“Trusted for over 100 years”

Website: www.turnersshipping.co.za

Durban Head Office Tel: +27 31 368 8000

Johannesburg Office Tel: +27 11 400 6300
Cape Town Office Tel: +27 21 506 6200

GLOSSARY OF SHIPPING TERMS

 TERM DESCRIPTION
A service in addition to usual liner service, normally with an added cost.
Accessorial Service
Such kind of services include packing, loading, storage, etc.
An accounting concept. It is a gradual increase by addition over a period
of time and is a way of recognising that an expense (or revenue) and the
Accrual
related liability (or asset) can increase over time and not as signalled by
an explicit cash transaction.
Ad Valorem According to value.
Ad Valorem Duty A customs duty which is a percentage made upon the value of goods.
Bill of lading freight charged on goods of very high value at so much
Ad Valorem Freight
percent on the declared value of the goods.
A tariff rate charged as a percentage of the value of goods being imported
Ad-Valorem Tariff
or exported
A notice sent to a local or foreign buyer advising that shipment has gone
forward and containing details of packing, routing, etc. A copy of the
Advice of Shipment
invoice is usually enclosed and sometimes, if desired, a copy of the bill of
lading.
The bank which advises the seller that a letter of credit has been opened
Advising Bank in his favour by the buyer, however, the advising bank does not
necessarily guarantee payment.
A person authorized to transact business for and in the name of another
Agent (Agt.)
person or company.
The air waybill (also called air consignment note) is the forwarding
agreement or carrying agreement between shipper and air carrier and is
Air Waybill
obtained from the airline used to ship the goods in question. Air waybills
are issued only in non negotiable form.
A freight rate applying, with certain restrictions, to any and all
All Commodity Rate
commodities.
All Inclusive (AI) Freight rate that is inclusive of all charges.
A sum granted as a reimbursement or repayment; a deduction from the
Allowance
gross weight or value of goods.
A second notify party to whom carrier sends its arrival notice advising of
Also Notify Party
goods coming forward for delivery.
Duties imposed on goods that are deemed to have been exported below
market value, causing injury to producers of competing products in the
Anti-dumping Duties
importing country. These duties are equal to the difference between the
goods’ export price and their normal value.
When freight appears to be free of damage so far as a general survey can
Apparent Good Order
determine.
A stated amount over a fixed rate to one point to make a rate to another
Arbitrary
point.
Advice that carrier sends to consignee advising of goods coming forward
for delivery. Pertinent information such as BL number, container number
and total charges due from consignee, etc are included and sent to
Arrival Notice consignee prior to vessel arrival. This is done gratuitously by carrier to
ensure smooth delivery but there is no obligation by carrier to do so and
the responsibility to monitor transit and present himself to take timely
delivery still rest with the consignee.

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 TERM DESCRIPTION
Cargo of irregular size that either be containerised (packed in container)
or uncontainerised (without equipment associated with) in the transport.
Awkward Cargo
They require prior approval on case by case basis before confirmation of
booking.
A document provided by the shipper after handing over the cargo to the
B/L Master carrier, tells the carrier how the B/L should be raised. Also known as B/L
instruction or shipping instruction.
Guarantee issued by a bank to a carrier to release cargo in lieu of original
Bank Guarantee
bill of lading.
Basic Freight Ocean freight excludes all charges.
Shipped under rate that does not include cost of loading or unloading
Berth Term
carrier.
Official legal document representing ownership of cargo; negotiable
Bill of Lading (B/L) document to receive cargo; contract for cargo between shipper and
carrier.
When a bill of lading is made out to order or shipper order and the shipper
has signed on the back of it, it is said to be blank endorsed. The bill of
Blank Endorsed
lading then becomes a bearer instrument and the holder can present it to
the shipping company to take delivery of the goods.
Freight moving under a bond to U.S. Customs or to the Internal Revenue
Bonded Freight
Service, and to be delivered only under stated conditions.
A certificate filed with a carrier, relieving it from liability to which it would
Bonded Indemnity
otherwise be subject.
It Improves logistics between free trade zones and ports when free trade
zones are isolated from the ports. Within a bonded logistics park, there
are bonded warehousing, allotment and distribution, information
processing, import and export trade, customs check and maintenance,
Bonded Logistics Park
commodities exhibition, and centralized Customs declaration. Import,
(Center)
export and distribution of the cargo do not undergo Customs check
procedures of both the ports and the free trade zones. The customs
process in bonded logistics parks significantly achieves the advantages of
the country’s preferential policies for both the FTZ and ports.
A warehouse bonded by customs authorities for storage of bonded goods
prior to cargo being cleared. A facility or consolidation centre that is
authorized by customs to store goods, usually separately on dutiable &
non-dutiable goods, pending customs inspection and clearance. The
Bonded Warehouse
goods in it are secured under customs custody. The payment of duties
and taxes are only payable once the goods are removed. Authorized
operators of bonded warehouse are often required to provide custom
bond.
Arrangements with a carrier, often a steamship or airline, for the
Booking
acceptance and carriage of passengers or freight.
A reference number for booking registered. It should be unique without
Booking Number
duplication in three years period.
A term used to describe cargo which cannot be containerised due to its
Breakbulk (BB)
size and/or nature.
Break-bulk Cargo Goods shipped loose in the vessel’s hold and not in a container.

