The Convention on Multi-modal Transport (not to bring) into force yet as there (to be) heavy bureaucracy in many countries.

Task 14: Put in articles where necessary. Be ready to discuss the text.

VR Cargo's cooperation with _____ Kombiverker is growing from _____ year to ______ year. ______ cargo can be delivered in ______ same loading unit' from _____ Helsinki to _____ Paris for example. _____ Intermodal transport is _____ important area of _____ development in _____ goods transportation of _____ integrated Europe, and no wonder — _____ roads are filled with _____ cars, _____ trucks and _____ trailers. One solution to _____ problem is to switch _____ trailers ____ containers and vehicle combinations from____ road _______ rail. ______ Kombiverker specializes in _____ intermodal transport' and use's _____ German Huckepack transport tubes in which _____ goods are carried in _____ same loading unit from _____ terminal to _____ terminal and finally delivered to _____ consignee by ___ trucks.

Italy is one of _____ most important countries in _____ cooperative venture, as _____ great deal of _____ exports and imports to and from____ Finland are carried out with _____ semi-trailers and _____ swap-bodies¹⁴. VR Cargo's aim is to offer _____ continues transport link between Finnish and Italian terminals.

Task 15: Put in prepositions where necessary.

1. Neither Bill ______ Lading nor Customs Declaration has been filled __________.

2. I think he'll make the necessary arrangements ____ placing trucks_______ loading.

3. While the president was _______ I was _____ charge ______ invoicing customers.

4. The young man came here _____ the purpose ______ getting more experience ______ logistics.

5. The new transport operator was faced _____ bureaucracy ______ the Customs.

6. Many businessmen are not aware ________ the gains _______ multi-modal transport operations.

7. A multi-modal contract should be concluded if the cargo crosses the borders ________ two or more countries.

8. They settled ________ packing the goods ______ wooden boxes.

9. A negotiable Bill _______ Lading is signed when two or more transport operators carry _______ the transport operation.

10. Stonehaven is a small town ______ the western coast ______ the North Sea.

Task 16: Translate the following sentences into English.

1. Мне кажется, довольно трудно дать определение тому, что такое логистика.

2. Вы отвечаете за все, что будет происходить в мое отсутствие.

3. Соглашение вступает в силу с 1 января.

4. К сожалению, контракт все еще не заключен, хотя все проблемы были решены на прошлой неделе.

5. Когда и где планируется пересечение границы?

6. При перевозке леса мы столкнулись с большими трудностями, вызванными отсутствием перегрузочных терминалов.

7. Экспедитор, предложивший нам свои услуги по доставке груза в конечный пункт, просил дополнительные 5% за срочность.

8. Одним из наилучших способов найти делового партнера — это воспользоваться Интернетом.

9. Мне кажется, этот принцип не сработает. Они не смогут организовать перевозку к этому времени.

10. В конечном счете, выиграют все: и перевозчики, и производители, и потребители.

Developing Speaking Skills

Task 17: Read the telephone conversation and say which route (given below) is being discussed.

D ISCUSSING THE MODE OF TRANSPORTATION

Ell & Co., a Russian company, are buying electronic equipment from Korea. Mr. Somov is calling Euro Log to find out the best way of transporting the goods to Moscow.

Brown: Euro Log. Good morning.

Somov: Good morning. My name's Oleg Somov of Ell & Co. I'm sending some electronic equipment from Kesor, Korea to Moscow and I'd like to know the best mode of transportation. I think the best way is to send the goods by sea, is that right?

Brown: Just a moment. You see, you can't send your goods directly from Kesor to Moscow by sea. Neither Kesor nor Moscow is on the coast.

Somov: Oh, Kesor is on the coast though, isn't it?

Brown: It is, but it is not a port. There is a port in Inchon and you can send your goods to the port by road or rail. They can travel from Inchon to one of the European ports, say to Hamburg, and then by truck to Moscow. Or they can travel from Inchon to Nakhodka by sea and then to Moscow by rail. It's much cheaper.

Somov: And which of these is the best route?

Brown: It depends on how big your consignment is. It might be better and cheaper to send the goods by air.

Somov: Which airport do the goods travel from in this case?

Brown: The nearest airport is in Seoul. You'll have to transport the goods to Seoul by road or by rail.

Somov: I see. Perhaps I'll send you the details and you will arrange the cheapest route. Could you do that?

Brown: Certainly. That's just what we are here for. We'd be delighted to help.

Task 18: Read dialogue again and say if the following sentences are true or false. Correct those which are false.

1. Euro Log is a big forwarding firm.

2. Mr. Somov wanted to export electronic equipment to Korea.

3. The best way of transporting the goods to Moscow is to send them by rail.

4. Kesor is the biggest Korean port.

5. Mr. Somov and Mr. Brown settled the problem of transportation.

Task 19: Rearrange the conversation.

Somov: My name's Qleg Somov of Ell & Co. I'm sending some electronic equipment from Kesor, Korea to Moscow and I'd like to know the best mode of transportation.

Brown: Certainly. That's just what we are here for. We’d be delighted to help.

Somov: Oh, Kesor is on the coast though, isn't it?

Brown: Just a moment. You see, you can't send your goods directly from Kesor to Moscow by sea. Neither Kesor nor Moscow is on the coast.

Somov: I see. Perhaps I'll send you the details and you will arrange the cheapest route. Could you do that?

Brown: It depends on how big your consignment is. It might be better and cheaper to send the goods by air.

Somov: And which of these is the best route?

Brown: It is, but it is not a port. There is a port in Inchon and you can send your goods to the port by road or rail. They can travel from Inchon to one of the European ports, say to Hamburg, and then by truck to Moscow. Or they can travel from Inchon to Nakhodka by sea and then to Moscow by rail. It's much cheaper.

Task 20: Complete the conversation.

Black: ______________

Ivanov: Good morning. I'd like to send 5 boxes of spare parts from St. Petersburg to Paris. I think the best way is to send the goods by rail.

Black: ___________

Ivanov: What mode could you suggest?

Black: ________________

Ivanov: And which of these is the best?

Black: ________________

Task 21: Have a conversation with your partner using the information below.

Your company imports mobile telephones from Sweden to your subsidiary in Rostov-on-Don. The goods are to be sent from the Helsinki distribution centre. The forwarders have two routes to destine the consignment.

Discuss these routes with the forwarders and find out the best one.

A cquiring More Skills

Presentation Skills

Effective presenters flag their presentation, i.e. they use specific phrases to let their audience know when they introduce a topic, turn to a new topic, return to a point, refer to visuals or handouts, conclude.

Below are some useful signalling phrases to make your presentations sound better:

Before I tell you a little about....

Could I first thank you for...

Let me give you some idea...

I think that gives you some idea of...

The next point I'd like to consider is...

As I mentioned earlier (before)...

The point again is...

Moving on to the issue of...

The main points again are...

The aim of this presentation is...

What I'd like to talk about is...

My objective is to give an overview of...

So, to sum up...

If you look at the graph, you’ll see...

What this diagram shows is...

Task 22: Put the signaling phrases listed above under the correct heading.

1. Introduce a topic/turn to a new topic

2. Return to a point

3. Conclude

4. Refer to visuals or handouts

Task 23: Present any idea to your fellow-students any try to convince them to agree with you.

Make a draft of your presentation in writing and then report it to your fellow-students.

D eveloping Interpretation Skills

Task 24: Translate the text from Russian into English and render it.

Каждый менеджер-логист должен решить, какие виды транспорта наилучшим образом отвечают требованиям и задачам компании. Различные виды транспорта ранее сравнивались по таким показателям как скорость, надежность, тарифные ставки, топливная экономичность. В настоящее время такие сравнения не имеют большого значения по ряду причин.

Во-первых, появились перевозчики, организующие смешанную доставку грузов. Смешанный грузовой перевозчик может сочетать различные сервисные и ценовые факторы нескольких видов транспорта с тем, чтобы предложить вариант смешанной перевозки, наиболее выгодный грузоотправителю.

Во-вторых, вошло в практику широкое использование контрактов, заключаемых в результате переговоров между грузоотправителями и перевозчиками. В ходе переговоров грузоотправитель может точно выразить необходимые и нежелательные ему условия и требования, а также отражает это в окончательной цене, которую он готов заплатить за определенные услуги.

В-третьих, сейчас грузовые перевозчики не ограничены в разнообразии предлагаемых ими услуг.

Можно обобщенно сравнить виды транспорта, чтобы оценить их существенные различия. Используя текущие национальные статистические данные по видам транспорта ориентировочно можно определить доходы от междугороднего транспорта, объем перевозок в тонно-километрах и на этой основе оценить стоимость одного тонно-километра по каждому виду транспортных средств. Тонно-километр — это груз массой в одну тонну, перевозимый на расстояние в один километр. Стоимость транспортирования по трубопроводу составляет около 0,8 цента на один тонно-километр, стоимость перевозки водным транспортом стоит на втором месте и составляет 1,1 цента на один тонно-километр. Железнодорожные перевозки стоят почти в два раза дороже — 1,8 цента на тонно-километр. Стоимость перевозок автотранспортом еще выше, более чем в десять раз — 22,4 центов на тонно-километр, и, наконец, стоимость воздушной транспортировки составляет 55,3 цента на тонно-километр.

Виды транспорта также существенно различаются по скорости: самый быстрый — воздушный, самые медленные — трубопроводный и водный. Малая скорость водного транспорта вызвана необходимостью многочисленных обходов мелководья в водных маршрутах. Для перевозки груза на небольшое расстояние лучше использовать автомобильный, а не железнодорожный транспорт, так как скорость грузовика выше. Для протяженных маршрутов можно использовать и автомобильный и железнодорожный транспорт, хотя в длинных рейсах грузовик должны вести два водителя. Железная дорога, которая стремится к скоростному преимуществу в определенных секторах рынка, может достичь его, установив приоритетность следования конкретных поездов.

В качестве критерия часто используют своевременность доставки. Трубопроводы, авиатранспорт и отдельные водители автотранспорта, вероятно, имеют свои высшие рекорды. На все виды транспорта, кроме трубопроводов, влияют погодные условия. Водный транспорт на севере страны прекращает функционировать в зимние месяцы. Сильные снегопады приостанавливают полеты самолётов, движение по железной дороге и грузовиков. Наводнение — еще одно бедствие, мешающее работе транспорта.

В экспертном исследовании, выполненном для Совета логистического менеджмента фирмой Anderson Consulting, грузоотправителям предложили по нескольким критериям составить рейтинг различных видов перевозок по четырехбалльной шкале (4 — наивысший балл, 1 — низший). Ниже приведена выдержка из этого исследования для пяти видов перевозок (парцельные, смешанные, железнодорожные, LTL- и TL-перевозки) по критериям, дополняющим те, которые здесь уже рассматривались.

• Уровень коммуникативности: LTL - 2,63; ТL - 2,57; смешанные – 2,25; железнодорожные — 2,08; парцельные - 2,20.

• Способность обрабатывать грузы при пиковой нагрузке: LTL — 2,99; ТL — 2,88; смешанные - 2,61; железнодорожные - 2,32; парцельные - 2,62.

• Географическое покрытие: парцельные — 3,21; LTL - 3 10; ТL — 3 07- смешанные - 2,37; железнодорожные - 2,08.

• Степень исполнительности перевозчиков: LTL — 2,82; ТL - 2,49 смешанные — 2,14; железнодорожные — 2,37; парцельные — 1,73.

• Оперативность реакции: TL - 2,93; LTL - 2,71; смешанные - 2,45; железнодорожные — 2,11 парцельные — 1,87¹⁵.

Task 25: Translate the text from English into Russian. Prepare a detailed plan of it. Speak on the problems touched upon in the text using your plan.

Economic trends and

Intermodal transportation

The U.S. economy is being transformed as a result of many global demand and supply forces that affect the competitiveness of U.S. industry. Recent trends in distribution and logistics, shipper requirements, and business location patterns are also revolutionizing the private transportation industry. These trends also have significant complications for the types of infrastructure and government supported transportation programs that will be required in the future.

Economic forces and free trade policies that are generating increased worldwide trade tend to generate transportation demand, as products move longer distances and regions specialize in products which can be distributed competitively.

