FCR for Delivery to and Storage at a Designated Warehouse—Receipt, Commencement of Storage, Additional Charges and Return of Goods 指定倉庫への搬入・保管とFCR―受領、保管開始、追加費用及び貨物返還

FCR for Delivery to and Storage at a Designated Warehouse—Receipt, Commencement of Storage, Additional Charges and Return of Goods

This article is one of the specialist articles built around the core article, “FCR Practice: A Comprehensive Framework for Cargo Receipt, Standard Trading Conditions, Liability Stages, Subcontractor Issuance and the House B/L Interface.” It addresses delivery of Goods to a designated warehouse before export or after import for storage, inspection, sorting, labelling, repacking, devanning, vanning, release or inland delivery.

The principal subjects are receipt at the designated warehouse, commencement of storage, additional storage and rehandling charges, return of Goods following cancellation or other instructions, storage after delay in taking delivery, and handling of uncollected Goods.

Eligibility of a subcontractor to issue an FCR, detailed completion of FCR fields, incorporation of the FCR Standard Trading Conditions, post-incident insurance notice and internal recovery are addressed in the relevant specialist articles.

An FCR records delivery to the designated warehouse, receipt time, receipt location, quantity, packaging, apparent condition, matters not capable of inspection and the assigned Services. The date of FCR issuance does not automatically become the commencement date for storage charges, and issuance of an FCR does not itself authorize a warehouse or freight forwarder to sell or dispose of the Goods.

Important: Physical receipt, commencement of custody, commencement of chargeable storage, additional charges, return of Goods, a Lien and disposal of uncollected Goods are separate matters. The FCR, quotation, work instruction, warehouse tariff, Standard Trading Conditions, warehouse terms and individual instructions should be reviewed together.

Scope of This Article

Item	Content Covered in This Article	Content Covered in Other Articles
Delivery to a designated warehouse	Warehouse arrival, unloading, receipt verification and warehouse entry	Receipt during domestic Door pickup is addressed in the Door pickup FCR article.
Commencement of storage	Separation of physical receipt, commencement of control and warehouse storage	Licensing and warehouse-specific regulation should be reviewed by each operator.
Commencement of storage charges	Separation of the FCR date from the contractual charging date	Tax treatment and commercial reasonableness of individual tariffs are outside this article.
Early delivery	Delivery before the intended date, free storage and schedule changes	Amendment of the vessel schedule or Booking is addressed separately.
Extended storage	Vessel delay, missing documents, inspection, waiting for instructions and failure to collect	Extension of cargo-insurance storage periods requires policy-specific review.
Additional storage charges	Additional days, rates, notice, approval and calculation records	Incorporation of the Standard Trading Conditions is addressed separately.
Rehandling and additional charges	Relocation, restacking, repacking, release and re-entry, and inter-warehouse transfer	Final allocation as incident loss is addressed in incident and recovery articles.
Ordinary return of Goods	Return following shipment cancellation, shipper instruction or inspection failure	General version control for an Original FCR is addressed in the domestic implementation article.
Article 12 Lien	The Lien clause securing unpaid amounts and its effect on return of Goods	Legal enforceability in a particular case should be reviewed by a maritime lawyer.
Article 13 Special Delivery	Storage after delay in taking delivery and handling of uncollected Goods	Mandatory law, third-party rights and actual disposal procedures require individual assessment.
FCR issued by a warehouse	Cases where a warehouse controls receipt, storage, work and release as an integrated stage	Issuer requirements and individual fields are addressed in the subcontractor issuance article.
Insurance	Initial distinction between cargo insurance and liability insurance during storage	Coverage of a particular incident is determined under the policy and by the insurer.

Purpose of Using an FCR at a Designated Warehouse

When Goods are delivered to a designated warehouse, the carrier, warehouse, prime freight forwarder and shipper should record the condition in which the Goods were handed over and the point at which control passed to the next service provider.

Without an adequate receipt record, damage, wetting, shortage, temperature irregularity or labelling discrepancy discovered later may be difficult to allocate among the pre-delivery stage, unloading, storage, warehouse work and the post-release stage.

The FCR principally records:

• the legal entity and person receiving the Goods;
• the times of warehouse arrival, commencement of unloading, receipt confirmation and completion of entry;
• the actual warehouse, building, loading bay and storage location;
• quantity, packaging, weight, measurement and transaction Reference;
• apparent condition, packing, seals and temperature at receipt;
• contents or other matters not capable of inspection;
• storage, inspection, sorting, repacking and other Services; and
• the stage of control until release or return.

The FCR is not a substitute for a B/L. For pure warehousing, a Warehouse Receipt, Goods Receipt Note, warehouse ledger or Storage Certificate may be more appropriate. The document should match the actual Service.

Separate Delivery, Commencement of Storage and Commencement of Storage Charges

The time of vehicle arrival, receipt by the warehouse, placement in the storage location and commencement of chargeable storage may differ.

