由于我们公司的全称中有 import and export 的字样，在给客人的名片，或是书信中写作 I/E 或是I&E

As there are Import and Export in our company’s name, we usually use the abbreviation I/E or I&E on our name cards or emails.

在进口提单中的收货人中也默认上述字样，一直也没出什么问题，直到今年8月份的时候，某个船公司通知我们从美国进口的货，提单中的公司名称和我们的公司名称不符合，不给放货.

It is the same way to show as the consignee on the import BL and never a problem had occurred before until we were rejected to pick up the cargo by one ocean carrier who noticed us that our company name on BL holding our imported container from US is different from our company name on the stamp.

即他们认为“I/E”不等同于 IMOPRT AND EXPORT. 然后和对方磨了半天，最后请国外客人写的确认函通知船公司放货给我们才算解决。

They regarded “I/E” was not equal to IMPORT AND EXPORT and I had been explaining for a long time and finally solved this problem by showing the Declaration Letter from our US exporter to let them release the cargo.

这个事我当然不服气了，但确实没有什么“证据”确认I/E就是“import and export ”的简写，所以在沟通电话中还是被换单公司的小姑娘怼的无话可说

I am totally not convinced, but unfortunately there are not any evidence to prove that “I/E” surely is “IMPORT AND EXPORT”. So I was stuck when the BL switching girl questioning me.

后来我专门为此事询问了不同的几家船公司的管理层的人，对于换单公司名称的问题得到了一些答案，

Later on I consulted some management stuffs from different shipping carriers for this issue and got some answers for the accurate company name on BL.

1，船公司是以公章上的中文名称和经营单位提供的对外经营联系表中的英文留底作为对照依据的，确实，我司的对照表是全称import and export，

审单的人员确实有理由一个字母一个字母核对，并认为 2者不符。

The comparison basis for the shipping carrier is our Chinese company name on our stamp and English name on the foreign business contacting form. Indeed, the description on our contacting form is the full name Import and Export.

2，很多船公司是把审单的工作交由统一的换单公司以节约成本，几个船公司把审单的工作外包给专门的换单公司，这也导致了风险转嫁到换单公司的头上，审单员不得不非常严格的审查提单单据的一致性.

这也产生了一些有意思的现象，比如同一船公司的2个提单，可能因为换单公司的不同，导致所需要的材料也不一样。

For saving the cost, many shipping carriers assign the BL checking work to the BL switching company, which will also transfer the risk to them. The BL auditors have to be very careful when checking the consistency of all documents.

In this way occurred some interesting phenomenons, for example, the documents required are different to switch the BLs who are even from the same carrier as the transfer companies are different.

3,面对实际操作中的具体问题，也可以通过一些方法规避上述的问题比如

1）提供三份正本提单，确保完全的货权在手。

2）直接联系船公司的负责人，让他们去和换单公司沟通

3）然国外发货人去和船公司沟通

On real transaction, we may find some way to avoid the above questions. For example:

1)Keep the three sets of original BL and make sure we hold the cargo.

2)Contract directly with the people in charge of the shipping carrier and let them communicate with the BL transfer company.

3)Or let the shipper abroad to contact the shipping carrier.

虽然做国际贸易已经十多年了，内心深处一些固定的缩写应该是天经地义的，但回头想想，确实没有什么“规定”承认I/E 就是import 的缩写。

所以以后一些根深蒂固的想法还是要多去想想为什么，活到老学到老。

Though I’ve been doing international business for decades and reckon for sure of some abbreviations, when I think carefully, there really does not exist any regulations on the equality of I/E with Import and Export.

Therefore, in the future, to some deep-rooted thought, I should think about it more. It is never too late to learn.