Economic trends and globalization of the economy are also forcing industries to restructure operations and become more competitive. Industries restructuring also tends to generate increased transportation demand, because, for example, businesses tend to disperse their manufacturing around the world to reduce labor costs, and/or increase transportation requirements by concentrating distribution out of one or a few distribution centers serving the entire nation. Traditional large-scale manufacturers have become more competitive over the past decade, partly by just-in-time inventory control systems that reduce their manufacturing, distribution and inventory costs, and increase demand for higher levels of transportation service. These companies then are not only searching for ways to reduce transportation costs, but also are purchasing integrated logistics systems that reduce transit times and improve reliability.

Just-in-time systems are increasingly being used not only by manufacturing, but also by retailing and service industries. In general, JIT systems consume more transportation assets than conventional shipping arrangements. They require more trucks on the road, not to move more freight, but to move it quicker. The flexibility of U.S. transportation capacity may be constrained, as highway volumes may increase faster than the cargo tonnage that is being carried.

Some of the most competitive sectors of the U.S. economy include the newer high technology and knowledge based industries that are generating changes in the nature of transportation demand, since they rely on shorter product cycles that can quickly become obsolete, as well as more frequent shipments of smaller, lighter products.

The competitiveness of American companies is dependent on whether products can be transported and delivered reliably at a competitive price from a manufacturing plant or distribution center to a larger hinterland, including both domestic and foreign destinations.

Improved reliability of transportation service and the ability of a company to reduce its product inventory increase the firm’s competitive advantage, both because of their ability to respond to changing customer demand faster and to reduce their costs. If enough U.S. manufacturers improve on their supply chain logistics efficiency, the whole economy is affected positively. This can be seen most clearly during an economic slowdown where a less severe downturn is expected than in the past due to more efficient manufacturers. In the past, inefficiencies in the supply chain worsened recessions. However, if the supply chain is efficient, there are not many goods in the pipeline, and as demand falls, production will increase accordingly, thereby saving business losses from over production and over inventory. As such, the benefits of increased transportation reliability include contributing to U.S. competitiveness, business profitability, and overall economic stability.

The first intermodal service started in 1969 in the USA when fast container trains between Chicago and Los Angeles were introduced. During this short period of time intermodal transport turned to be a great success in the USA, medium success in Europe, while in other areas the progress is only in its initial stages.

The Americans define intermodal move as a haul of sea container along a distance that is longer than 500 miles usually by rail. The European situation is quite different. In Europe intermodal transport is usually named “combined transport”. Smaller distances between ports and inland destinations, many different nations, slow investments in the transport infrastructure, tough regulations, and lack of unified rail systems eliminated the possibility to build an intermodal transport system similar to the American one.

Intermodal transport in Europe is first of all the process of containerization of general cargo. The forecast to the year 2010 says that more than two thirds of the global general cargo trade will move in containers and this is good news for intermodal transport.

Some basic english terms

Vocabulary

Unit 6

WAREHOUSE TERMINALS AND CUSTOMS

R eading

Task 1: Read the texts and find 2 or 3 sentences that express the main ideas.

Text 1

Warehouse

The French logistics provider GEODIS No 4 in Europe has recently extended its European Distribution Center (EDC) to Duisburg in Germany. GEODIS has 500 branch offices and 22,500 staff around the world. The company serves a lot of customers and has a storage area of over 3 million sqm.

The EDC was constructed in 2000 and is operated by the German GEODIS subsidiary. GEODIS now manages a 15,000 sqm warehouse that has been leased from the Duisburger Hafen AG. Some 5,000 sqm of this area with 4,000 pallet slots¹⁶ are supposed to have been reserved for the Japanese cosmetic group Shiseido. This space is expected to be extended to 7,500 sqm with 8,000 pallet slots in the near future. Shiseido Germany is responsible for stock monitoring and the IT side of contract handling.

Picking and packing is carried out by newly installed automatic pick-by-light units¹⁷ (from the incoming order through article assembly¹⁸ to weight checks of groupage deliveries and bag machining). Only a very few process steps are done manually.

At the moment up to 300 orders per day are dispatched directly to France and Spain as well as to national warehouses throughout Europe. The handling capacity amounts to 1,000 orders (that is 3,000 cartons) per day in a single 8-hour shift. This volume can be doubled by introducing a second shift if demand increases.

The logistics costs will be optimized and delivery times shortened. For instance goods which are destined for France leave the Duisburg warehouse at six in the evening and are already in Paris at six o'clock the following morning. The system seems to work 100% failure-free and the company hardly has any complaints.

The Duisburg location was chosen to host the European central warehouse because of its superior infrastructure. The port of Duisburg is Europe's largest inland port. It acts as a logistics hub between the sea ports of Rotterdam and Antwerp and the European hinterland. Furthermore, Duisburg has good connections to the European network of trunk roads and is close to Düsseldorf airport.

Text 2 Customs

An efficient and effective customs administration is essential to the welfare of any country. If benefits the national economy by collecting revenue. It assists Government to implement national and international policy. It protects the country by combating fraud and illegal trafficking of prohibited and restricted goods. Customs administrations also provide statistical information on foreign trade transactions essential for economic planning and encourage international trade.

Cooperation between customs administrations and trade operators has been encouraged by the World Customs Organization (WCO) since 1985 when it initiated the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) programme. A memorandum of understanding is a voluntary agreement signed by Customs and the business community in which they agree to work together to tackle Customs offences.

In September 1987 the International Federation of Freight Forwarders Associations (FIATA) became the fourth Organization to sign a Memorandum of Understanding with the WCO. Under this document both organizations are to cooperate with a view to combating Customs fraud and to recommend their members to follow similar cooperative arrangements.

At the local level such arrangements are a valuable mechanism by which a joint Customs/business approach to combating Customs offences can be achieved. Customs can obtain information from freight forwarders for the targeting of high risk consignments. They also provide a framework by which freight forwarders can act as Customs “eyes and ears” and alert Customs to suspicious shipments or circumstances. The increased assistance and information provided by freight forwarders enables Customs to separate and effectively target high risk traffic thereby allowing the vast bulk of innocent traffic to flow freely.

Task 2: Re-read the texts and say if the statements below are true or false. Correct the false statements.

1. The EDC has recently been extended to Barcelona in Spain.

2. GEODIS bought the new warehouse from the Japanese cosmetic firm Shiseido.

3. Shiseido is responsible for inventory management and IT side of contract handling at the new warehouse.

4. It takes 12 hours to deliver goods from Duisburg to Paris.

5. The Port of Duisburg is the largest European seaport. There is also a big airport in the city.

6. The Customs benefit the national economy by providing statistical information on foreign trade transactions.

7. The Memorandum of Understanding is an agreement between the Russian Customs and business companies.

8. FIATA became the first organization to sign a MOU with the WCO.

9. The MOU helps to combat Customs offences.

Task 3: Look through the texts again and say what was mentioned in them about:

a) GEODIS and Shiseido

b) automatic pick-by-light units

c) Duisburg infrastructure

d) the World Customs Organization

e) combating Customs offences

L earning the Basic Vocabulary

Task 4: a) Find the words in bold type and try to guess their meaning. Check up the translation of the words in the vocabulary. Write them out in your vocabulary.

b) Write down alt the words unknown to you in your vocabulary.

Task 5: Pay attention to the meaning of the expressions given below:

Task 6: Translate the following phrases from the texts into Russian

a) to operate a subsidiary

b) to work 100% failure free

c) an inland port

d) to install automatic pick-by-light units

e) to benefit the national economy

f) to combat Customs offences

Task 7: Match the verbs on the left with the noun phrases on the right and translate the expressions they make into Russian:

a) to tackle 1) fraud and illegal trafficking

b) to extend 2) for the port terminal

c) to lease 3) the central warehouse

d) to destine 4) 500 orders per day

e) to combat 5) pallet slots

f) to prohibit 6) effective regulations

g) to target 7) high risk consignments

h) to implement 8) a warehouse space

i) to amount 9) customs offences

j) to host 10) suspicious shipments

Task 8: Fill in the gaps with the words given in the box.

a) forwarding transportation warehouse stored dispatched warehouse

A _____ agent arranges ____ of goods from a factory or a warehouse to a quay or an airport. Goods are sometimes stored in a _____ until they are ______ to the buyer. When they arrive in the importing country they may be _______ at a warehouse until the buyer has paid for them. The _______ charges are called storage costs.

b) controls apply selective temporary license quota

Import _____ may be selective or temporary. If they ____ to certain goods or certain countries, they are _____. If they only apply for a limited time, they are _____. Traders may require a license to import goods. A _________ is a certificate which gives permission to do something. Traders may also be limited to a quota of goods. A _____ is a maximum number.

Task 9: Complete the sentences choosing the right word and changing its form if necessary.

a) cost charge fee price

1. The overall security measures at a port must _____ an enormous amount of money. Now ports do not impose a security_________ but shipping companies ________ such a _______. It's however certain that the ________ of security precautions cannot be borne by ports alone.

2. The 2002 budget envisages customs _______ to reach Rbl. 540 billion.

3. Our banking ______ are not as big as the Central Bank's.

4. Southern European road carriers bringing in fresh low _________ produce are entering the Norwegian market. This is at the ______ of domestic transport companies which have to demand relatively high transport rates because of their higher production ___________.

5. The Canadian North Atlantic plans to introduce a ______ of $ 30 per bill of lading for all containers electronically reported by the member lines. The ______ will be used to cover the _______ of meeting the new requirements imposed by Canadian customs and Revenue Agency.

6. If our lessor cuts the rent, we'll be able to reduce production ________ and our _________ could also go down.

7. Frauds and offences at the Customs should be eliminated at all ______________.

8. With effect from the 1 st of January the German forwarding and warehousing association raised its________ for groupage runs by 3.5%. It was possible to avoid _______ rise as administration __________ and wages increased by 20%.

b) custom customs customer

1. Could you describe the range of services provided to your _______?

2. In addition to the real estate division, our logistics department processes _______ clearance and import/export transactions.

3.  The highly trained and professional staff performs ____________ clearance on behalf of our ________.

4. Social _________ vary in many parts of the world.

5. The officials at the _________ were very polite though they had found an error in the documents.

Task 10: Translate the sentences using cost, price, fee, charge, customs, customer.

1. Ввиду высокой цены на нефть стоимость перевозок увеличивается, поэтому цена товара для конечного продукта постоянно растет.

2. Вне сомнения, что, расширяя бизнес, фирмы борются за одних и тех же заказчиков и грузопотоки.

3. Транспортные компании, работающие на внутреннем рынке, назначают слишком высокие цены за свои услуги, не учитывая себестоимости услуг.

4. Складские расходы сократились благодаря внедрению новых технологий размещения грузов на складских площадях.

5. Банк взимает небольшие проценты за перевод денег за границу.

6. Цена производителя в значительной степени зависит от стоимости сырья.

7. Таможенные сборы должны оплачиваться заранее.

8. Транспортные фирмы стараются сократить стоимость перевозок с тем, чтобы привлечь большее число клиентов.

9. Считается, что для успешного ведения дела необходимо знать обычаи и традиции своих иностранных партнеров.

Task 11: Check yourself. Give English equivalents of the following Russian word combinations.

1) взять склад в аренду

2) расширить складские площади

3) отгружать непосредственно розничным торговцам

4) сократить время доставки

5) работать бесперебойно

6) производить вручную

7) составлять 1000 заказов в день

8) удвоить объем обработки заказов

9) сократить число жалоб

10) бороться с мошенничеством

11) товары, запрещенные к ввозу в страну

12) получать сведения таможенных органов

13) осуществлять борьбу с правонарушениями

14) предоставлять возможность выделить партию сомнительного груза

15) способствовать свободному прохождению беспроблемного груза

F ocusing on Grammar

Task 12: Study the table given below Complex Subject.

Task 13: Read the sentences paying attention to the usage of the Complex Subject and translate them into Russian.

Model: The warehouse is expected to be built next year.

Ожидается, что склад построят в следующем году.

1. The volume of cargo transported by road in this area is likely to increase.

2. The Minister of Transport was supposed to make a presentation on the development of logistics in Russia at the conference in Prague.

3. Effective customs administration is said to benefit the welfare of the country.

4. The warehouse costs are believed to be reduced.

5. Electronic bank transfers are reported to increase.

Task 14: Combine the two sentences using the Complex Subject if possible.

