Maritime sales
Documentary credit in maritime sales: mechanisms and security
By Yasmine EDDAM1 May 2025Maritime sales, by their international nature and the distances involved, generate specific risks for the parties. The buyer is afraid of paying without receiving the goods; the seller is afraid of delivering without receiving payment. To resolve this complex equation, documentary credit has become the preferred financing instrument for international trade transactions. This mechanism, which is both legal and banking, offers unique security by linking payment to the presentation of compliant documents. How the documentary credit works The documentary credit is a sophisticated payment instrument, specifically adapted to the needs of international trade. The parties involved Four main players are involved in the documentary credit mechanism: this four-party structure distributes the risks between professionals from different countries, while maintaining a balance between the divergent interests of the buyer and the seller. The essential stages of the transaction The course of a documentary credit transaction is...
Inbound maritime sales: understanding the legal specifics
Commercial, business and competition law, Maritime salesSales by sea on arrival are a special category of contract in international trade. Unlike the more common outward sales, the transfer of risk is postponed until the goods arrive at their destination. This offers greater security for the buyer, but implies specific obligations...The CIF sale: mechanisms and special features of this international maritime contract
Commercial, business and competition law, Maritime salesThe CIF (Cost, Insurance, Freight) sale is one of the most widely used formulas in international maritime trade. This type of contract, known in French as CAF (Coût, Assurance, Fret), has specific legal features that it is essential to master in order to secure commercial transactions. Its particular structure, which incorporates the...FAS and FOB sales: understanding these maritime contracts at the outset
Commercial, business and competition law, Maritime salesIn international trade, transactions involving maritime transport are often based on standardised contractual formulas. Among these, FAS (Free Alongside Ship) and FOB (Free On Board) sales are among the most widely used. These two types of contract, which are classified as outbound sales, have a number of...Maritime sales: understanding the main formulas and their legal implications
Commercial, business and competition law, Maritime salesInternational trade is largely based on trade in goods transported by sea. These transactions, known as maritime sales, have a number of important legal features that all international trade operators need to master in order to secure their operations. Unlike traditional sales, maritime sales include in their mechanism...
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