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 TERM DESCRIPTION
BSRA Basic Service Rate Additional - usually an unpacking charge.
Not in packages or containers; shipped loose in the hold of a ship. Grain,
Bulk Freight
coal and sulphur are usually bulk freight.
Refers to a container with a discharge batch in the front wall; allows bulk
Bulk-freight Container
commodities to be grasped by loading hatches.
Cargo-securing devices mounted in the floor of containers; allow lashing
Bull Rings
and securing of cargo.
Bunker Adjustment factor (BAF), or Bunker Surcharge (BSC) are
Bunker Surcharge
surcharges assessed by carrier to freight rates to reflect current cost of
(BAF, BSC)
bunker.
Bunkers Heavy oil used as fuel for ocean vessel.
Currency Adjustment Factor. Percentage by which the rate is either
C.A.F.
increased or decreased in response to fluctuating exchange rates.
C.F.S. See Container Freight Station.
Collect (cash) on Delivery; Carried on Docket (pricing); Change of
C.O.D.
Destination.
C.O.G.S.A. Carriage of Goods by Sea Act.
Capacity/Weight
Total internal container volume (LxWxD) or weight limitation.
(Container)
A document prepared by the captain of a vessel on arriving at port; shows
conditions en-countered during voyage, generally for the purpose of
Captain's Protest
relieving ship owner of any loss to cargo and shifting responsibility for
reimbursement to the insurance company.
Any of various customs documents required for crossing some
Carnet
international borders.
The "ATA Carnet" is an international customs document that permits duty-
free temporary import of goods (e.g. commercial samples) for up to one
Carnet
year. The initials "ATA" are an acronym of the French and English words
"Admission Temporaire /Temporary Admission".
Carrier Any individual, company or corporation engaged in transporting goods.
Carrier's Lien Right of carrier to retain property as security for charges.
A transaction where full shipping documents are sent to a bank or agent
Cash Against Documents
at the destination instructing they are only to be handed over in exchange
(CAD)
for full payment by the receiver of the goods.
Document certifying the country of origin of goods which is normally
Certificate of Origin
issued or signed by a Chamber of Commerce or Embassy.
One of 11 INCOTERMS can be used only for sea or inland waterway
transport. “Cost and Freight”, means that the seller delivers the goods on
board the vessel or procures the goods already so delivered. The risk of
CFR (INCOTERM)
loss of or damage to the goods passes when the goods are on board the
vessel. The seller must contract for and pay the costs and freight
necessary to bring the goods to the named port of destination.
A kind of cargo movement by container. Delivered loose at origin point
CFS/CFS with vanning by carrier, devanned by carrier at destination, and picked up
loose at destination.