1. The truck crossed the border on Monday. It was supposed so.

2. Inter-modal carriage of goods started to develop in Europe in the eighties of the last century. Everybody knows about it.

3. International navigation holds the biggest share of cargo transports in the world. It's believed so.

4. The process of handling containers in most big ports is computerized. I'm sure of it.

5. Dangerous goods are not usually transported in conventional wagons. It's reported by the Policy Research Centre.

6. Insurance companies compensate for damage to goods in transit. I suppose so.

7. Britain fully privatized its railways. It's considered so.

8. A forwarding firm delivers goods to the final consignee.

It's expected so.

Task 15: Translate into English using the Complex Subject.

1.  Считается, что перевозка грузов автомобильным транспортом намного дороже, чем железнодорожные и морские перевозки.

2.  Предполагается, что транспортно-логистические компании начнут быстро развиваться во время экономического бума.

3. Известно, что впервые термином “мультимодальный” воспользовались в 1980 году.

4. Кажется, что коносамент и товарно-транспортная накладная — идентичные документы на груз.

5. Известно, что в современной экономике различные транснациональные компании расширяют предоставляемые услуги.

Task 16: Translate the following chains of words into Russian:

1. multi-modal transport service

2. high quality innovative services

3. container number verification

4. overland transport service provider

5. airfreight forwarding data

6. long-distance haulage growth

7. electronic equipment export conditions

8. a new multi-modal service

9. sufficient growth prospects

10. European countries shipbuilding industries

11. industry-specific logistics services

12. logistics infrastructure development

13. an internationally active container terminal operator

14. port authority's administrative council

15. the marine freight transport industry

16. regular rail freight services

17. respective national flag carriers

18. a future bullish sea-trade market

Task 17: Translate the following chains of words into English:

1) портовый кран

2) высококачественный продукт

3) обработка мелкопартионных грузов

4) быстрая доставка грузов

5) надежное послепродажное обслуживание

6) время оборачиваемости прицепа

7) судостроительная промышленность 12 стран Европы

8) значительные перспективы роста

9) владельцы контейнеровозов

10) новое направление в мультимодальных перевозках

11) контракт на мультимодальные перевозки

12) поставщики транспортного оборудования и провайдеры транспортных услуг

13) логистическая система отслеживания груза

14) речные и морские порты

Task 18: Put in articles where necessary.

1. DHL has opened _____ new logistics terminal in _____ Lorgo, in ______ northern Spanish province. ______ new installation which is in ____ industrial zone has ______ useable working area of over______ 3,000 sqm for ______ logistics and distribution activities ______ 1,000 sqm warehouse and more than ______ 720 sqm of ______ office space.

2. ______ Portuguese forwarding company Raugel and ______ globally active logistics enterprise Hellmann Worlwide with ______ head office in ______ Hague have recently entered ______ strategic partnership.

3. _____ Hams Terminal is now able to receive, by ______ rail, _____ containers from _____ Port of Felixstowe that haven't been cleared by _____ Customs.

4. _______customs warehouses utilization enables us to regulate ______tax payments. ______ taxes are not imposed on ______ goods stored in ______ bond warehouses. _____ taxes are paid when _____ goods are released for _____ free circulation.

5. _______TIR transport may take place between _____ Customs office countries with which _____ TIR transit operation can be established and ___ Customs office of _____ destination of _____ another such country.

6. ____ Box Lessor Triton has completed _____ implementation of _____ data management system which will monitor ______ gate moves and ______ repair estimates.

7. ______ primary objective today should be _____ creation and _______ implementation of _______ universal customs procedures at all _____

8. In order to improve ______ competitiveness of ______ Russia's road carriers in ________ international market _______ Customs laws of ___________ Russian Federation should incorporate __________ number of provisions _______ most important of which concern _________ shared responsibility between ______ carriers, _________ consignors and _______ consignees for ______ Customs laws.

Task 19: Complete the sentences putting the verbs in the correct tense and voice.

1. The TIR Convention (revise) 19 times since 1975. The latest amendments (come) into force in 2002.

2. A number of measures (implement) in Russia at present to reduce damage to the environment caused by road transport. EURO-2 standards for passenger cars (come) into effect in 2003.

3. The consignment (hold up) at the Customs if you (not, present) all the necessary documents for the goods.

4. The lease (expire) on the 1st of January. If you (not, get on) to the problem right away we (can, face) with many difficulties in the future.

5. The port (report) a throughput of 1.4 ml tons last year. For the years in progress after the terminal (extend) total volumes (expect, increase) and (reach) 1.7ml tons.

6. IKEA, a home-furnishing retailer recently (start) using regular rail freight services to Britain when it (award) a one-year contract to UK rail operator EWS. From February EWS (begin) moving imported containers to IKEA's distribution centers from the ports of Britain. Over 7,000 containers (move) over the next 12 months.

7. The TIR Convention (come) into force in 1978 and since that time it (prove) the most successful international Customs transit system which ever (exist).

8. Italian manufacturer ZV (extend) its significant agreement of cooperation with Clark for 2 years. In return, ZV (benefit) from Clark s worldwide dealer network by supplying its forklift trucks (FLT).

9. Leasing warehouse trucks (can, be) an alternative to buying them. However, it (can, apply) as an affordable alternative if the capital (limit).

Task 20: Put in prepositions if necessary.

1. Southampton Container Terminals (SCT) has ordered 11 straddle carriers _______ Noell Crane Systems. These twin lift machines are the first units introduced ______ SCT. The change ________ supplier results _________ the port's preference ______ diesel-electric machines _________ diesel-hydraulic ones. The new machines run ________ electrical drives which are more reliable ______ operation and will therefore lead ________ reduced operating costs. The new straddle carriers are part _______ an order _________ 25 units which will be implemented ________ the next few years. _______ addition _________ other advantages the machines promise ________ a better fuel consumption and __________ lower emission levels.

2. A new rail traffic management system has been launched ________ the European market _______ Swiss Federal Railways. The equipment _______ the new system which includes a radio system, ______ board equipment ______ 59 locomotives processes and sends instructions direct _________ the driver's cab.

3. The TIR system has been devised to facilitate ______ the maximum extent the international movement _______ goods ______ Customs seals. The system provides transit countries ________ the required guarantees to cover ______ the Customs duties ______ risk. The TIR system offers ______ number ______ benefits ______ different stakeholders involved ______ international movement ______ transit cargoes.

4. The TIR Customs Convention, ______ its familiar symbol _______ the back _______ vehicles, has been known _______ every man who has traveled ______ the highways _______ Europe _______ a few decades. The International Transport Union (IRU) is, _______ turn, making impressive efforts to protect the TIR_______ fraud, ______ Customs offences and international crime.

5. Vehicles handling has moved _______ the fast lane recently ______ opening ______ the UK's first port-located multi-deck car terminal. The port invested £ 4 mln ______ the construction the facility. The new terminal and the existing dedicated storage site are expected to increase ______ car-handling capacity _______ the port ______ 350,000 vehicles ______ a year. The terminal is equipped ______ a recording system that scans _______ cars as they enter _______ the terminal and provides _______ tighter control _______ inventory. The port strategic objective is to grow ______ this business to meet _______ the requirements ______ the customers.

Task 21: Translate the following sentences into English.

1. В соответствии с имеющимися соглашениями на границе Российской Федерации работают свыше 300 пропускных пунктов. Еще 10 пунктов пересечения границы планируется открыть в ближайшие два года.

2. В стране давно назрела потребность в создании и развитии логистических центров. Транспортно-экспедиторские организации являются логистическими операторами, осуществляющими доставку грузов от грузоотправителя до конечного потребителя по единому документу.

3. Карнет TIR — это документ, который принимается таможенными администрациями стран грузоотправителей, транзита и конечного пункта назначения груза. Его использование разрешено только надежным транспортным операторам. Таким образом, сокращается количество правонарушений при пересечении границ и сокращается время простоев и доставки груза в целом.

4. Деловые круги России и ЕС заинтересованы в увеличении инвестиций в реализацию транспортных проектов и модернизацию транспортной инфраструктуры.

5. Грузовые документы, представленные на таможне, вызвали подозрение инспекторов, и таможенная администрация потребовала провести досмотр груза.

6. Считается, что таможенные пошлины составляют треть ежегодных доходов страны.

7. Известно, что иногда гораздо выгоднее взять дорогостоящее оборудование в аренду, чем его покупать.

8. Вероятно, что одной из серьезных проблем при пересечении границ транспортными средствами является задержка при таможенном оформлении грузов, ведущая к простоям и нарушению цепи поставок, — тем самым наносится ущерб интересам экспортеров, импортеров и транспортных компаний.

9. В последние три года компания ТGС возобновила свою деятельность в Испании, взяв в долгосрочную аренду складские помещения на юге страны с 9 погрузо-разгрузочными площадками и парковкой для 80 грузовиков.

Acquiring More Skills

Discussion techniques

1. Hedging

Hedging is when you avoid agreeing directly. To hedge, you could say:

I take your point about. ..,but...

I understand what you are saying about..., but...

I see/know what you mean, but...

I hear where you 're coming from on this..., but...

2. Checking understanding, interrupting, referring back.

To interrupt someone politely:

Can I come in here?

If I can just stop you for a moment...

Sorry to interrupt you, but...

Could I just make a quick point, please?

It is a polite way to interrupt people, and is usually used in group discussions. The same concerns the expression:

I'd like to come in here, if I may.

To refer back to what has been said earlier:

As we were saying earlier...

To go back to what I was saying earlier...

To go back to what I was just saying...

To check that you understand what someone has said:

Are you saying that...?

Are you suggesting that...?

Are you implying that...?

If I understand (you) correctly,...

If I follow you correctly,...

So what you are saying is...

Does that mean...?

Are you saying...?

Task 22: Match the parts of the sentences.

Developing Speaking Skills

Task 23: Read the dialogue and say what document has expired:

a) the Import License;

b) the Certificate of Origin;

c) the Customs Declaration.

T ROUBLE AT THE CUSTOMS

This conversation takes place in an Asian country. Peter Senin, an import agent, talks to his dealer's office manager Irma Brown.

Senin: I don't believe it, Irma. I just don't believe it.

Irma: Trouble? Hope it's not about those air-conditioning units.

Senin: That's just what it is about. What are we going to do now?

Irma: They're not still being held up at the Customs, are they?

Senin: Yes, they are. I've just had a call from our shipping agent. The Customs have refused to release the goods again. This time the Import License for the air-conditioners has expired.

Irma: Out of date? You must be joking.

Senin: I wish I were. The agent says there is a new government regulation - it's just come into effect. Licenses for that category of goods have to be renewed. The agent didn't know about it either. He got a shock when he presented the documents to the Customs.

Irma: So now we've got to apply for a new license. It could take weeks unless... I have a contact in the Department of Commerce. I might be able to speed things up.

Senin: Please do. If you got that license fast we'd have a chance of keeping that contract.

Irma: I'll get on to it right away.

Task 24: Read the dialogue and say if the following sentences are true or false. Correct those which are false.

1. Peter Senin is talking to his shipping agent.

2. The air-conditioners were held up at the Customs because the Customs duty was not paid.

3. The new government regulation has just come into effect.

4. Applying for a new Import License will take a lot of time.

5. Irma can help because she works at the Chamber of Commerce.

Task 25: Rearrange the conversation

Irma: So now we've got to apply for a new license. It could take weeks unless... I have a contact in the Department of Commerce. I might be able to speed things up.

Senin: I don't believe it, Irma. I just don't believe it.

Irma: They're not still being held up at the Customs, are they?

Senin: I wish I were. The agent says there is a new government regulation - it's just come into effect. Licenses for that category of goods have to be renewed. The agent didn't know about it either. He got a shock when he presented the documents to the Customs.

Irma: Trouble? Hope it's not about those air-conditioning units.

Senin: Please do. If you got that license fast we'd have a chance of keeping that contract.

Irma: Out of date? You must be joking.

Senin: Yes, they are. I've just had a call from our shipping agent. The Customs have refused to release the goods again. This time the Import License for the air-conditioners has expired.

Irma: I'll get on to it right away.

Senin: That's just what it is about. What are we going to do now?

Task 26: Complete the conversation.

Irma: Hello, Peter. Any trouble today?

Senin: _________________

Irma: They're not still being held up at the Customs, are they?

Senin: _________________

Irma: Out of date? You must be joking.

