Name: Shahriar
 
please advise me on the followings:

1. What are the possible ways a carrier can identify itself. Does mere title name at the BL identify it as a carrier?
    

2. I got a BL which has no dates but one written as "freight prepaid on 25-03-2008." there is an undated on board notation else where. No space for issuing date. Do you consider it as a discrepancy?

2. Unfortunately there in not sufficient information.  Can not determine
without knowledge of the explicit LC requirement and perhaps even a copy
of the document. 

 

1. Presuming the question relates to a B/L subject to UCP 600 article 20, the carrier (name and capacity) must be identified in accordance with UCP600 sub-article 20(a).
If you are talking about a B/L with a letterhead including the name of the carrier but without evidencing the capacity of carrier no where on the face of it, then the B/L must evidence that the named shipping company (evidenced on letterhead) is acting as a carrier. Let say that the carrier's name is SHIPCO. Then should be issued as follows:

either: signed SHIPCO as carrier
or: signed ABC as agent of SHIPCO as carrier
or: signed by the master and separately indicating "carrier: SHIPCO"
or: signed by the agent of the master identifying itself as agent of the master and separately indicating "carrier: SHIPCO"
(when signed by an agent (of carrier or mater) following words may be
used as agent of/for/on behalf of...).

Anyway, as Don Smith says the carrier may be identified in a many, many ways. Important is the B/L to comply with article 20 of UCP 600.

2. B/L must comply with sub-article 20(a)(ii)
so, if is a "shipped in apparent good order and..." pre-printed form the issuing date is to be considered the date of shipment. If is a "received for shipment..." pre-printed form a separate dated on board notation is required to evidence the date of shipment.
Anyway, the date of on board notation is to be considered the date of shipment (e.g. B/L indicating a date of issuance different from the on board date)
If the B/L you are writing about do not evidence on its face neither an issuing date nor a dated on board notation but only a date for freight prepaid, it is discrepant.

Regards,
Bogdan 

1: Considering the fact that we are referring to Art 20 of UCP600,

Mere title name at the BL is not sufficient; however, against the title if the capacity is identified AS CARRIER, it is acceptable. The other possible ways are that the Carrier has to be identified on the B/L , not necessarily against the signature.

2: This B/L is discrepant due to two reasons

a) is undated (As per ISBP, transport docs must be dated in all cases)

b) On board notation does not bear a date.