Time	Operational Meaning	Principal Record	Connection with Charges	Caution
Vehicle arrival	The loaded vehicle reaches the warehouse.	Gate record, GPS and reception record	May be relevant to waiting charges.	Does not establish warehouse receipt of the Goods.
Commencement of unloading	Movement of the Goods from the vehicle begins.	Work log, surveillance footage and photographs	May be relevant to handling or overtime charges.	Identify the party performing unloading.
Receipt confirmation	The warehouse verifies the Goods, quantity and apparent condition.	FCR, Goods Receipt Note, signature and photographs	Important reference for commencement of control	State the available inspection scope.
Completion of warehouse entry	The Goods are placed in the designated storage location.	Warehouse ledger, location record and WMS	May be used to calculate storage days.	Do not confuse receipt time with completed entry.
End of free storage	The agreed free-storage period expires.	Quotation, tariff and work instruction	Chargeable storage may begin.	Clarify the first and last free day.
Contractual commencement of storage charges	The point at which contractual storage charges begin.	Quotation, warehouse tariff and individual agreement	Directly determines the charge calculation.	Does not automatically equal the FCR date.

The FCR establishes receipt and commencement of physical storage. The commencement date and rate for storage charges should be determined from the quotation, work instruction, free-storage period, warehouse tariff and additional agreement.

Three-Stage Control at Receipt, during Storage and at Release

Stage	Verification	Principal Evidence	Typical Incident	Required Response
Receipt	Quantity, packaging, exterior, moisture, seals, temperature and delivering party	FCR, Goods Receipt Note, photographs, EIR and CFS release record	Pre-existing damage, shortage or cargo shift	Record exceptions before commencing work.
Unloading	Operators, equipment, lifting points, fork positions and work scope	Work log, surveillance footage and photographs	Forklift damage, dropping or overturning	Stop work and preserve the site.
Warehouse entry	Storage location, conditions, stacking, temperature and segregation	Warehouse ledger, WMS and temperature records	Improper stacking, temperature excursion or incorrect segregation	Compare the cargo requirements with the storage area.
Storage	Inventory, movement, inspection, repacking, temperature, leakage and pests	Inventory records, work history and surveillance footage	Loss, wet damage, deformation and quantity difference	Maintain a movement history.
Release preparation	Release instruction, authority, quantity and charges	Release instruction, Original FCR and approval record	Misdelivery, unauthorized return or delivery of different Goods	Verify the instructing and receiving parties.
Release and handover	Released quantity, exterior, recipient, vehicle and handover time	Release Note, Delivery Receipt and photographs	Damage at release, shortage or wrong delivery	Compare with the receipt record before handover.

Difference between Pre-Export and Post-Import Storage

Comparison	Pre-Export Designated Warehouse	Post-Import Designated Warehouse	Principal FCR Focus	Related Records
Principal purpose	Consolidation, inspection, repacking, labelling and shipment preparation	Devanning, sorting, storage and inland delivery	Receipt condition and assigned Services	Collection note, CFS delivery slip, D/O and EIR
Previous stage	Shipper’s factory, Supplier warehouse or vendor pickup	CY or CFS release or post-clearance delivery	Comparison with the previous receipt record	Door pickup FCR and CFS release record
Following stage	CFS delivery, vanning, CY delivery and shipment	Final delivery, rerelease or return of Goods	Condition at release and delivery instruction	House B/L and Delivery Receipt
Cause of extended storage	Vessel delay, missing documents, dangerous-goods review and inspection	Waiting for Consignee instructions, sale suspension, delivery coordination and delay in collection	Cause of the extension and instructing party	Booking amendment, shipper instruction and collection notice
Return	Shipment cancellation, inspection failure and return to Supplier	Sale cancellation, refusal by Consignee and transfer to another warehouse	Return authority and Original FCR	Return instruction, release note and transport instruction
Insurance review	Attachment and storage period under export cargo insurance	Termination and storage extension under import cargo insurance	Insured period and location	Policy and insurance declaration

Early Delivery and Extended Storage

Delivery substantially before the intended shipment or work date may create storage days not included in the original quotation.

Storage may also be extended by vessel delay, Booking cancellation, incomplete documents, dangerous-goods review, inspection, waiting for shipper instructions or delay by the receiving party.

Cause of Extended Storage	Principal Liability Review	Required Notice	Charge Review	Function of the FCR and Warehouse Records
Early delivery by the shipper	Party specifying the delivery date and original schedule	Notify the free period and chargeable commencement date.	Additional days and rate	Fixes the actual warehouse-entry date.
Vessel or Booking delay	Cause of delay and party arranging the alternative	Notify the revised date and anticipated charges.	Storage, transfer and redelivery charges	Records the continuing storage period.
Incomplete documents	Party responsible for the documents and missing information	Notify the deficiency and deadline.	Additional storage and work-suspension charges	Records the period awaiting documents.
Inspection or approval	Inspection authority, date and restrictions on movement	Notify the storage location and anticipated period.	Inspection attendance, relocation and storage charges	Records condition before and after inspection.
Waiting for shipper instructions	Party with decision-making authority	Set a response deadline and explain the consequences of no reply.	Storage, management and additional work charges	Retains the inquiry and response history.
Delay in collection	Date on which collection became possible, notice and delay period	Demand collection and notify the charges.	Review Article 13.	Connects the collection notice with continued storage.

