国际商务英语 Unit 14 Shipment 装 运 - B-3
对话 - 2

A: It has just occurred to me that there is still another possibil- ity to ensure a prompt delivery of the goods. 我刚想起来了，还有一种可能性确保即期交货。

B: And that is? 什么可能性？

A: How about making Hong Kong the port of shipment instead of New York? 把交货港从纽约改为香港怎么样？

B: I ' m afraid we can ' t agree to that. We concluded the business with you here in Houston, and the goods you ordered are manufactured in New York. We wish to point out that all orders accepted by us are shipped from New York or Seattle. Hong Kong is out of the question. 那个我们恐怕不能同意。我们是在休斯顿达成交易的，而你所订货物在纽约生产。我们要指出的是，我们接受的所有订货是从纽约或西雅图发货的。香港不行。

A: It ' s like this. There are only one or two ships sailing a month from New York to Osaka, while sailings from Hong Kong are quite frequent. If shipment were effected from Hong Kong, we could receive the goods much earlier. 原因是这样的：从纽约到大阪每个月只有一二个航班，而从香港到大阪的船却相当频繁。如果在香港交货，我们收到货物的时间就会早很多。

B: I see. You want to have your goods shipped from New York to Osaka via Hong Kong, where they can be transshipped. Is that the idea? 原来是这样。你想经由香港中转把货从纽约运到大阪，是不是？

A: Yes, exactly, because I want these goods on our market at the earliest possible date. 对，就是这样，因为我们想把商品尽可能早地投放市场。

B: Your idea may be a good one, but the trouble is that there are risks of pilferage or damage to the goods during transshipment at Hong Kong. How about shipping them from Seattle instead of NewYork? You may choose either one as port of shipment. It makes no difference to us. There are more sailings from Seattle than from New York. 这个想法倒不错。不过问题是，在香港转船期间，货物有被偷窃和损坏的风险。交货港由纽约改为西雅图怎么样 ? 你可以随便选择一个装运港。对我们来说都一样。从西雅图启航的船只比纽约多。

A: It sounds all right to me, but I will have to think about it. I ' ll give you a definite answer tomorrow. If I choose Seattle, will it be possible for you to ship the goods by the end of March? 我是觉得不错，但我得想一想，明天给你答复。如果我选择西雅图，你们能在三月底前交货吗？

B: We ' ll try our best. Anyway, we assure you that shipment will be made not later than the first half of April. 我们尽力而为吧！不管怎样，请你放心，交货不会迟于四月上旬。