Senin: _________________

Irma: So now we've got to apply for a new license. It could take weeks unless... I have a contact in the Department of Commerce. I might be able to speed things up.

Senin: ____________________

Irma: I'll get on to it right away.

Task 27: Have a conversation with your partner using the information below.

You work for a small company importing spare parts for BMW cars. Your truck with spare parts has arrived at the Customs warehouse but it is held up there because you failed to pay customs duty on time.

Phone the Customs broker and tell him that you have already paid the duty and ask him to release the truck.

Task 28: Read the advertisement and say who it is intended for.

This is a blue logistic in the clouds worldwide support!

We are not only perfect in air freight, but also in land, sea and railway transport.

• worldwide import-export

• global network capacity

• customs clearance

• bonded warehousing and distribution

• door-to-door delivery

• express service

• consolidation service

• garments-on-hangers

• hazardous goods transportation

• truck + air service

• own fleet of 230 trailers

Let us ease your burden

Istanbul/Turkey

Tel: 00902164468020

Fax: 0090 216 446 80 15 ÜNKAR tekkar IATA

Task 29: Read the advertisement again and answer the following questions.

1. Is Unkar a big logistics company or a forwarding agent?

2. Do they have their own fleet of air-freighters?

3. What type of goods do they carry?

Task 30: You are vice-president of Unkar. Describe the services of your company to a potential customer.

D eveloping Interpretation Skills

Task 31: Translate the text from English into Russian and render it.

The tir system

Anyone who has ever travelled on European roads will recognize the familiar blue and white TIR plate borne by thousands of lorries and semitrailers using the TIR Customs transit system.

Traditionally when goods crossed the territory of one or more States in the course of international carriage of goods by road, the Customs authorities in each State applied national controls and procedures. These varied from State to State, but frequently involved the inspection of the load at each national frontier and the imposition of national security requirements (guarantee, bond, deposit of duty, etc.) to cover the potential duty and taxes at risk while the goods were in transit through each territory. These measures, applied in each country of transit, led to considerable expenses, delays and interferences with international transport. In an attempt to reduce these difficulties experienced by transport operators and, at the same time, to offer Customs administrations an international system of control the TIR system was introduced.

Now goods may travel across national frontiers with a minimum of interference by Customs administrations because only seals are checked instead of inspecting the cargo which was both expensive and time-consuming. It reduces delays in transit, enables significant economies in transport costs to be made and allows exporters to select more easily the form of transport most suitable for their needs. In addition, advantages for Customs administrations arise from the fact that the international transit operation is covered by a single transit document, the TIR Garnet which reduces the risk of presenting inaccurate information to Customs administrations.

Work on the TIR transit system started soon after the Second World War under the auspices of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UN/ECE). The first TIR Agreement was drawn up in 1949 between a small number of European countries. The success of this limited scheme led to the negotiations of a TIR Convention which was adopted in 1959 by the UN/ECE Inland Transport Committee and entered into force in 1960. This first TIR Convention was revised in 1975 to take account of practical experience in operating the system and give effect to technical advances and changing Customs and transportation requirements.

Nearly twenty-five years after its revision in 1975 the TIR convention has proved to be one of the most effective international instruments with participation of 64 Contracting Parties, including the European Union (EU), the United States of America and Canada and some other countries. The success of the TIR system may also be judged by the number of TIR Garnets issued every year. In 1952 only a little over 3,000 TIR Garnets were issued, in 1998 their number reached 2.7 ml. The tremendous increase in the use of TIR Carnets can be explained by the special features of the TIR regime which offers transport operators and Customs authorities a simple, cost-effective and safe regime for the international transport of goods across frontiers.

With the rapid increase of East-West European traffic and with the emergence of many newly independent countries in Central and Eastern Europe, the TIR system is today facing a new challenge.

Paper-based systems, such as the present TIR Garnet, are a very inefficient medium for data capture and data authentication. SAFE TIR developed and operated by the IRU cannot substitute the required national Customs transit procedures; however it can be used in any future electronic TIR system.

Useful Vocabulary

Task 31: Translate the text given below from Russian into English. Make a summery of it.

Проектная доставка груза.

Регулярно перевозимые грузы дают необходимую информацию для выполнения логистического анализа, в результате которого находят вариант перевозки либо с транспортными издержками, либо с наиболее эффективным методом погрузки-разгрузки оборудования, либо с реализацией того и другого одновременно. Однако в некоторых ситуациях каждая перевозка настолько уникальна и настолько сложна, что необходимо провести специальное инженерное и логистическое исследование, чтобы определить, как выполнить доставку груза и спроектировать сам процесс перевозки. Такие уникальные перевозки с подготовкой специальных проектов их осуществления называют проектной доставкой груза.

Один из самых эффектных проектов перевозки груза осуществили в конце 1970-х годов, когда две специально сконструированные в Японии баржи использовали для транспортировки двух равных частей завода по переработке древесной целлюлозы. Завод был построен в Японии, а перевозили его в один из городов Бразилии, расположенный в бассейне реки Амазонки. Сначала построили две баржи, а затем прямо на баржах был смонтирован целлюлозный завод и электростанция. При этом много внимания уделялось правильному, с учетом центра тяжести, расположению оборудования завода на палубах. Затем баржи отбуксировали к городу, расположенному на реке Джари в Бразилии и частично окруженному дамбой. Внутри региона, куда и должны были доставить завод, в грунт вкопали сваи. По прибытий барж с заводом их отбуксировали внутрь обвалованной территории, на которой собирались воздвигнуть завод, и пришвартовали их прямо к сваям. Затем дамбу закрыли и на территорию закачали воду, чтобы приподнять баржи. В результате баржи всплыли и оказались выше свай. Затем воду отвели, а баржи с заводом остались покоиться на вершинах свай. В боках барж вырезали окна, и баржи стали первыми этажами электростанции и завода по переработке древесины в целлюлозу. По оценке специалистов, такой подход позволил на 20% снизить затраты на строительство и сэкономить два года по сравнению с вариантом строительство завода непосредственно в Бразилии.

Другой яркий пример проектной доставки груз имел место в 1991 году, когда проектная фирма США Bechtel Group организовала и осуществила транспортирование 200 тысяч тонн груза, чтобы затушить горящие нефтепродукты в Кувейте после войны в Персидском заливе.

Начиная с апреля и на протяжении всего 1991 года фирма Bechtel Group собирала строительное оборудование, состоящее из 8000 единиц исключавшее бульдозеры, краны, компьютеры, санитарный транспорт. Она также поставила все остальное: от махровых полотенец для вытирания липкой сырой нефти до огнеупорных костюмов для экипажей, которые тушили пожар при 1000⁰ С.

Useful Vocabulary

Vocabulary

Unit 7

THE TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT FUNCTIONS DOCUMENTATION

R eading

Task 1: Read and translate the text.

Text 1

The Bill of Lading

The traffic department is responsible for completing all of the documents needed to transport the firm's products. Today, many carriers provide software that enables the shipper to use computers to generate all of the commonly used documents. Shippers also have their own order-processing software, which also is capable of generating transportation documents.

The most important single transportation document is the bill of lading, which is the basic operating paper in the industry. The bill of lading functions as a delivery receipt when products are tendered to carriers. On receipt of the freight, the carrier signs the bill of lading and gives the original to the shipper. The signed original of the bill of lading is the shipper's legal proof that the carrier received the freight.

The bill of lading is a binding contract, specifying the duties and obligations of both carrier and shipper. The bill of lading contract for surface carriers is basically standardized by law and greatly simplifies the traffic manager's job because it specifies exactly the duties of the shipper and carrier.

There are two types of bills of lading: the straight bill of lading and the order bill of lading. On a straight bill of lading, which is printed on white paper, the name of the consignee is stated in the appropriate place and the carrier is under a strict legal obligation to deliver the freight to the named consignee and to no one else. Ownership of the goods is neither stated nor implied. On the order bill of lading, which is printed on yellow paper, the name of the consignee is not specified.

An additional classification of bills is the specific form: long, short, and preprinted. The long-form bill of lading, which may be either an order or straight bill, contains the standard information on the face of the bill and on the reverse side it contains the entire contract between carrier and shipper. The reverse side is printed in extremely small print.

Carriers must be paid within a specific numbers of working days. Shipper-carrier contracts also specify how quickly bills must be paid. In an attempt to meet these time limits conveniently, many traffic managers participate in bill-paying services. These services were originally known as bank payment plans, because banks were the first to offer the service. Now, a variety of other firms, in addition to banks, offer these automated freight bill-paying services.

The payment service provides summaries of traffic activity that are useful to shippers when planning future freight consolidation. Computerized programs are also used to detect duplicate billings. Payment services also offer bill-auditing service; that is, they ensure that the proper rate was charged. Some prepayment services have the tariffs their clients use loaded into their computer database and preaudit the bill prior to paying it.

Some shippers also audit their own freight bills. If this work is conducted by employees of the company, it is known as an internal audit. The external audit is performed by an independent third party; some freight-bill auditors also offer freight payment services. Both types of audit are designed to detect current errors that result in overcharges and to correct these errors in the future. I

Useful words and expressions

Task 2: Read the extracts of the agreement and say what they are about.

Text 2

A contract is the most important document signed by business partners where their rights and obligations are specified.

Below are some extracts from an Agency Agreement (Contract) concluded between two transport firms.

AGENCY AGREEMENT

The present agreement has been concluded between Russtrans, Russia, hereinafter¹⁹ referred to as RTR, on the one hand, and FSU Freight Ltd, Hong Kong, hereinafter referred to as FSU, on the other hand, concerning the following.

Article 1

1.2. The Parties shall jointly work out a technology of container transportation of cargoes from Hong Kong to Russia and vice versa²⁰ by way of multi-modal transportation “by sea + by road” or “by sea + by rail + by road” via²¹ sea ports or railway terminals of Finland.

Article 2

2.1. RTR appoints FSU as its sole agent in Hong Kong to represent the interests of RTR on Hong Kong territory and act as agent and forwarder in transportation of cargoes between Hong Kong and Russia.

Article 3

3.2. RTR undertakes to ensure delivery of loaded containers from Finnish ports or railway terminals to the final consignee in Russia and return of the empty containers to Finland at the dates agreed upon by the Parties.

3.3. In case of back-loading from Russia to Hong Kong RTR arranges loading and delivery of loaded containers as far as Finnish ports or railway terminals.

Article 4

The Parties shall agree by a separate Protocol upon through freight rates²² for container transportation from Hong Kong to Russia and back as well as return of empty/loaded containers to Finland.

Article 5

All disputes that may arise between the Parties when executing the present Agreement are to be settled amicably by talks and correspondence. If it is impossible to settle a dispute in an amicable way, it is to be referred to Arbitration court at the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Russian Federation in Moscow.

The award of Arbitration is final and binding upon both Parties.

Article 6

The present Agreement enters into effect on the date of signing and is valid for 12 months till ___ June 2000 whereupon it will be revised by the Parties.

Each of the Parties has the right to cancel the Agreement without indicating the reasons by written notification of the other Party 60 days before the cancellation, whereupon the Agreement is automatically terminated. The date of receipt is regarded as date of notification.

Article 7

The legal addresses of the Parties:

Russtrans FSU Freight, Ltd.

Task 3: Re-read the extracts and say if the statements below are true or false. Correct the false statements.

1. Russtrans are to work out a new technology of container transportation from Hong Kong to Russia and vice versa.

2. Containers will be shifted via Russian ports.

3. Empty containers should not be returned to the consignor.

4. Russtrans are to arrange back loading.

5. Both parties will settle all disputes in a friendly way.

6. Russtrans will have to publish advertising material for their account.

7. Each Party has the right to cancel this agreement before the date of expiry.

Task 4: Look through the extracts again and say what was mentioned there about:

a) responsibilities of the Parties under the present Agreement;

b) settlement of disputes;

c) freight rates for container transportation;

d) validity of the Agreement.

Task 5: Say which of the following clauses you can find in the above Agency Agreement:

a) Subject of the Contract d) Settlement of Disputes

b) Terms of Payment e) Validity of the Contract

c) Terms of Delivery f) Insurance

L earning the Basic Vocabulary

Task 6: a) Find the words in bold type and try to guess their meaning. Check up the translation of the words in the vocabulary. Write them out in your vocabulary.

b) Write down all the words unknown to you in your vocabulary.