Where extended storage is expected, review not only storage charges but also cargo-insurance duration, temperature and humidity, dangerous-goods requirements, inventory, relocation, deterioration, perishability and reduction in value.

Additional Storage, Rehandling and Other Charges

Charge	Typical Cause	Principal Calculation	Matter to Confirm with the Customer	Evidence
Additional storage	Early delivery, vessel delay, inspection, waiting for instructions and non-collection	Days, volume, weight, location or pallet count	Free period, commencement date, rate and end date	Goods Receipt Note, warehouse ledger and tariff
Rehandling	Relocation, retrieval, restacking or response to cargo shift	Personnel, time, equipment and number of operations	Instructing party and necessity	Work log, photographs and equipment record
Repacking	Inadequate packing, restoration after inspection, relabelling and loss prevention	Materials, labour and specialist charges	Prior approval, urgency and specification	Quotation, photographs and Packing Report
Release and re-entry	Return, inspection, delivery change and redelivery	Number of releases, handling and administration	Change instruction and paying party	Release Note, re-entry record and email instruction
Inter-warehouse transfer	Transfer to another warehouse, CFS, segregation area or work facility	Vehicle, distance, waiting and loading or unloading	Reason, route and approver	Transport instruction, GPS and invoice details
Special management	Refrigeration, dangerous cargo, high-value cargo, surveillance, segregation and night work	Equipment, electricity, monitoring and specialist personnel	Required conditions and period	Temperature records, surveillance records and tariff
Disposal	Uncollected, perishable, leaking, valueless or legally restricted cargo	Disposal contractor, transport and regulatory charges	Legal authority, notice, Lien and third-party rights	Disposal quotation, notice, approval and certificate

Performance of additional work and the right to charge the Customer are separate questions. The prime freight forwarder should review the original quotation, additional instruction, urgency, notice, rate and whether the additional cost could reasonably have been avoided.

Use of an FCR or Warehouse Receipt by a Warehouse

A warehouse does not necessarily issue an FCR merely because it receives Goods.

Service	Principal Appropriate Record	When an FCR May Be Considered	Verification by the Prime Freight Forwarder
Pure storage	Warehouse Receipt, Goods Receipt Note and warehouse ledger	Warehouse documents will normally be preferred.	Review the bailment and warehouse-liability terms.
Receipt, storage and release	Warehouse Receipt or FCR	Where the warehouse manages an integrated stage under the instructions of the prime freight forwarder	Confirm the issuer, scope and handover terms.
Devanning, sorting and storage	FCR, Work Report and warehouse entry record	Where the warehouse receives the Goods and manages multiple Services as one stage	Separate receipt condition from pre-work condition.
Isolated inspection or packing	Inspection Report, Packing Certificate and Work Completion Report	Only where the company also assumes control of the Goods	Do not use an FCR as a general work report.

Eligibility of a warehouse to issue an FCR and completion of Details of Forwarder, Forwarder’s Principal and the individual fields are addressed in “FCR Issuance by Subcontractors—Verification by the Prime Freight Forwarder and Field-by-Field Completion.”

Information to Record at Warehouse Receipt

Item	Required Record	Principal Source	Entry Where Not Verified	Verification by the Prime Freight Forwarder
Delivery date and time	Arrival, unloading, receipt and completed entry times	Gate record, FCR, WMS and photographs	Do not state the planned time as actual.	Compare with GPS and the releasing party’s records.
Delivery location	Warehouse, address, building, loading bay and storage location	Work instruction, booking and WMS	Add details where the company name is insufficient.	Compare the designated and actual warehouse.
Delivering party	Carrier, driver and previous custodian	Delivery Note, signature and vehicle record	Record the vehicle and company where the person is unknown.	Confirm delivery authority.
Receiving party	Warehouse, freight forwarder or handling company	Signatory and issuer details	Do not confuse the prime freight forwarder with the actual receiving entity.	Compare with the FCR issuer.
Quantity and packaging	Verified quantity, declared quantity and packaging unit	Packing List, tally and photographs	Limit verification for sealed cargo.	Compare with the previous and release-stage quantities.
Exterior and packing	Crushing, tearing, moisture, pallets, bands and securing	Physical cargo, photographs and previous FCR	Do not state that unobserved surfaces were clean.	Review Remarks and photographs.
Container and seal	Container No., Seal No. and opening status	EIR, D/O and opening record	State that internal cargo was not inspected.	Compare with release and opening records.
Temperature	Receipt temperature, set temperature and logger status	Thermometer, logger and photographs	State not measured or record not received.	Compare with the required storage conditions.
Assigned Services	Storage, inspection, repacking, sorting or devanning	Quotation and work instruction	Do not include unauthorized work.	Compare with invoiced Services.
Remarks	Exceptions and matters not capable of inspection	Physical inspection, photographs and delivering-party confirmation	Do not determine cause or liability.	Fix the record before work begins.

