Whether Taipei is a seaport or not?

[ucp800]

ear all,
We have obtained opinion from a technical advisor when the loading port is not a seaport, the following discrepanc(ies) should be raised as follows:

Detail of the case is as follow:
LC showing shipment route as:
Port of loading: Any ports in Taiwan
Port of discharge: Any ports in USA

Documents requirement:
Full set clean on board ocean bill of lading.
For your reference, there are 6 ports in Taiwan in reference to website : http://portfocus.com/taiwan/
Anping
Hualien
Kaohsiung
Keelung
Makung
Taichung

Please take note and follow accordingly.
+ On board notation showing shipment on board a vessel in Taipei whereas Taipei is not actually a seaport
+ Insurance documents also showing shipment from Taipei on MV Ever Utile where Taipei is not a seaport
However, negotiating bank claimed that now Taipei is a seaport.

May I ask your opinion whether we should treat Taipei is a seaport or not, whether the discrepancies are valid or not.


Thank you for your assistance.

Regards,

ucp800

[sunny]

To quote from Wikipedia:
The Port of Taipei or Taipei Port, a new international seaport, is located in Bali in Taipei County in northern Taiwan. Government and private investors have been cooperating on Phase II construction since July 1996. Phase II will utilize a water area of 2,833 hectares and land area of 269 hectares for a total of 3,102 hectares. The port is scheduled to be completed in 2011. Estimates anticipate annual volumes by that date of 4,000,000 TEU, superseding the current volume of the Keelung Port.[1]
.
It is absolutely ridiculous to seek for such a discrepancies when two different entities confirm this is the port:
1) the carrier
2) the insurance company
.
I strongly suggest you to refrain from considering one website as an official and complete answer to your question

[jmitra]

there is no difference between a fresh water port and a sea port. even if taipei is a fresh water port, the bill of lading is acceptable.

[shahriar]

the bill of lading is acceptable anyway. ICC opinion 495 may help

The requirements of sub-Article 23(a)(iii) include that the bill of lading must indicate the port of loading and the port of discharge stipulated in the credit. Provided the stipulated ports are mentioned in the respective boxes on the bills of lading, it is of no consequence as to whether they are sea or freshwater ports.