Task 7: Explain the meaning of the following phrases within the text:

1) to appoint a sole agent

2) to ensure back loading of containers

3) to cancel an agreement without indicating the reasons

4) to settle a dispute in an amicable way

5) to specify the obligations of the parties

6) to be valid for a year

7) to terminate automatically

Task 8: Match the verbs on the left with the noun phrases on the right and translate the expressions they make into Russian.

Task 9: Fill in the gaps with the words given in the boxes.

a) certificate originally traveled origin exporting agreements duties concludes partners trade taxes quotas

The certificate of origin is a _____ which shows where the goods come from ______ (this is necessary if they have ______ through another country). It can be important to show the _____ of the goods when the importing and the _________ countries have special trade _____, because traders may pay less. A government often ____________ trade agreements with its trading ______ (countries with which it trades regularly). Under _____ agreements certain goods from certain countries may be exempted from (they do not have to pay) some of the ______ or may be allowed bigger _______.

b) acting representing arranging exported forwarding

arranging importing quay Lading functions signed

shipping forwarding proving

An agent is a company (or a person) _______ on behalf of or________ another company. There is a lot of documentation (paperwork) involved in ________ the transportation of _____ goods. An agent who handles the documentation and transportation is called an import or a __________agent. He is responsible for ______ the dispatch of the goods from their point of arrival in the country (the ____ or the airport) to the buyer and for arranging the documentation.

The Bill of __________has 3 main __________:

1) it is a receipt for the goods _______ by the shipping company,

2) it is a contract between the _____ company and the _____ agent,

3) it is the title document _______ the ownership of the goods.

Task 10: Pay attention to the meaning of the following words:

expense = cost – стоимость, трата

expenses = costs – расходы, издержки

to rise (rose, risen) – подниматься

to raise – поднимать

to arise (arose, arisen) - возникать

a) Choose the best word to fill each gap: cost, costs, expense, expenses.

1. Transport ________ have been very heavy for the last few years.

2. The manufacturing ______ have increased greatly.

3. One of the meanings of the word 'freight' is _________. of transport.

4. They promised to pay advertising ___________

5. We'11 have to bear warehousing ____________

6. At whose __________ shall the defects be corrected?

7. It _____ a lot to build a new terminal.

8. The company had to (raise, arise, rise) the prices for their products because the production ______ had increased.

b) Complete the sentences by writing in the gap the correct form of the verbs: rise, raise, arise.

1. They have _______ prices for consumer goods beginning from the 1st of August.

2. If you don't spell it properly, misunderstanding may ____________.

3. There was a price ______ for oil last month and the company gained big profits.

4. _______your hand if you want to say something.

5. - When does the sun ______ in summer?

- It __________ very early.

6. At the talks we'll have to __________ the question of freight rate.

7. He first ______. his head and then _____ from the table to greet me.

8. The miners demand that their wages should be ________.

Task 11: Check yourself. Give English equivalents of the following Russian word combinations:

1. назначить единственного агента

2. уточнить обязанности сторон

3. вступать в действия со дня подписания

4. прекратить действия договора

5. быть окончательным и обязательным для обеих сторон

6. согласовывать сквозные фрахтовые ставки

7. обеспечить возврат пустых контейнеров

8. урегулировать спорные вопросы дружеским путем

9. действовать в течение 5 лет

10. возникать между сторонами в период подписания соглашения

11. без указания причин

12. передавать дело в арбитраж

13. заключить договор о нижеследующем

F ocusing on Grammar

Modal Verbs and Their Equivalents

Study the table given below, mind the formal signs of using the modal verbs and their equivalents.

Task 12: Read the following sentences and translate them into Russian.

1. 1. Our company could transport any kind of cargo.

2. You can take my pen. He said I could take his pen.

3. Could it be a misprint?

b) 1.It cannot be so.

2. They cannot (could not) have given us such a reply.

3. Can (Could) they have given us such a reply?

3. 1. Our company might transport this cargo within two weeks.

2. You may do it the way you like. He said you might do it the way you like.

3. The truck may cross this distance in three days.

4. That may have been a mistake.

5. He might have helped her to solve the task.

d) 1. We must do our best to fulfil this order.

2. People must earn money to live on.

3. You must not smoke too much.

4. The truck must have arrived at the point of destination.

5. You must have worked too much. You look run down.

e) 1. The parties shall agree by a separate Protocol on through freight rates.

2. Shall I read?

f) 1. You should consult a doctor if you feel bad.

2. The parties should study the draft contract before signing.

3. I should have married long ago.

g) 1. He was to meet a delegation on Sunday.

2. The truck is (was) to arrive on Friday at 11 am.

3. The truck was to have arrived on Friday at 11 a. m.

h) 1. I have to get up at six every day.

2. The company had to accept payment by L/C.

3. We shall have to come to an agreement if we want to work together.

Task 13: Put in the right modal verb.

1. You (may, have to, shall) load your truck with computers in St. Petersburg because we don't have any cargo from Narva.

2. They (can, to be to, should) transfer the money to our account m the Russian Credit Bank.

2. In the circumstances we (to be to, have to, might) share warehouse expenses.

3. Their- company (have to, can, might) provide customs clearance at their premises.

4. According to the terms of our contract you (could, should, to be to) deliver the whole consignment to the port and load it on board the chartered vessel.

5. I'm sorry I (can, should, have to, must) be off. I've got an appointment at 12.

6. We know that we (to be to, should, shall) handle this box with extra care.

7. The wagon (to be to, might, could) be discharged by 3 o'clock today.

8. A new contract (must, might, can) be concluded if we solve this problem.

9. Very good specialists (should, can, shall) be trained at the newly-built Business Centre of the city.

Task 14: Change the Indefinite Infinitive into the Perfect Infinitive, make necessary changes in the sentences and translate them.

1. Transport costs might increase.

2. The terminal should be equipped for handling containers.

3. The truck cannot cross the border 2 hours after the loading.

4. We may gain something if we give in.

5. Ingosstrakh must arrange your insurance cover.

6. The consignor cannot dispatch the goods on time.

7. The Bill of Lading should be signed by the ship's master.

8. The cheapest route should be offered.

9. It might be better to send the goods by air.

10. We could not buy the tools from another company.

Task 15: Translate the following sentences into English.

1. Bell&Co. – небольшая компания. Она могла бы слиться с Multi National Ltd. Обе фирмы только выиграют.

2. Тебе не нужно раздражаться по пустякам.

3. На этом месте нужно будет построить большой транспортный узел.

4. В соответствии с договором они обеспечивают подачу вагонов под загрузку 3 раза в неделю.

5. Ты должен был решать вопрос непосредственно с управлением порта.

6. Вы могли бы сослаться на телефонный разговор с вице-президентом фирмы.

7. Мне кажется, мы не сможем взять кредит в банке. Нам придется самим финансировать расширение бизнеса.

8. В любом случае мы могли бы оплатить сверхурочные.

9. Это срочная поставка. Согласно пункту 5 она должна быть отправлена немедленно.

10. Мы можем загрузить судно к концу дня, хотя это будет нелегко. По пятницам мы заканчиваем раньше.

Task 16: Put in the Indefinite or Perfect Infinitive with one of the modal verbs (can, could, must, may, might, should, have to, to be to) and translate the sentences.

1. The agreement (to draw up) yesterday but it is still not ready.

2. Under the contract our agents (to invoice) customers and (to send) us their statement every quarter.

3. The contract (to come into effect) from the 1 st of January and is valid for 3 years.

4. As our agent you (to bear) the risk if the customers do not pay.

5. During the execution of the contract many disputes (to arise), which, if possible, (to settle) amicably.

6. We are sorry to advise you that due to inflation we (to revise) our prices.

7. If you want to cancel the agreement, you (to indicate) the reason clearly.

8. Our partners (to ensure) back-loading because the volume of transport (to decrease) considerably.

9. According to point 5.1 the German forwarders (to handle) all our consignments and (to send) us a statement every month.

10. - Who (to pay) warehousing expenses?

- Under the agreement these expenses (to share) between us. We (to bear) office expenses

Task 17: Use modal verbs in the text below where necessary. Put the infinitives given in the brackets in the correct tense and voice and translate the text.

This Agreement (to enter) into force 30 days after the Contracting Parties (to inform) each other in writing that the measures necessary (to give) effect to the Agreement (to take place).

The Agreement (to remain) effective for the period of one year after its entry into force. Thereafter it (to continue) in force unless it (to terminate) by one Contracting Party by (to give) a six months' notice thereof in writing to the other Contracting Party.

Task 18: a) Put in articles where necessary.

Dear Sir,

We are writing to you to specify _____ points in _____ Protocol signed between ______ Volvo Parts and _____ Russtrans as _____ result of _______ talks held in November. _____ parties have agreed on _____ following:

1. to set up ____ consignment stock1 in ____ St. Petersburg for _____ Volvo trucks spare parts and to work out _____ terms of _____ Agreement. _____ Agreement may be signed after _____ arrangements of _____ necessary formalities in _____ Russia.

2. to equip _____ provided storage premises in St. Petersburg _____ firm shall deliver free of _____ charge _____ necessary warehouse equipment as well as _____ office equipment in _____ accordance with _____ specification agreed upon by _____ parties.

2. _____ Volvo spare parts stored at _____ present time at ____ Russtrans will be taken on ____ consignment at _____ prices which will be fixed additionally.

We will write to you as soon as ____ contracting parties come to ____ terms about _____ price and _____ time limits for _____ execution of _____ future agreement.

Yours faithfully

J. Anderson

Vice President

b) Read the letter above and answer the following questions.

1. What is a consignment stock?

2. Has the contract between Russtrans and Volvo Parts been signed yet?

3. When are they going to sign it?

4. Why are the partners going to set up a consignment stock?²³

Task 19: Put in prepositions where necessary.

1. LLP hereinafter referred ______ as Customer, _____ the one hand, and TUST hereinafter referred _____ as Performer,______ the other hand, have agreed _______ the following.

2. According ______ the Agreement any _____ the Partners is obliged to compensate ______ the other Partner _____ the damages caused ______ him.

3. _______ case ______ termination _____ the present Agreement _____ any reason, all the documents are to be returned ______ the Board _____ 90 days _____ the date _____ termination _____ the Agreement.

4. When it is impossible to settle the dispute _____ an amicable way both parties have the right to refer it _____ the Arbitration Court the award _____ which is final and binding _____ both parties.

5. This Contract is valid _____ 1 year and may be extended _____ mutual agreement _____ a definite or an indefinite period ______ time.

6. ______ the last talks we missed ______ the point ______ our commission. Let's discuss _____ it now.

7. I think he should bear full responsibility ______ placing the vessel _____ loading ______ a 1 2 hours' delay.

8. What's my commission based ______ ?

Task 20: Translate the following sentences into English.

а) 1. Будучи нашим агентом, вы несете ответственность за предоставление информации о состоянии дел на рынке.

2. Они обязаны оплатить наши расходы по дополнительной рекламе.

3. Вы смогли бы обеспечить обратную загрузку из Барселоны?

4. Оригиналы счетов и отчет за сентябрь должны быть высланы не позднее 10 октября отдельным пакетом.

5. Мы могли бы поднять вопрос о пересмотре цен с 1 апреля, но для этого нужны веские причины.

6. Этот вопрос можно было бы решить дружеским путем, нам пришлось бы выплатить штраф (fine).

7. Я хочу заблокировать свою кредитную карточку. Дело в том, что она утеряна.

8. Если у вас возникнут трудности с транспортом, обращайтесь в нашу фирму. Наши ставки гораздо ниже, чем у наших конкурентов.

9. Я уверен, что мои рекомендации могут повысить репутацию вашей фирмы.

10. В последнее время цены на потребительские товары во всем мире постоянно растут.

11. Как вы считаете, когда возник конфликт?

12. Рекламные расходы пойдут за ваш счет.

13. Как вы объясните повышение складских расходов?

14. На сколько процентов возросли транспортные расходы?

15. Нам нужно будет повысить цены, так как наши расходы возросли.

A cquiring More Skills

Making Suggestions

You can make suggestions in different ways depending on the situation. Below are some of the useful phrases:

Firm Suggestions

In my opinion we should/ought to...

I would recommend/suggest...

My suggestion would be...

I think we should...

Why don't we...