Record Movement and Work during Storage

The receipt FCR alone does not trace relocation, inspection, repacking, sorting or release preparation during storage.

Where Goods are moved or worked on inside the warehouse, record:

• the instructing and approving parties;
• start and completion times;
• pre-work and post-work condition;
• work location and storage position;
• operators and equipment;
• quantity and packaging before and after movement;
• Marks and Numbers before and after repacking;
• additional charges and approval; and
• incidents, exceptions and work suspension.

Do not add later warehouse events to the original receipt FCR. Preserve the receipt record and maintain later work as a separate history.

Ordinary Return of Goods

Goods may be returned from the designated warehouse to the shipper, Supplier or another facility following shipment cancellation, Booking cancellation, inspection failure, sale cancellation, shipper instruction or change of destination.

This ordinary return is separate from the handling of uncollected Goods under Article 13. The prime freight forwarder or warehouse should confirm:

1. that the instructing party has authority to order the return;
2. the return location, recipient, reason and requested time in writing;
3. whether an Original FCR should be recovered or invalidated;
4. that the Goods may lawfully, safely and physically be returned;
5. customs, inspection, dangerous-goods and CY or CFS restrictions;
6. storage, rehandling, release, transfer and return-carriage charges;
7. unpaid amounts and Article 12 Lien;
8. quantity, exterior and condition before return;
9. authority of the returning recipient and a Delivery Receipt; and
10. the former, return and final valid instructions in the transaction file.

Recovery of an Original FCR is a method of invalidating former instructions and controlling document versions. It does not make the FCR a Document of Title equivalent to a B/L.

Article 13 Special Delivery—Storage after Delay in Taking Delivery and Uncollected Goods

Where the Standard Trading Conditions have been validly incorporated, Article 13 Special Delivery may apply where a Customer does not take delivery of the Goods within a reasonable period.

The usual structure requires a demand that the Customer or receiving party collect the Goods. If collection does not occur, continued storage and charging of the related expenses may be considered.

Before relying on contractual storage, termination of responsibility, sale, abandonment or other treatment of uncollected Goods, review the following matters.

Item	Verification	Principal Evidence	Response if Unsatisfied
Goods available for collection	Whether the Customer could actually take delivery	Collection notice, clearance and release-preparation record	Do not treat the Customer as delayed until collection is possible.
Demand for collection	Whether a clear demand to collect was given	Email, written notice and delivery evidence	Give a further notice stating the deadline and charges.
Reasonable period	Whether a reasonable period has passed having regard to the Goods and circumstances	Notice history, storage days and cargo characteristics	Do not dispose after an arbitrarily short period.
Cargo characteristics	Risk of deterioration, perishability, leakage, danger or loss of value	Inspection, photographs and specialist opinion	Prioritize safety and emergency measures.
Article 12 Lien	Whether unpaid claims and the Lien clause apply	Invoices, contract and Standard Trading Conditions	Confirm the connection between the debt and Goods.
Third-party rights	Whether an owner, bank, insurer, seller or other party has rights	B/L, Invoice, contract and inquiry records	Do not dispose while rights remain unidentified.
Law and internal approval	Compliance with mandatory law, procedure and internal authority	Legal advice and approval records	Consult a maritime lawyer.
Method of handling	Whether sale, return, transfer, abandonment or disposal is appropriate	Quotation, valuation and contractor records	Select the method minimizing loss.

The presence of Goods in a warehouse does not authorize warehouse personnel to sell or dispose of them independently. Article 13, the Lien, ownership, third-party rights, notice and applicable law should be reviewed.

Article 12 Lien—Security for Unpaid Amounts and Restriction on Return

The Article 12 Lien is not limited to unpaid storage charges. Where the Standard Trading Conditions validly apply, it may operate as a contractual security for amounts and recovery costs owed by the Customer in relation to current or previous Services.

The existence of a contractual Lien clause does not automatically authorize detention, sale or disposal of all Goods in every case.

Item	Operational Verification	Principal Risk	Response
Contractual incorporation	Whether the terms including Article 12 were incorporated	The clause may not be enforceable against the Customer.	Review the quotation, application, FCR and applicable version.
Unpaid claim	Debtor, amount, due date and contractual basis	Detention based on a disputed amount	Confirm the invoice and details.
Goods concerned	Ownership and rights in the Goods	Detention of third-party Goods	Review the Invoice, B/L and ownership structure.
Possession and control	Whether the company or warehouse actually controls the Goods	Claim over Goods outside its control	Review warehouse and custody records.
Third-party rights	Whether a bank, seller, insurer or other right holder exists	Interference with another party’s ownership or security	Make appropriate inquiries.
Notice	Whether the unpaid amount, Lien and return conditions were notified	Dispute over an unexpected refusal to release	Retain written notice and delivery evidence.
Sale or disposal	Whether legal authority, procedure and proportionality were reviewed	Wrongful disposal and substantial damages	Consult a maritime lawyer before acting.

