerned.（此规定对各有关方面均适用。）

apply  适用，申请

① 作“适用”解，后接介词to。

e.g.  The new tax legislation does not apply to joint ventures signed before its promulgation.（新税法不适用于颁布前所签订之合资经营业务。）

 

② 做“申请”解，常用结构为apply to sb for sth。

e.g.  We have applied to the authorities for the import licence.（我们已向当局申请进口许可证。）

30. number of pieces to be sampled  抽样数量

31.bur  n.  毛刺，毛边

32.cap fitment  套笔帽

33.randomly  adv.  随机地