How/ what about...

Tentative Suggestions

It might be a good idea to...

It might be worth of doing smth.

We could perhaps...

One possibility/option would be...

Perhaps we should...

It might also be worthwhile doing...

Neutral Suggestions

I suggest (that)...

I would suggest...

Task 21: Practice using the expressions listed above in the sentences of your own.

Task 22: Discuss with your partner some ideas concerning the topic you choose. Use the following phrases:

1. It might be a good idea to...

2. We could perhaps...

3. One possibility would be...

4. Other

D eveloping SPEAKING Skills

Task 23: Read the telephone conversation and say whether the partners are discussing:

a) office expenses;

b) outstanding invoices;

с) agency commission;

d) warehousing costs;

e) disputes that can arise;

f) future risks;

g) the sole agency agreement;

h) the award of Arbitration.

D ISCUSSING AN AGENCV CONTRACT

Mark Fedorov, general director of a Russian forwarding company, wants his firm to be an agent of ASL in Russia. He is discussing an-agency contract with Clint Larsen who is President of ASL, a big European transport company.

Larsen: Before drawing up this agreement I'd like to go over the contract terms once more, Mark.

Fedorov: I've no objections to that. Even when you take notes as we did, it's easy to miss something out.

Larsen: As I understand it, you'll be our agent for the whole of Russia and you'll be handling all our transport operations.

Fedorov: Agreed.

Larsen: Now the next point was... the length of the contract. It'll be three years, won't it?

Fedorov: Yes, and, renegotiate, provided we are both happy with the agreement.

Larsen: I'm sure, it'll work out all right. Let's see, what was the next point we discussed. Ah yes, whether you wanted a sole and exclusive agency.

Fedorov: Yes, that's right, exclusive agency. And let me remind you that I also receive extra 5% for invoicing customers.

Larsen: Ah yes, you're bearing the risk if customers don't pay. I'd forgotten that.

Fedorov: We'll also be responsible for invoicing customers and for credit control. We'll be sending you copies of all invoices for your records.

Larsen: We must have those because we'll be sending you a statement every three months. Your commission will be based on it. We'll settle up by transferring the money to your account in Moscow. The Russian Credit Bank. Right?

Fedorov: Yes.

Larsen: The rest's fairly simple. Advertising will be shared between us. Warehousing costs - we'll pay those, but you'll have to bear all office expenses.

Fedorov: That's no problem.

Task 24: Read the dialogue above and say if the following sentences are true or false. Correct those which are false.

1. Mr. Larsen and Mr. Fedorov signed the agency contract without going over the terms for a second time.

2. The contract was made for two years.

3. A sole agent doesn't receive an extra commission.

4. The agent was not responsible for invoicing customers.

5. Mr. Larsen was going to pay advertising, warehousing and office expenses.

Task 25: Read the dialogue again and say what you remember about:

a) types of agency contracts;

b) the responsibilities of the Contracting Parties;

c) the extra commission of the agent.

Task 26: Rearrange the conversation.

Larsen: I'm sure; it'll work out all right. Let's see, what was the next point we discussed. Ah yes, whether you wanted a sole and exclusive agency.

Fedorov: Agreed.

Larsen: Now the next point was... the length of the contract. It'll be three years, won't it?

Fedorov: Yes, that's right, exclusive agency. And let me remind you that I also receive extra 5% for invoicing customers.

Larsen: As I understand it, you'll be our agent for the whole of Russia and you'll be handling all our transport operations.

Fedorov: Yes, and, renegotiable, provided we are both happy with the agreement.

Larsen: We must have those because we'll be sending-you a statement every three months. Your commission will be based on it.

Fedorov: We'll also be responsible for invoicing customers and for credit control. We'll be sending you copies of all invoices for your records.

Larsen: Ah yes, you're bearing the risk if customers don't pay. I'd forgotten that.

Task 27: Complete the conversation.

Larsen: Before drawing up this agreement I'd like to go over the contract terms once more, Mark.

Fedorov: ___________________

Larsen: As I understand it, you'll be our agent for the whole of Russia and you'll be handling all our transport operations.

Fedorov: ___________________

Larsen: Let's see, what was the next point we discussed. Ah yes, whether you wanted a sole and exclusive agency.

Fedorov: ____________________

Larsen: The rest's fairly simple. Advertising will be shared between us. Warehousing costs - we'll pay those, but you'll have to bear all office expenses.

Fedorov: _____________________

Task 28: You want to renegotiate the Agency Contract with Mr. Larsen.

Choose one of the problems from the list below you would like to discuss and contact Mr. Larsen and discuss the problem you have chosen.

a) your commission

b) the length of the contract

c) advertising expenses

d) invoicing the customers

e) terms of payment

f) warehousing costs

g) office expenses

Task 29: Have a conversation with your partner using the information below:

You work for a big Russian company. You have more than 10 years experience in delivering different kinds of goods to various consignees in Russia. You intend to expand your business and act as a forwarding agent to Schenker in Russia. Discuss the terms of your future agreement including your inherent power (собственные полномочия или компетенции) as a representative of Schenker. You would like to work on a 15% commission.

Developing Interpretation Skills

Task 30: Translate the text from English into Russian.

International Carriage of Goods for Reward/cmr Convention

CMR regulations automatically apply to every contract for the international carriage of goods by road in vehicles for reward even when the vehicle containing the goods is carried over part of its journey by sea, rail or inland waterway and a CMR type consignment note must be completed. Even where a haulier is not aware that the load being moved is on an international journey or aware of the conditions and implications of CMR the provisions still apply.

Under the terms of the carriage contract the carrier taking over the-goods must check the accuracy of the statements in the consignment note as to the number of packages, their marks and numbers, the apparent condition of the goods and their packing. Under these regulations the carrier is responsible for loss, damage or delay from the time of taking over the goods until the time of their delivery.

If goods are handled by a number of carriers on an overseas journey, provisions are contained in CMR to apportion the liability for loss or damage between all the carriers because of the difficulties which may arise in pinpointing the exact time and place when the damage occurred.

It is not practical for own-account operators to undertake the carnage of return loads for hire or reward — despite their freedom to do so in the UK under their operators' license — because such operators are not covered by CMR regulations and to do so can present problems which outweigh the reward obtained. This does not apply if the operator obtains return loads from associate companies on the Continent.

Cmr Consignment Note

Operators carrying goods for hire and reward on overseas journeys within the provisions of the Convention on the Contract for the International Carriage of Goods by Road (CMR) as described above must complete special CMR consignment notes to be carried on the vehicle. The details required on consignment notes which must be made out in triplicate and signed by the sender and the carrier, are as follows:

Box 1. Sender (name, address, country).

Box 2. Customs references/status.

Box 3. Sender's/agent's reference.

Box 4. Consignee (name, address, country).

Box 5. Carrier (name, address/country).

Box 6. Place and date of taking over the goods.

Box 7. Successive carriers.

Box 8. Place designated for delivery of goods.

Box 9. Marks and numbers; number and kind of packages; description of goods.

Box 10. Gross weight (kg).

Box 11. Volume (m³).

Box 12. Carriage charges.

Box 13. Sender's instructions for Customs.

Box 14. Reservations.

Box 15. Documents attached.

Box 16. Special arrangements.

Box 17. Goods received.

Box 18. Signature of carrier.

Box 19. Company completing the note.

Box 20. Place, date, signature.

Box 21. Copies to:

1. Sender

2. Consignee

3. Carrier.

Documents to Be Carried

The vehicle regulation documents (i.e. the original not a copy) should always be carried on the vehicle when it is travelling on international journeys. The driver should also have written authority from his employer on the company's letter- headed paper showing that he is the authorized driver of the vehicle.

If a hired or borrowed vehicle is taken abroad (or any vehicle not registered in the operator's name) the driver must carry written authority from the owner permitting his use of the vehicle together with the vehicle registration document. Alternatively, a special regulation certificate can be obtained from the motoring organizations in which case there will be no need for the registration document to be carried.

On all journeys abroad British vehicles must display a valid vehicle excise disc. It should be noted that operating without an excise license disc, non-payment of duty or payment at less than the full rate of duty (e.g. heavy vehicle taxed at the private/light goods vehicle rate) is an offence which can result in heavy penalties and claims for payment of back-duty.

SOME BASIC ENGLISH TERMS

Task 31: Translate the text from Russian into English and render it.

Демерредж и плата за задержку

Демерредж — это денежное возмещение, уплачиваемое грузоотправителем или консигнатором железной дороге за простой железнодорожного вагона сверх установленной нормы. Демерредж также взимает внутренний водный перевозчик, если грузоотправитель или консигнатор удерживает его баржи дольше положенного времени.

Демерредж взыскивают и при использовании трубопроводов, если нефть из цистерн, находящихся в пункте отправки, не перекачивают в пределах указанного интервала времени. Плата за задержку в основном соответствует понятию демерредж, но этот термин обычно применяют в автоперевозках. Пользователи контейнеров принадлежащих авиалиниям, также подвергаются подобным штрафным санкциям. Существование демерреджа и платы за задержку, в частности, объясняется тем, что перевозчики озабочены, что грузоотправители или консигнаторы могут использовать их оборудование не по назначению — в качестве временного склада.

Для многих менеджеров по перевозкам недопущение штрафных санкций за задержку является важной служебной обязанностью. В тарифных справочниках относительно железнодорожного демерреджа указывают, что штрафные платежи начинаются с момента истечения действующего нормативного времени простоя.

Например, в тарифном справочнике Юго-восточной железной дороги, которая функционирует в Техасе и связана с мексиканской железнодорожной системой, сказано: "Нормативное время простоя для каждого вагона равно 36 часов", а штраф составляет "50 долларов; за один вагоно-день или долю его"²⁴.

Многие менеджеры по перевозкам, которые являются крупными пользователями железнодорожных вагонов, считают выгодным заключать с железной дорогой взаимозачетные соглашения. При таких соглашениях ведется дебет-кредитный учет. Кредит записывают всякий раз, когда грузоотправитель или консигнатор освобождает вагон на один де: раньше, а дебет записывают, если вагон сдают железной дороге на один день позже.

После отмены регулирования перевозчики могут вносить существенные изменения в систему штрафных санкций и предлагать собственные Системы. В конце 1988 года Южная тихоокеанская дорога для своих смешанных перевозок объявила "План +3": потребители имеют право загружать или разгружать трейлер в течение трех дней, за возврат трейлера раньше срока клиенту записывают кредит, а за задержку — дебет. В конце каждого месяца считают количество кредитов и дебетов, и если число кредитов превышает число дебетов, то грузоотправители получают 5 долларов за каждый кредит сверх дебета.

Каждый, кто знаком с товарными рынками, знает, что существуют как текущие, так и будущие торговые сделки. Железные дороги также участвуют в сделках на фьючерсных рынках, где они продают вагоны под будущее зерно. Менеджеры по перевозкам заказывают вагоны под зерно для фьючерсных сделок и, и соответствии с правилами Берлингтонской северной железной дороги, их фирмы оплачивают использование вагонов, а в случае аннулирования заказа они должны заплатить 50 долларов продать свое право использовать вагоны другому грузоотправителю²⁵.

Useful expressions

V ocabulary

Unit 8 transportation and law

R eading

Task 1: Read and translate the text. Find 2 or 3 sentences that express the main idea of it.

Some legal problems of transportation

When executing contracts of transportation of cargo from manufacturer to consumer disputes may arise as a result of carelessness or negligence and as a rule they are settled amicably. But when it is impossible to settle a matter in an amicable way it is referred to Arbitration or other courts. Below is an extract from the Award of the Maritime Arbitration Commission ²⁶of January 15, 20... in: “Aviaimport” v.²⁷ “Ingosstrakh”. (Case No. 11/199...)

FACTS: Four crates of aviation equipment were transported by s/s Neva from St. Petersburg to Cuba under Bill of Lading No. 265 of February 19, 19... . The cargo was insured with “Ingosstrakh”. In the port of discharge it was discovered that one crate was missing.

Ingosstrakh rejected the claim of the Cuban firm “Aviaimport” because it was presented after the expiration of one year since the unloading of the vessel, which denied Ingosstrakh the right to submit a claim to the carrier responsible for the damage, which in turn exempts the carrier from the obligation to pay damages under Paragraph 22 of the Transportation Insurance Rules. Aviaimport submitted its claim to Ingosstrakh for $ 1000 for reimbursement caused by the shortage.