Even where a Lien is asserted, the duties to preserve the Goods, mitigate loss, manage dangerous cargo and investigate third-party rights continue.

Difference among Recovery of the Original FCR, Article 12 Lien and Article 13

Comparison	Recovery of Original FCR	Article 12 Lien	Article 13 Special Delivery
Principal purpose	Invalidation of former instructions and document-version control	Security for unpaid amounts and recovery costs	Storage and handling of Goods not collected in time
Typical case	Shipment cancellation, return or change of Consignee or destination	Unpaid storage, freight or work charges	Failure by the Customer to collect within a reasonable period
Trigger	Change, cancellation or return instruction	Monetary debt owed by the Customer	Delay in taking delivery or risk of deterioration
Subject	Original FCR, former instructions and return process	Goods and related documents	Uncollected Goods
Principal response	Recover or invalidate the original, verify return authority and reissue where needed	Assert detention, verify the claim, notify and review legal procedure	Store, charge expenses, notify and conditionally dispose
Legal nature of the FCR	Does not make the FCR a Document of Title.	The contractual Lien, rather than the FCR itself, is relevant.	Application is not determined by issuance of an FCR alone.
Principal caution	Distinguish the void and valid versions.	Review third-party ownership, mandatory law and procedure.	Do not confuse with an ordinary voluntary return.

Relationship among the Standard Trading Conditions, Warehouse Terms and Individual Agreement

Storage at a designated warehouse may be governed by the FCR Standard Trading Conditions, the quotation of the prime freight forwarder, the warehouse contract, Warehouse Receipt, warehouse tariff, bailment terms and individual work instructions.

Review consistency among the documents concerning:

• the entity receiving the Goods;
• commencement and termination of storage;
• free storage and chargeable rates;
• storage location and temperature or humidity;
• authority for rehandling, inspection and repacking;
• approval of additional charges;
• authority to return or release the Goods;
• Lien and uncollected Goods;
• liability limits and notice periods; and
• further subcontracting and third-party warehouses.

Where the prime freight forwarder undertakes storage and work toward the shipper as an integrated Service, its Customer-facing terms may still differ from the warehouse terms. External liability and internal recovery against the warehouse should be reviewed separately.

Cargo Insurance and Liability Insurance during Storage

Cargo insurance covers physical loss of or damage to the Goods, while freight-forwarder, carrier or warehouse liability insurance becomes relevant where the service provider incurs legal or contractual liability.

Where storage is extended, review the insured location, permitted storage period, continuity with the ordinary course of transit, work-related damage and termination of cargo-insurance coverage.

For liability insurance, confirm whether storage, devanning, vanning, packing, inspection, dangerous goods, refrigerated storage and further subcontracting are covered Services.

Issuance of an FCR does not itself determine insurance coverage or liability.

Scope of Involvement under the Standard Five Classifications

These five classifications are not legal classifications established by law or across the industry. They are an analytical framework used by Maritime Wiki to organize the contractual and operational scope of a freight forwarder’s involvement.

Packing, storage, inspection, stowage, vanning, devanning and other operational services do not replace these five classifications and do not constitute a sixth classification.

Classification	Typical Involvement at the Designated Warehouse	Position of the FCR	Principal Liability Review	Additional Verification
1. Simple Intermediary	Introduces a warehouse to the shipper without becoming a party to the storage agreement	Issuance in its own name requires caution where it did not receive the Goods.	Scope of introduction and information transmission	Confirm the direct contract between the shipper and warehouse.
2. Cargo Transportation Service Provider	Undertakes warehouse delivery, storage or work as its own Service	Records receipt, commencement of storage and assigned Services.	Subcontractor selection, instructions and work scope	Review the warehouse terms and insurance.
3. NVOCC / House B/L Issuer	Connects pre-export or post-import storage with the carriage stage	Connects the warehouse stage before or after the House B/L movement.	Liability stage as Contracting Carrier	Review priority between the Transport Document and warehouse terms.
4. Door-to-Door Single Contractor	Undertakes the Door-to-Door movement including warehouse storage	Operates as an integrated Customer-facing control record.	Customer-facing liability and internal recovery against the warehouse	Compare liability limits and additional-charge terms.
5. Agent / Coordinator for Specific Operations	Coordinates only entry booking, storage extension, release or return	Distinguishes whether it received the Goods or only gave instructions.	Delegated authority, instructions and negligence	Confirm authority to approve charges, return or disposal.

Operational review should confirm whether the prime freight forwarder acts as Contracting Carrier, Cargo Transportation Service Provider, agent or coordinator. Authority to instruct the warehouse to extend storage, rehandle, return or dispose of the Goods should also be verified.

