SWIFT MT700 Field 44D: When the Shipment Period Contradicts Other Fields
Introduction
Field 44D (Shipment Period) is optional in the MT700 under SWIFT SR2018, Category 7, formatted as 6*65x (up to six lines of 65-character narrative). It describes the period or conditions within which shipment must take place. Because it overlaps with the latest shipment date (44C), the presentation period, and the document dates, 44D frequently collides with other fields. The problem is not the narrative itself but a shipment window that cannot coexist with the credit's other time and routing data.
Failure Modes
Failure Mode 1: Shipment period overlaps impossibly with 44C
If 44D states a window whose end differs from the latest date in 44C, the two time controls contradict.
Failure Mode 2: Period contradicts a routing field
A shipment period naming a timeframe inconsistent with the receipt or loading places in 44A/44E can leave no realistic window.
Failure Mode 3: Document date falls outside 44D
A transport document dated outside the stated period conflicts with the credit under Article 14(d).
Failure Mode 4: MT701 restates 44D differently
The usage rules forbid an MT701 from conflicting with the MT700; a divergent shipment period is a discrepancy.
Failure Mode 5: Period expressed ambiguously
Vague narrative in 6*65x invites divergent interpretation and examination disputes under Article 14.
Resolution
- Draft 44D so its window ends on or before the latest date in 44C.
- Reconcile the period with the routing places in 44A and 44E.
- State the period in clear terms that a document date can be tested against.
- Examine the transport document date under Article 14(d) and Article 14(j).
- Confirm no related MT701 restates 44D with conflict.
- Align the presentation period with the shipment window.
- Record the article basis (14(j) and 14) for the period control.
- Correct credit wording rather than rely on post-presentation waiver.
Conclusion
Field 44D frames the shipment window; it must close inside the latest shipment date and open inside a workable routing. The control is to prove a beneficiary could ship within the stated period and present complying documents. Article 14(j) and Article 14 supply the test; a credit is sound only when 44D, 44C, and the routing fields agree.
FAQ
How does 44D relate to 44C?
Field 44C sets the latest shipment date; 44D may describe the broader period. The two must be consistent, with 44D's window ending no later than 44C.
What does Article 14(j) cover for 44D?
Article 14(j) addresses the place of taking in charge or dispatch in relation to shipment-period wording, tying the period to where shipment begins.
Can 44D be omitted?
Yes. SWIFT marks it Optional. A credit may rely on 44C alone for the shipment deadline.
What if an MT701 repeats 44D with different wording?
A related MT701 must not conflict with the MT700. A divergent shipment period is impermissible and a discrepancy.
Does a document dated in the period always comply?
Only if it also meets every other requirement, including the latest date, routing, and document conditions. Being inside 44D does not cure other discrepancies.
Source Notes
- SWIFT SR2018, Category 7, MT700 field 44D (Optional, 6*65x, shipment period). Context only.
- UCP 600 Article 14(j) and Article 14. Context only.
- MT700 usage rules on related MT701 content. Context only.
| Regulation | Article / Section | Requirement | Consequence |
|---|---|---|---|
| UCP 600 | Article 14 | Standard for Examination of Documents | Binary determination (compliant/discrepant) |
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Quick Reference Summary
- No reference captured.
Compliance Checklist
| ✓ What Banks Expect | ✗ What Beneficiaries Often Do Wrong |
|---|---|
| Shipment period overlaps impossibly with 44C | If 44D states a window whose end differs from the latest date in 44C, the two time controls contr... |
| Period contradicts a routing field | A shipment period naming a timeframe inconsistent with the receipt or loading places in 44A/44E c... |
| Document date falls outside 44D | A transport document dated outside the stated period conflicts with the credit under Article 14(d). |
| MT701 restates 44D differently | The usage rules forbid an MT701 from conflicting with the MT700; a divergent shipment period is a... |
| Period expressed ambiguously | Vague narrative in 6*65x invites divergent interpretation and examination disputes under Article 14. |
← Scroll horizontally to see all columns
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