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 TERM DESCRIPTION
A kind of cargo movement by container. Loose cargo received at origin
CFS/CY
point, loaded in a container by carrier, then delivered intact at destination.
A wheeled flat bed or a trailer constructed to accommodate containers
Chassis
moved over the road.
One of 11 INCOTERMS can be used only for sea or inland waterway
transport. “Cost, Insurance and Freight”, means that the seller delivers the
goods on board the vessel or procures the goods already so delivered.
The risk of loss of or damage to the goods passes when the goods are on
CIF (INCOTERM)
board the vessel. The seller must contract for and pay the costs and
freight necessary to bring the goods to the named port of destination.
The seller also contracts for insurance cover against the buyer’s risk of
loss of or damage to the goods during the carriage.
One of 11 INCOTERMS, can be used for any mode of transport.
“Carriage and Insurance Paid to”, means that the seller delivers the goods
to the carrier or another person nominated by the seller at an agreed
place (if any such place is agreed between the parties) and that the seller
CIP (INCOTERM)
must contract for and pay the costs of carriage necessary to bring the
goods to the named place of destination.
The Seller also contracts for insurance cover against the buyer’s risk of
loss of or damage to the goods during the carriage.
Claused Bill A Bill of Lading claused to show that the goods received by the shipping
company were not in good order and condition.
A bill of lading which states that the goods have been shipped in apparent
Clean Bill of Lading
good order and condition without any qualification or remarks.
A bank that acts as an agent to the seller's bank (the presenting bank).
Collecting Bank The collecting bank assumes no responsibility for either the documents or
the merchandise.
Bank in the drawee country that is instructed to collect payment from the
Collection Bank
drawee
Carriage by more than one mode of transport against one contract of
Combined Transport
carriage.
Represents a complete record of the transaction between exporter and
importer with regard to the goods sold. Also reports the content of the
Commercial Invoice
shipment and serves as the basis for all other documents about the
shipment.
An association of ship owners operating in the same trade route who
Conference
operate under collective conditions and agree on tariff rates.
Freight rates arrived at by a conference of carriers, generally water
Conference Rate
carriers.
A letter of credit, issued by a foreign bank, whose validity has been
confirmed by a domestic bank. An exporter with a confirmed letter of
Confirmed Letter of Credit
credit is assured of payment even if the foreign buyer or the foreign bank
defaults.
The bank that adds its confirmation to another bank's (the issuing bank's)
Confirming Bank letter of credit and promises to pay the beneficiary upon presentation of
documents in compliance with the letter of credit.
A person or company to whom the shipments of commodities are to be
Consignee
consigned.

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 TERM DESCRIPTION
The person or company consigning a shipment to buyer that is shown on
Consignor
the bill of lading as the shipper.
Cargo containing of shipments of two or more shippers, usually shipped
Consolidated Cargo by a firm called a consolidator. The consolidator takes advantage of lower
F.C.L. rates, and savings are passed on to shippers.
Consolidation The combination of many small shipments into one container.
Consolidator A person or firm performing a consolidation service for others.
A vehicle designed to transport cargo of many types in continuous
Container transportation. It is also referred to an unit of packaging which is smaller
in sense in which articles are packed.
Container freight Station Consolidation depots where parcels of cargo are grouped and loaded into
(CFS, C.F.S.) containers.
A document prepared to show all details of cargo loaded in a container,
e.g. weight (individual and total), measurement, markings, shippers,
Container Load Plan (CLP)
consignees, the origin & destination of goods, and location of cargo within
the container.
Container Number The unique identification of a container.
A shipment that does not utilize the full volume of a container nor the
Container Part Load
maximum payload by weight; additional part loads may be added.
Container Seal Number The number of high security seal provided by OOCL.
Container Size The length of a container i.e. 20'', 40'' and 45'' (feet).
The status of a container in term of location, custody and cargo status for
Container Status
cargo tracking use.
The purpose of a container of which the code is to be adhered to ISO
Container Type
standard.
A load sufficient in size to fill a container either by cubic measurement or
Container Load
by weight.
Containership An ocean vessel specifically designed to carry ocean cargo containers. It
is fitted with vertical cells for maximum capacity.
An agreement by a steamship line to provide cargo space on a vessel at
Contract of Affreightment a specified time and for a specified price to accommodate an exporter or
importer.
Copy B/L Duplicate of original bill of lading and is non-negotiable.
One of 11 INCOTERMS, can be used for any mode of transport.
“Carriage Paid To”, means that the seller delivers the goods to the carrier
or another person nominated by the seller at an agreed place (if any such
CPT (INCOTERM)
place is agreed between the parties) and that the seller must contract for
and pay the costs of carriage necessary to bring the goods to the named
place of destination.
Agreement between carrier and shipper for release of cargo with promise
Credit Agreement
to pay ocean freight within specific time.
A country Treasury Department office where duties, etc., on foreign
Custom House
shipments are handled.