Comparison of the Involvement of the Parties

Party	Principal Role	Principal Verification Responsibility	Evidence Mainly Held	Initial Response to a Problem
Shipper or cargo owner	Provides cargo information, warehouse instructions, storage conditions and return instructions.	Description, quantity, dangerous-goods status, storage period and instruction authority	Invoice, Packing List, work instruction and return instruction	Confirm facts and determine the charge and return strategy.
Prime freight forwarder	Manages warehouse delivery, storage, work and release.	Contracted scope, FCR verification, charge notice and return authority	Quotation, FCR, warehouse contract and transaction register	Prepare the contractual and evidential chronology.
Inland carrier	Delivers to and collects from the designated warehouse.	Delivery time, quantity, exterior and handover	Consignment note, GPS, photographs and Delivery Receipt	Preserve the vehicle and trip records.
Warehouse	Receives, stores, works on and releases the Goods.	Receipt, inventory, work, storage conditions and release	FCR, Goods Receipt Note, WMS, surveillance footage and Release Note	Segregate the Goods and preserve records.
Handling company	Performs devanning, inspection, repacking, sorting or handling.	Pre-work and post-work condition, scope and operators	Work log, photographs and Inspection Report	Stop work and preserve the incident area.
Recipient or Consignee	Collects the Goods from the designated warehouse.	Collection authority, collection date, quantity and exterior	Collection notice and Delivery Receipt	Record exceptions at receipt.
Cargo insurer	Reviews physical loss of or damage to the Goods.	Insured period, location, cause and amount	Policy, FCR, incident photographs and survey report	Mitigate loss and preserve subrogation rights.
Liability insurer	Reviews liability of the freight forwarder or warehouse.	Contract, liability stage, negligence and limit	Policy, warehouse contract, FCR and work records	Consult before admission or settlement.
Maritime lawyer	Reviews Lien, return, disposal, liability and recovery.	Contractual incorporation, third-party rights and legal procedure	Contracts, notices, invoices and title records	Preserve deadlines and verify disposal authority.

Common Misunderstandings

Misunderstanding	Correct Practical Analysis	Practical Caution
Storage charges automatically begin on the FCR date.	The commencement date is determined from the quotation, free period, tariff and agreement.	Separate physical receipt from charge commencement.
The warehouse is responsible for all damage once the Goods arrive.	Separate the pre-delivery, unloading, storage and work stages.	Fix the receipt-stage record.
A warehouse must issue an FCR.	A Warehouse Receipt or Goods Receipt Note may be more appropriate for pure storage.	Select the document matching the Service.
Additional work automatically creates a right to charge the Customer.	Performance and contractual chargeability require separate review.	Confirm instructions, urgency, rates and notice.
The shipper always pays additional storage caused by early delivery.	Review the quotation, free period, instructing party and notice.	State the charge rules before delivery.
Recovery of the Original FCR permits unrestricted return of the Goods.	Return authority, unpaid amounts, law and physical feasibility should also be reviewed.	The Original FCR is not a Document of Title.
Warehouse personnel may sell Goods whenever storage charges are unpaid.	Contractual incorporation, the debt, third-party rights and procedure should be reviewed.	Consult a maritime lawyer before acting.
Article 13 governs an ordinary return following shipment cancellation.	Article 13 principally concerns storage and handling after delay in taking delivery.	Separate it from an ordinary voluntary return.
FCR terms always override the warehouse terms.	Review the contractual structure, Transport Document and individual terms.	Identify applicable terms for each transaction.
Cargo insurance covers every storage loss.	Review the insured period, location, purpose and exclusions.	Consult the insurer when storage is extended.
A clean Goods Receipt Note proves the contents were undamaged.	It may establish only that no exception was observed on the accessible exterior.	State that contents were not inspected.
Uncollected Goods automatically become the property of the warehouse over time.	Ownership transfer, Lien and disposal authority are separate matters.	Review ownership and third-party rights.

Cases Commonly Encountered in Practice

Case	Principal Problem	Records to Review	Decision Point	Initial Response
Early delivery creates additional storage charges	Unclear free period and commencement date	Quotation, Goods Receipt Note, tariff and delivery instruction	Party instructing early delivery	Notify the additional days and rate.
Vessel delay extends storage	Cause of delay and paying party	Booking amendment, warehouse ledger and notice	Period included in the original quotation	Provide the revised date and anticipated charges.
Goods relocated for inspection	Approval of rehandling charges	Inspection instruction, work log and charge details	Necessity and instructing party	Obtain prior approval except in an emergency.
Return to Supplier after shipment cancellation	Return authority, Original FCR and additional charges	Return instruction, FCR, Release Note and invoice	Authorized instructing party and return recipient	Review the original and unpaid amounts.
Goods remain uncollected for an extended period	Article 13, notice and storage expenses	Collection notice, storage records and Standard Trading Conditions	Reasonable period and availability for collection	Demand collection in writing.
Release refused due to unpaid storage charges	Article 12 Lien and third-party ownership	Invoice, contract, Invoice for Goods and B/L	Connection between the debtor and cargo owner	Do not dispose before legal review.
Wet damage discovered during storage	Pre-existing damage or warehouse incident	FCR, receipt photographs, surveillance and building records	Time at which condition changed	Segregate the Goods and arrange a joint survey.
Quantity changes after repacking	Change history and release quantity	FCR, Work Report, WMS and Release Note	Party splitting or combining the cargo	Reconstruct the before-and-after records.
Undeclared dangerous cargo remains in storage	Storage conditions and safety management	SDS, FCR, photographs and warehouse terms	Party responsible for dangerous-goods information	Segregate and obtain specialist advice.
Unauthorized further subcontracting to another warehouse	Subcontracting authority and insurance	Warehouse contract, work instruction and policy	Whether the further subcontract was permitted	Confirm the cargo location and terms immediately.