In the reply the defendant recognized that the maximum sum which they could claim from the carrier was equal to $ 250, the limit of the carrier's liability for one crate, though they were prepared to compensate the claimant to the amount of the real cost of the missing goods, if they presented documented proof of the amount of the claim.

In the Seller's price list presented by Aviaimport the cost of one ladder (which according to the claimant was in the missing crate) was equal to$ 7,000. At the last hearing when asked to present the proof as to what goods were in the missing crate the claimant stated that he did not possess any proof.

REASONS FOR AWARD: Having considered the circumstances of the case and listened to the explanations of the parties' representatives the Maritime Arbitration Commission declared that under item 3 of Paragraph 17 of the Transport Insurance Rules the insurant is obliged to document the amount of his claim.

From the materials of the case it is impossible to determine the contents of the missing crate and, therefore, its price. The supplier's invoices only stated that the total weight of the crates was 493 kg and that they were shipped “free of charge”.

Although the claimant was invited to present proof which would make it possible to identify the contents of the missing crate such proof was not produced.

In the circumstances the Maritime Arbitration Commission has decided that the claim cannot be awarded in accordance with Item 3 of Paragraph 17 of the Transportation Insurance Rules.

Task 2: Re-read the text and say if the statements below are true or false. Correct the false statements.

1. All disputes in business are settled friendly.

2. The cargo is always insured against all risks so the buyer never loses his money.

3. Ingosstrakh couldn't reject the claim of Aviaimport.

4. The amount of the claim was equal to $ 7,000.

5. The defendant presented to the court the required proof.

6. The contents of the missing crate were determined.

7. The claimant received the reimbursement.

Task 3: Look through the text again and say what was mentioned in the text about:

a) the way of settling claims;

b) the contents of the claim;

c) the reasons for the Award.

Task 4: Find in the text the English equivalents for the following word combinations:

1. в результате небрежности

2. в порту разгрузки обнаружилось

3. спустя год после разгрузки судна

4. который, в свою очередь,...

5. вызванную недопоставкой

6. на последнем заседании по слушанию дела

7. предоставить документы, подтверждающие сумму иска

8. с помощью которых можно было бы определить содержимое утерянного места (ящика)

9. претензия не может быть удовлетворена

Task 5: Say what would have happened if:

a) Aviaimport had made a claim on the Russian company just after they discovered that one crate was missing.

b) Aviaimport could have presented the documented proof of the amount of the claim.

c) Ingosstrakh hadn't rejected Aviaimport’s claim.

L earning the Basic Vocabulary

Task 6: a) Find the words in bold type in the text and try to guess their meaning. Check up the translation of the words in the vocabulary. Write them out in your vocabulary.

b) Write down all the words unknown to you in your vocabulary.

Task 7: Explain the meaning of the following phrases within the text:

1) to reject the carrier's liability for one crate

2) to present the documents required

3) to submit a claim to the carrier

4) due to negligence

5) to exempt the carrier from the obligation

6) to deny that damage occurred

Task 8: Match the verbs on the left with the noun phrases on the right and translate the expressions they make into Russian:

a) to reject 1) examination

b) to submit 2) proofs

c) to determine 3) claim

d) to execute 4) amount of damages

e) to speed up 5) obligations under contracts

f) to present 6) from the obligation

g) to claim 7) contents of crates

h) to deny 8) the claimant

i) to exempt 9) liability

j) to settle 10) supplier's invoice

Task 9: 1) Fill in the gaps with the words given in the box.

a) restrictions customs declares taxes Customs certified exporting invoice certificate separate

Trade ______ are enforced by Customs and Excise department. Importers have to fill out a ________ declaration form which _______ the value of the goods so that the customs officials can calculate the ______ they must pay. To make the job of the________ office easier, the invoice for goods is sometimes _______ as accurate by the Consulate of the importing country before the goods leave the ______country. The ______ is then called a consular invoice and is also used as a ______ of origin (although this may be a ______document).

b) control imposing provides subsidizing imposing loans competition limiting produces impose

One way a country can _______ its economy is by ________ import restrictions (or controls). If an industry is just starting up, the government may help it because it makes the country richer and _________ employment. The government can help this industry by ________ it or by __________ import restrictions. To subsidize an industry means to give it grants or _______. Import controls can protect it from __________ by stopping or _______ the import goods which this industry ___________. The government might also ________ taxes on imported goods which are called duties or tariffs.

2) Say what information the texts give about:

a) providing employment d) giving grants

b) subsidizing an industry e) filling out a Customs declaration

c) imposing restrictions f) protecting from competition

Task 10: a) Fill in the gaps choosing the right word form the box.

reject refuse give up turn down

1. Why did they ______ to place the vessel under loading yesterday?

2. I'm afraid we'll have to ______ the whole consignment because the quality of the goods doesn't conform to the specifications.

3. I talked with the Sales manager yesterday and he ______ your suggestion on cooperation.

4. You should _______ taking this medicine; it does you a lot of harm.

b) Translate the sentences from Russian into English using the words given above.

1. Они отказались оплатить неустойку, и мы передали дело в арбитраж.

2. Мне кажется, тебе нужно отказаться от курения.

3. Почему вы отказываетесь от такого выгодного контракта?

4. Они отказались от суммы, предложенной нами в качестве компенсации.

Task 11: a) Fill in the gaps choosing the right word form the box.

affair case business

1. The Department of Home ______ looks after the ______ of the State at home.

2. In Great Britain criminal _______ are heard at the Crown courts.

3. This logistics company has been doing very good _______ for a number of years.

4. If this _______had not been heard at the Arbitration Court, we would never have been reimbursed for the losses.

5. When he tried to impose his advice on me, I told him to mind his own ___________.

b) Translate the sentences from Russian into English using the words given above.

1. Это мое дело. Я не хочу, чтобы ты вмешивался.

2. Его дело не будет слушаться в суде.

3. Министр иностранных дел Великобритании прибудет с визитом в нашу страну на следующей неделе.

Task 12: Check yourself. Give English equivalents of the following Russian word combination:

1) возникать в результате небрежности

2) отклонить претензию

3) предъявить претензию страховой компании

4) быть предъявленным после истечения одного года со дня нанесения ущерба

5) компенсировать истцу ущерб в размере...

6) решить вопрос дружеским путем

7) требовать возмещения ущерба от перевозчика груза

8) ограничить ответственность одной из сторон

9) представить доказательства повреждения ящика во время разгрузки

10) освободить от обязательства

11) определить сумму ущерба

12) отрицать факт недопоставки

13) выполнять обязательства по контракту

14) застраховать в Ингосстрахе

15) сумма иска в размере семи тысяч долларов

F ocusing on Grammar

Conditional Sentences

Task 13: Study the table given below. Note the three types of Conditional Sentences.

Task 14: Complete these sentences using the prompts in the brackets.

1. If the charterer didn’t give the ships master the right to sign the Mate’s Receipt, (difficulties, to arise, at the port of loading).

2. If the UN Convention of Inter-modal Transport had been signed 10 years ago, (to reduce transport costs and increase efficiency of transportation).

3. If there were not so many transport documents, (to be easier to deliver the goods to the consumer).

4. If they had transferred the money due to us, (to cause delay in placing the vessel under loading).

5. If it were not for the emergency delivery to Novorossiysk, (to dispatch your consignment of furniture on time).

6. If it were not for the Internet, (to take much more time to keep in touch with business partners).

7. If the charter party hadn’t been negotiated carefully, (to arise, bigger problems).

8. If the truck had been cleared on Friday, (to deliver the goods to the customers on time).

9. If there were more investments in transport infrastructure, (the industry, to start booming).

10. If there hadn't been a congestion at the port, (to carry out discharge without delay).

Task 15: Say what you would do in the circumstances.

a) Your partner fails to return empty containers at the agreed dates.

b) The transport company raises freight rates without giving notice.

c) You want to cancel an agreement before it expires.

d) You want to take up Customs clearance at your new warehouse.

e) You want to specify some points of your future Charter Party.

Task 16: Say what would have happened (it didn’t really happen) if:

1) you hadn’t invoiced the customer in time;

2) you hadn’t sent the principals your statement at the required dates;

3) you hadn’t offered overtime to the warehouse people working during the weekend;

4) being a western logistics company you hadn’t offered your services to the FSU and other developing markets;

5) the Russian government hadn’t invested in public transport last year.

Task 17: Translate these sentences into English.

1. Если бы мы заключили соглашение два месяца назад, мы бы не потеряли столько времени и денег.

2. Если бы в стране было несколько крупных транспортно-логистических фирм, можно было бы говорить о возможности резкого роста рынка транспортных услуг.

3. Конвенция по интермодальным перевозкам вступила бы в силу, если бы к ней присоединилось свыше 30 стран.

4. Если бы железнодорожная колея во всех европейских странах и России была бы одинаковой, объем грузов, перевозимых по железной дороге, был бы значительно больше.

5. Если бы ящики были правильно уложены в трюме, груз не был бы подтвержден.

6. Если бы все бригады грузчиков работали в две смены, суда разгружались бы быстрее.

7. Если бы все коносаменты и другие транспортные документы передавались по факсу, процесс доставки груза в пункт назначения значительно ускорился бы.

8. Если бы автомобильный транспорт был бы экологически более безопасным, в Европе не было бы ограничений на грузовые автоперевозки.

9. Если бы грузы перевозились только в контейнерах, время на их обработку было бы сокращено.

10. Если бы в порту не было большого скопления судов, груз был бы доставлен без задержки.

Task 18: Put in prepositions where necessary. Say if all these sentences can be used in business letters of complaint.

1. We have to inform you that the damage ______ the machines delivered ______ Contract 42/03 occurred ______ transit.

2. The amount of the claim equal _______ $550 is to be remitted ______ our account no later than the 15th December.

3. We consider that you are liable ______ the losses we have suffered.

4. Unfortunately we rejected ______ the consignment as the tools proved to be substandard.

5. They promised to speed ______ loading if we offered overtime.

6. Hereby we are making a claim _______ you ______ connection ______ delay ______ discharging ______ our vessel and ask you to reimburse us _______ the losses we have suffered.

7. There are not many goods that are exempt ______ customs duties in Russia.

8. If you want to make a claim _________ your business partner, you should have a Surveyor's Report properly issued and signed.

9. If the box hadn't been badly damaged, we wouldn't have written it __________.

10. The Sellers promised to supply us _______ spare parts to the engine _______ the end _______ the month.

Task 19: Put the articles where necessary and discuss the text. Say what would have happened if the early markets had not been allowed to set up their own tribunals.

Law Merchant

________ early common law courts were concerned largely with problems of land tenure and gave ______ little attention to ______ growing number of disputes arising there from. ______ procedure in ______ common law courts was slow and ______ merchants needed _______ quick decisions therefore many markets were allowed to set up ______ own special tribunals. There were various types of ______ rules administered in ______ courts which were based upon mercantile customs and later they became known as law merchant. Some of ______ customs were internationally recognized and became laws. ______ common law courts realized ______ importance of _____ work ______ tribunals were doing and took it over. ______ various types of ______ commercial documents and procedures were recognized in ______ legal decisions, thereby forming _____ precedents and becoming _____ part of _____ common law itself. At ______ same time, _______ modern law of ________ contract was developed. Today _______ ordinary courts will often take account of ______ business practice in reading ______ decision and this still plays ______ important part in _____ evolution of _____ English law.

Useful words and expressions

Task 20: a) Read and translate the facsimile message. Complete the sentences putting the verbs in the correct tense and voice

.

FACSIMILE MESSAGE

To: DFDS Transport, Denmark

Attn: Thomas Nielsen

Nos of pages (incl. this) 1

Pis. advise if this fax is incorrectly transmitted.

Your ref.: ________

Our ref.: _________

Date: __________

Re: Trailer VY 3237 HOK

The above trailer (to arrive) in Moscow on the 16th October at 9.00. Since that time it (to be) in our parking place because the consignee (to have) no money for customs clearance. The consignee (to promise) to inform us in time when they (to be ready) to clear the goods. The driver (to visit) our office several times a day to get some news. He (to be) at the office at 5 p.m. yesterday. And we (to tell) him that the consignee (may, not to turn up) till the 10th November as today (to be) a short working day in Russia. But today the client (to phone) our office at 12.30 and (to ask) us to deliver the trailer to the Customs. As the driver (to be) not there we (to fail) to do that.