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 TERM DESCRIPTION
Also known as Custom Broker. A person or firm, licensed to engage in
entering and clearing goods through customs and/or the government
office (Custom house) where duties and/or tolls are placed on imports or
Customhouse Broker exports. The duties of a broker include preparing the entry blank and filing
it; advising the importer on duties to be paid; advancing duties and other
costs; and, arranging for delivery to his client, his trucking firm, or other
carrier.
A form requiring all data in a commercial invoice along with a certificate of
value and/or a certificate of origin. Required in a few countries (usually
Customs Invoice
former British territories) and usually serves as a seller's commercial
invoice.
Latest possible time cargo may be delivered to vessel or designated
Cut-Off Time
point.
Container Yard. Point at which carrier hands over to or receive laden
CY containers from merchant haulier. Commonly where mode of transport
changes e.g. a sea port, feeder terminal, barge terminal or rail ramp.
Cargo loaded in a full container by a shipper at origin, delivered to pier
CY/CFS
facility at destination, and then devanned by carrier for loose pick up.
Cargo loaded by shipper in a full container at origin and delivered to
CY/CY
carrier's terminal at destination for pick up intact by consignee.
The term used by I.M.C.O. for hazardous materials which are capable of
Dangerous Goods posing a significant risk to health, safety or property while being
transported.
One of 11 INCOTERMS, can be used for any mode of transport.
“Delivered at Place”, means that the seller delivers when the goods are
DAP (INCOTERM) placed at the disposal of the buyer on the arriving means of transport
ready for unloading at the named place of destination. The seller has to
bear all risks involved in bringing the goods to the named place.
One of 11 INCOTERMS, can be used for any mode of transport.
“Delivered at Terminal”, means that the seller delivers when the goods,
once unloaded from the arriving means of transport, are placed at the
disposal of the buyer at a named terminal at the named port or place of
DAT (INCOTERM)
destination. “Terminal” includes any place, whether covered or not, such
as a quay, warehouse, container yard or road, rail or air cargo terminal.
The seller has to bear all risks involved in bringing the goods to and
unloading them at the terminal at the named port or place of destination.
Destination Delivery Charges. A charge assessed by the carrier for
DDC
handling positioning of a full container.
One of 11 INCOTERMS, can be used for any mode of transport.
“Delivered Duty Paid’, means that the seller delivers the goods when the
goods are placed at the disposal of the buyer, cleared for import on the
arriving means of transport ready for unloading at the named place of
DDP (INCOTERM)
destination. The seller has to bear all the costs and risks involved in
bringing the goods to that place and has an obligation to clear the goods
not only for export but also for import, to pay any duty for both export and
import and to carry out all customs formalities.
Dead Space Space in a car, truck, vessel, etc., that is not utilized.