Example 1: Dispute over JPY 460,000 of Storage Charges after Delivery 25 Days Early

Assume that 20 pallets of export machinery parts are delivered to the designated warehouse approximately 25 days before the intended vessel date. The quotation includes seven free-storage days but does not state the charge after the free period.

The warehouse calculates storage from the day after entry and invoices the prime freight forwarder approximately JPY 460,000. The prime freight forwarder passes the same amount to the shipper.

The shipper states that early delivery was requested by the sales representative of the prime freight forwarder and that the prime freight forwarder should bear the charge. The prime freight forwarder states that the shipper delivered early on its own initiative.

The quotation, free-storage period, delivery-instruction email, warehouse booking, FCR, Goods Receipt Note and warehouse tariff should be reviewed.

The FCR establishes the actual entry date but does not automatically establish that chargeable storage began against the shipper on that date. The party instructing early delivery and the time at which the rate and commencement date were disclosed should be identified.

A clear pre-delivery statement of the seven free days and the daily rate per pallet would have reduced the dispute.

Example 2: Return and Rehandling Charges of JPY 720,000 after Shipment Cancellation

Assume that export cargo has been delivered to the designated warehouse and inspection, repacking and preparation for vanning are complete when the underlying sale is cancelled and the shipper orders return to the Supplier.

The warehouse retrieves the Goods from storage, recounts them, rebuilds the pallets and loads the return vehicle. It invoices approximately JPY 720,000 for rehandling, release, repacking and return preparation.

The shipper states that only storage should be payable because shipment never occurred. The prime freight forwarder states that relocation and repacking were necessary to perform the return.

The prime freight forwarder should verify the authority of the instructing party, recovery or invalidation of the Original FCR, unpaid charges, work performed, rates and authority of the return recipient.

Recovery of the Original FCR invalidates the former instruction but does not by itself establish the additional charges. Necessity, work records and prior approval require separate review.

Example 3: JPY 1.8 Million of Storage, Deterioration and Disposal Costs after 120 Days without Collection

Assume that imported food ingredients are delivered to a designated warehouse, but the importer does not collect them for 120 days because of financial difficulty.

The warehouse invoices approximately JPY 1.8 million for storage, temperature management, inspection and final disposal.

The prime freight forwarder repeatedly demands collection, but the importer does not respond and the quality of the Goods deteriorates. The importer later states that the Goods were disposed of without authority and claims their value.

Review of Article 13 is not sufficient by itself. The inquiry should include whether the Goods were available for collection, whether collection was properly demanded, whether a reasonable period passed, whether deterioration was likely, the Lien, ownership, food regulation and the disposal method.

Warehouse personnel should not decide independently to dispose of the Goods. Written notice, legal review, disposal quotations, third-party-rights review and internal approval are required.

Example 4: Article 12 Lien Asserted for JPY 950,000 where the Goods Belonged to a Third Party

Assume that Customer A fails to pay approximately JPY 950,000 of freight and storage charges. The prime freight forwarder asserts an Article 12 Lien over Goods held at the designated warehouse and refuses release.

A foreign seller, B, then states that title to the Goods remained with it because the purchase price was unpaid.

The prime freight forwarder states that the Standard Trading Conditions permit security for Customer A’s unpaid amounts. Seller B states that its Goods cannot be detained for Customer A’s debt.

The contractual incorporation of the Standard Trading Conditions, Customer A’s debt, ownership, Invoice, sale agreement, B/L, FCR, warehouse possession, third-party rights and applicable law should be reviewed.

The existence of a Lien clause does not automatically permit its exercise against third-party Goods. Consult a maritime lawyer before refusal of release, sale or disposal.

Decision Process for the Prime Freight Forwarder

The prime freight forwarder should first identify the legal entity receiving the Goods at the designated warehouse and the Services it undertakes.

Vehicle arrival, unloading, receipt confirmation, completion of warehouse entry and commencement of chargeable storage should then be separated by connecting the FCR, Warehouse Receipt, WMS and quotation terms.

Where early delivery or extended storage is expected, notify the Customer in writing of the free period, additional rate, insurance implications, cargo characteristics and revised schedule.

Where relocation, repacking, release and re-entry or transfer is required, review necessity, instructing party, approver, rate and urgency.

For an ordinary return following shipment cancellation, confirm the return instruction, Original FCR, unpaid amounts, return recipient and additional charges.

Where the Customer does not collect the Goods, review Article 13 Special Delivery, Article 12 Lien, notice, reasonable period and third-party rights rather than treating the case as an ordinary return.

Sale, disposal or refusal of release should not be performed as a site-level decision. Consult legal, insurance and maritime-law specialists.