Moreover the client (to inform) us that he (to take) the documents from the driver on the day of his arrival in Moscow knowing that it (to be) strictly prohibited.

We (to ask) you to advise the shipper of the above and charge the consignee fully for the demurrage²⁸.

Yours truly

Larsen

DFDS Moscow

b) Answer the following questions.

1. When was the fax message sent?

2. How long did the trailer stand at the parking place of DFDS in Moscow and why?

3. Who is responsible for the demurrage?

4. Would the trailer have been cleared on the 6th November if the driver had been at the office?

5. How could this dispute be settled?

c) You are the consignee. Phone DFDS Moscow office and tell them you want to come to their office to have the trailer cleared.

d) You are Larsen. Phone your head office in Denmark and tell them that the consignee considers you responsible for the demurrage

Агент может доверить разгрузку судна стивидорской фирме или организовать доставку самостоятельно. Стивидоры либо разгружают судно и помещают груз на собственном складе с тем, чтобы доставить его грузополучателю, либо совместно с агентом передают груз грузополучателю непосредственно на причале. Груз доставляется по коносаменту, при этом получатель груза обязательно расписывается на обратной стороне документа.

Коносамент может передаваться, продаваться и перепродаваться третьей стороне. Агент (брокер) должен следить за тем, чтобы все формальности, предусмотренные законом, выполнялись и чтобы груз был доставлен законному держателю коносамента.

Капитан обычно просит агента (брокера) подписать такой коносамент. Подпись брокера означает, что фрахт им уже получен. Если фрахт не оплачен, капитан может воспользоваться правом удержания имущества и распорядиться грузом по своему усмотрению.

Task 21: Say if the statements below are true or false. Correct those which are false. The English phrases in the box can help you.

1. A stevedoring company has nothing to do with discharge of vessels arriving at a port.

2. Stevedore have always got their own warehouses.

3. A Bill of Lading is not a negotiable document.

4. A consignee doesn't have to sign Bill of Lading.

5. The master of a vessel always has an agent at the port of discharge.

6. The master has no right to exercise a lien upon the goods.

a) to entrust discharge

b) to discharge the cargo into their own warehouse

c) to arrange direct delivery of the cargo to the owners alongside the ship

d) to sign his name on the back of the document

e) a negotiable document which may be resold to other people

f) the legitimate holder of the Bill of Lading

g) the freight has been duly collected by him

h) to exercise a lien upon the goods

A cquiring More Skills

1. Informal and Formal Expressions

There are different ways of expressing things. Consider the following informal and formal expressions with the same meaning:

Informal Formal

we have thought about we have considered

we are sorry we regret

we can’t we are unable to

job post

good enough up to the level we require

up to the standard required

sufficiently good

need require

you don't seem to have you appear to lack

Task 22: Think of some other expressions with the same meaning and explain their usage.

Task 23: Think of 2 situations (different or same). Make them sound formal and informal. Work in pairs or groups of 2-3.

2. Hesitating

Hesitating is a very natural part of native speaker. English and hesitating “properly” can actually make you sound more fluent. The following expressions might be used when hesitating.

3. Generalization and Exception

Below are some phrases which are used to generalize and talk about exceptions.

In general…

Generally speaking...

As a rule...

There are exceptions...

The exception is...

Apart from...

Task 24: Practice the expressions listed above in sentences of your own.

Task 25: Ask your partner to generalize on something or state exceptions. Keep the conversation flowing.

Task 26: Describe some event in writing (50-60 words). Begin with: “Generally...”, “In general...”

Developing Speaking Skills

Task 27: Read the telephone conversation and decide what organization Mr. Nikitin is making the call to:

a) the insurance company;

b) the consignee;

c) the consignor.

M AKING A COMPLAINT

A Russian importer, Mr. Nikitin telephones Mr. Simons, manager of a British firm supplying computers.

Simons: Hello. CMS here.

Nikitin: Hello. This is Nikitin of Moscow Export. I'm calling about the consignment of computer components, Order No. 256-AT.

Simons: Just a moment, I’ll find your order. Well..., here it is. What's the problem?

Nikitin: I'm afraid the whole consignment is a complete write-off. We can’t save anything.

Simons: Really? What’s happened?

Nikitin: We’re not sure. When we received it the case was badly crushed. All the components were damaged beyond repair.

Simons: It sounds as if something heavy fell on it. You’d better get the surveyor to inspect the case.

Nikitin: I've already done it. It didn't take him long to carry out investigation.

Simons: Would you mind sending the surveyor's report to me, please? Together with your claim. I’ll take the matter up with our insurers.

Nikitin: It’s going to be a pretty big claim. I think over...

Simons: I realize that but we’ll try to speed the things up for you. You must be compensated without delay.

Nikitin: O.K. I’ll send you the documents by fax this afternoon. Good bye, Mr. Simons.

Simons: Bye.

Task 28: Read the conversation again and say if the statements are true or false. Correct those which are false.

1. The consignment of computer components was badly damaged.

2. The damage to the components was caused by negligent stowage of the crates.

3. The surveyor didn't inspect the crates.

4. The suppliers rejected the buyer's claim.

5. The buyers should refer the matter to Arbitration to speed up the solution of the problem.

Task 29: Rearrange the conversation.

Simons: Hello. CMS here.

Nikitin: Hello. This is Nikitin of Moscow Export. I’m calling about the consignment components, Order No.256-AT.

Simons: It sounds as if something heavy fell on it. You’d better get the surveyor to inspect the case.

Nikitin: I’m afraid the whole consignment is a complete write-off. We can't save anything.

Simons: Would you mind sending the surveyor's report to me, please? Together with your claim. I’ll take the matter up with our insurers.

Nikitin: We're not sure When we received it the case was badly crushed. All the components were damaged beyond repair.

Simons: Just a moment, I'll find your order. Well..., here it is. What's the problem?

Nikitin: It's going to be a pretty big claim. I think over...

Simons: Really? What's happened?

Nikitin: I've already done it. It didn't take him long to carry out investigation.

Simons: I realize that but we’ll try to speed the things up for you. You must be compensated without delay.

Nikitin: O.K. I'll send you the documents by fax this afternoon. Good bye, Mr. Simons.

Simons: Bye.

Task 30: Complete the conversation.

Simons: Hello. CMS here.

Nikitin: _________________

Simons: Just a moment, I'll find your order. Well ..., here it is. What's the problem?

Nikitin: _________________

Simons: It sounds as if something heavy fell on it. You'd better get the surveyor to inspect the case.

Nikitin: __________________.

Simons: Would you mind sending the surveyor's report to me, please? Together with your claim. I'll take the matter up with our insurers.

Nikitin: ________________

Simons: I realize that but we'll try to speed the things up for you. You must be compensated without delay.

Nikitin: _________________

Task 31: What would you say to your partner if:

a) the consignment you'd ordered didn't arrive on time?

b) one crate in the consignment was damaged (missing)?

c) the goods arrived damaged and you want the replacement urgently?

d) you want to make a claim on your suppliers for delay in delivery?

Task 32: Write the letter of complaint which Mr. Simons asked Mr. Nikitin to send. Say what other documents are required to take the matter up with the insurers.

Have a conversation with your partner using the information below.

You have just arrived at a warehouse to collect the spare parts stored there for two days and found one box damaged.

Phone the insurance company and ask them to send the surveyor to the warehouse as soon as possible. Tell them that you need the Inspection Report today. Explain the reasons.

Task 33: a) Read this part of the lecture and say who it is intended for:

• students of Marine Academy;

• sailors and masters;

• students of Law University;

• transport operators.

Over the last five months I have tried to illustrate the nature of claims. Generally, the risks are insured and there will be no personal loss.

If a mistake has been made it might blight the individual's career prospects but should go no further. However there are a number of statutes relating to operational matters which provide for custodial sentences. Act 1987 provides that where a vessel enters the safety zone around an offshore structure without consent then: “Its owner and its master shall be guilty of an offence and liable on conviction on indictment to imprisonment for a term not exceeding two years or a fine or both.”

Here is what actually happened in the North Sea last year.

A forest product carrier ran into a rig in the North Sea in June. The second mate who should have been on watch was in his bunk for reasons which he could not explain and the bridge was unmanned. The case was heard in the Crown Court...

b) What do you think the verdict was?

c) What are the English equivalents for (see the text):

1. разрушить карьеру человека

2. вопросы эксплуатации (судна)

3. заключение под стражу

4. виновный

5. правонарушение

6. тюремное заключение

7. штраф

8. столкнуться с буровой

d) Explain the following:

1. Risks are insured and there is no personal loss.

2. Some operational matters provide for custodial sentences.

3. The owner and the master are liable to imprisonment or fine or both.

4. The vessel ran into a rig.

5. The bridge was unmanned.

e) You are the judge at the Crown Court. Try to solve this case.

There are some particulars of the case. You know that the owners of the vessel are residents abroad. The second mate did not feel very well that is why he was in his bunk. What's your verdict?

f) Here is the verdict.

“...the second mate is sentenced to 6 months imprisonment and the master to 3 months, subsequently reduced on appeal to one month.”

j) You are the judge at the Court of Appeal. The master of the ship and the second mate wanted their case to be reviewed by you. What is your verdict?

Developing Interpretation Skills

Task 34: Translate the text from English into Russian and then render it.

Cargo Theft Must Be Countered

The theft of trucks and their cargo is increasing by 5% per year in the EU. Criminals target over 200,000 commercial vehicles per year today. Eurowatch is attempting to combat this trend by improving the reporting and tracing of stolen goods. The company recently organized a seminar in London for shippers and transport companies to raise awareness of the issue. The event focussed on topics such as modern methods of crime prevention, electronic load protection and other security methods. In the UK alone freight crime involves 7-8 vehicles a day representing losses of GBP 18-20 million per year.

In many cases the cost of indirect losses can be much higher than the direct ones. A Rand study carried out for 95 top high-tech industries in the USA a few years ago illustrated the magnitude of the problem. It found that the ratio of indirect losses compared with direct losses was as much as five to one. Indirect losses comprise such factors as supply chain disruption, client relations, branding, gray and black market and theft-reduction costs.

The fact that owners and logistics service providers are now spending a greater proportion of their budgets on combating crime does not compensate for factors such as negligent drivers - who for example leave a vehicle unattended with the key in the ignition. In addition there are numerous cases of theft which are not reported to the police. According to a security adviser for a leading pharmaceutical company the main weakness are the drivers themselves. Drivers can be targets of crime or actual accomplices. And ex-Scotland Yard man Tom Glendinning — who is now employed by the consulting institute Cargo Solutions — claimed that 80% of all crimes associated with freight pilferage is employee collusion.

Striking the right balance between establishing the threat of loss and its cost may not always be easy. Technology alone is not enough. However, some drivers may resent being monitored around the clock day in, day out. Thus, more widespread adoption of telematic solutions in conjunction with mobile phones and recognized police reporting system could help curb future crime whilst offering greater protection to honest drivers. An increasing number of manufacturers who produce high value goods are setting specific standards for their transport suppliers.

Telematic solutions have taken longer than expected to be adopted by the commercial vehicle sector. This is due to the fact that the market is still too fragmented. System costs are still too high and will remain so as market consolidation is unlikely to occur in the next two to three years.

Of the 25-26 million vehicles in Europe only 1 % are equipped with tracking/positioning systems. However, as electronic toll collect technology is gradually being adopted, this will have positive knock-on effects in the vehicle telematics sector. At present some 10 to 12 million vehicles are to be equipped with the corresponding technology. By the year 2010, around 50 million trucks are expected to be fitted with reading devices.

In the meantime Eurowatch provides a technologically neutral solution. A driver who becomes the victim of a crime can transfer his exact location by either G PS or mobile phone. Eurowatch which is now recognized in 29 countries, then establishes a direct contact with the local police force. Only one single telephone number is needed and every driver is able to communicate in his own language. The earlier the crime is reported the greater the chances of success fully catching the criminals and protecting the cargo.

Joining Eurowatch costs EUR 250 per year per vehicle. The company will be offering its services in Russia in the near future and is currently holding negotiations with the Russian authorities. In the start-up phase the system will only be adopted in the western (European) part of Russia.

Vocabulary