Decision Checklist

Verification Stage	Party to Consult	Matters to Verify	Response if There Is a Problem
Quotation	Shipper, sales personnel and warehouse	Confirm storage, work, free period, rates and release terms.	Document the charge conditions.
Warehouse selection	Warehouse and insurance personnel	Confirm cargo suitability, equipment, licensing, insurance and further subcontracting.	Do not use a warehouse that does not meet the requirements.
Delivery booking	Shipper, carrier and warehouse	Confirm delivery date, cargo, unloading method and storage location.	Notify charges for early delivery.
Vehicle arrival	Carrier and warehouse reception	Confirm vehicle, cargo, arrival time and booking.	Hold unbooked or incorrect deliveries.
Unloading	Carrier, warehouse and handling company	Confirm operators, equipment, cargo condition and work allocation.	Stop work where an exception exists.
FCR or Goods Receipt Note preparation	Actual receiving party	Confirm time, location, quantity, exterior, temperature and Remarks.	Do not state unverified matters as fact.
Completion of entry	Warehouse personnel	Confirm location, quantity, storage conditions and start time.	Compare the WMS with the physical Goods.
Commencement of storage charges	Operational and accounting personnel and warehouse	Confirm the free period, date, rate and days.	Do not charge solely by reference to the FCR date.
Extended storage	Shipper, warehouse and insurance personnel	Confirm cause, revised date, insurance and charges.	Notify the anticipated charges in writing.
Additional work	Instructing party, warehouse and operational personnel	Confirm necessity, scope, rate, approval and pre-work condition.	Obtain prior approval except in an emergency.
Release	Instructing party, warehouse and recipient	Confirm release authority, quantity, exterior, vehicle and recipient.	Do not release under unclear authority.
Ordinary return	Shipper, Supplier, warehouse and carrier	Confirm return instruction, Original FCR, unpaid amounts and recipient.	Invalidate former instructions before return.
Unpaid amounts	Accounting, legal and Customer	Confirm debtor, amount, due date and Lien clause.	Review ownership and third-party rights.
Delay in taking delivery	Customer, recipient, warehouse and legal personnel	Confirm availability, notice, reasonable period and Article 13.	Demand collection and notify charges in writing.
Sale or disposal	Legal, insurer and maritime lawyer	Confirm authority, Lien, third-party rights, law and method.	Do not act at site level.
Transaction closure	Operational, accounting, legal and insurance personnel	Confirm entry, release, charges, return, claims and open deadlines.	Retain records while rights remain unresolved.

When to Consult a Maritime Lawyer or Insurance Specialist

• The FCR date and commencement of storage charges differ and additional storage is disputed.
• The paying party for early delivery or vessel-delay storage is unclear.
• Rehandling, repacking, transfer or re-entry charges are substantial.
• The authority of the party instructing return or the recipient is unclear.
• Return or change of instructions is requested without recovery of the Original FCR.
• An Article 12 Lien is to be asserted for unpaid freight or storage charges.
• The debtor and owner of the Goods may be different parties.
• A bank, seller, insurer or other third party claims rights in the Goods.
• The Customer does not collect the Goods and Article 13 is being considered.
• Perishable, leaking, dangerous or valueless Goods require urgent handling.
• Sale, abandonment or disposal of the Goods is being considered.
• The relationship among the FCR, Warehouse Receipt, quotation and warehouse terms is disputed.
• Cargo insurance and liability insurance require coordination following a storage incident.
• High-value, dangerous, food, pharmaceutical or temperature-controlled Goods are stored for an extended period.

Summary

The purpose of using an FCR for delivery to and storage at a designated warehouse is to record receipt time, location, quantity, packaging, apparent condition, matters not capable of inspection and the assigned Services, and to connect the pre-delivery, storage, work and post-release stages.

Physical receipt, commencement of custody and commencement of chargeable storage are not the same. The FCR establishes receipt and commencement of physical storage, while the charge commencement date and rate are determined from the quotation, free-storage period, warehouse tariff and individual agreement.

Where storage is extended by early delivery, vessel delay, missing documents, inspection or delay in collection, review not only storage charges but also rehandling, repacking, release and re-entry, transfer, insurance and cargo deterioration.

For an ordinary return following shipment cancellation, review the return instruction, Original FCR, unpaid amounts, recipient, cargo condition and additional charges. Recovery of the Original FCR is document-version control and does not make the FCR a Document of Title.

Article 12 Lien may concern unpaid amounts and recovery costs arising from current or previous Services, not only unpaid storage charges. Contractual incorporation, ownership, third-party rights, mandatory law and procedure should be reviewed.

Article 13 Special Delivery concerns storage, charges and handling where a Customer does not take delivery within a reasonable period. It should be separated from an ordinary voluntary return, with review of the demand for collection, reasonable period, Lien, cargo characteristics, third-party rights and applicable law.

The practical requirement is to connect the FCR, Warehouse Receipt, WMS, quotation, warehouse tariff, work records, return instructions and notices within one transaction file, while assessing receipt, commencement of storage, charges, return, Lien and disposal as separate issues.