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 TERM DESCRIPTION
A DC which allows the nomination of a bank, or the issuing bank to effect
Deferred Payment Credit
payment against stipulated documents at a maturity date as specified or
(DPC)
determinable from the wording of the credit.
A document authorizing delivery to a nominated party of goods in the care
Delivery Order of a third party. Can be issued by a carrier on surrender of a bill of lading
and then used by merchant to transfer title by endorsement.
Charge raised for detaining FCL container/trailer at a terminal/CY for
Demurrage (Dem.) longer period than provided in a tariff. Also known as Wharf Storage in
Australia.
Container freight station or a designated area where empty containers
Depot, Container
can be picked up or dropped off.
The place where carrier actually turns over cargo to consignee or his
Destination
agent.
Charges raised for detaining container/trailer at customer’s premises for
Detention
longer period than provided in Tariff.
The removal of cargo from a container. Also known as unstuffing,
Devanning
unloading or stripping.
DFA Duty Free Allowance
The process of storing, transporting goods between the end of the
production line and the final customer. It involves set of activities which
Distribution
demands the goods are delivered in desired quality, quantity, place &
time.
A change made in the route of a shipment in transit. Also see
Diversion
Reconsignment.
The route of a shipment changed in transit from that shown on the original
Divert
billing. Used interchangeably with reconsign.
(a) The water alongside a pier or wharf. (b) Loading or unloading platform
Dock
at an industrial location or carrier terminal.
A form used to acknowledge receipt of cargo at a steamship pier. When
delivery of a foreign shipment is completed, the dock receipt is
Dock Receipt
surrendered to the vessel operator or the operator's agent and serves as
basis for preparation of the ocean bill of lading.
The basis of international trade by means of which payment is made
Documentary Credit
against surrender of specified documents.
Documents of Title Documents that give their owner the right to the goods, i.e. Bill of Lading.
Through transportation of a container and its contents from consignor's
Door-to-Door
premises to consignee's premises.
The repayment of customs duties paid on merchandise that later is
Drawback
exported either "as is" or as part of a finished product
Dry Cargo Cargo that does not require temperature control.
A container constructed to carry grain, powder and other free flowing
Dry-Bulk Container
solids in bulk.
When goods are exported at a price less than their normal value,
Dumping generally meaning they are exported for less than they are sold in the
domestic market or third-country markets, or at less than production cost.
Dunnage (Dge.) Lumber or other material used to brace material in carrier's equipment.

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 TERM DESCRIPTION
Duty Free Zone See Free Trade Zone
Export Clearance Number (Australian) - a permit required for all exports
ECN
over the value of AU$2000.00 per consignment.
Entry Declaration See Quarantine Declaration.
ETA Estimated time of arrival.
ETD Estimated time of departure.
The final date on which the draft and documents must be presented to the
Expiry Date
negotiating, accepting, paying or issuing bank to effect payment.
A government document permitting designated goods to be shipped out
Export Declaration
of the country.
A special facility granted by carrier under guarantees from
Express B/L shipper/consignee to release cargo to named consignee without
presenting original B/L. Also called "Sea Waybill"
One of 11 INCOTERMS, can be used for any mode of transport. "“Ex
Works” means that the seller delivers when it places the goods at the
disposal of the buyer at the seller’s premises or at another named place
EXW (INCOTERM)
(i.e., works, factory, warehouse etc). The seller does not need to load the
goods on any collecting vehicle, nor does the seller clear the goods for
export, where such clearance is applicable.
Freight All Kind. System whereby freight is charged per container,
F.A.K. irrespective of nature of goods, and not according to a Tariff. (Please also
refer to All Commodity Rate)
Full Container Load. Arrangement whereby shipper utilizes all the space
F.C.L.
in a container which he packs himself.
F.E.U. Forty-foot Equivalent Unit. (40'' or 2 Teus) FEU.
F.I.O. Free In and Out.
One of 11 INCOTERMS can be used only for sea or inland waterway
transport. “Free Alongside Ship”, means that the seller delvers when the
good are placed alongside the vessel (e.g., on a quay or a barge)
FAS (INCOTERM)
nominated by the buyer at the named port of shipment. The risk of loss of
or damage to the goods passes when the goods are alongside the ship,
and the buyer has to bear all costs from that moment onwards.
One of 11 INCOTERMS, can be used for any mode of transport. “Free
Carrier” means that the seller delivers the goods to the carrier or another
person nominated by the buyer at the seller’s premises or another named
FCA (INCOTERM)
place. The parties are well advised to specify as clearly as possible the
point within the name place of delivery, as the risk passes to the buyer at
that point.
FCL/FCL See CY/CY.
FCL/LCL See CY/CFS.
Feeder Service Sea transportation as performed by feeder operator.
Vessel employed in normally short sea routes to fetch or carry goods and
Feeder Vessel
containers to and from ocean going vessels.
FEU Forty-foot Equivalent Unit (40'' or 2 Teus) F.E.U.
FF Freight Forwarder.
Final Destination (FND) End of carrier’s liability where carrier delivers the cargo to consignee.

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 TERM DESCRIPTION
The temperature reaching which for certain inflammable cargo will trigger
Flash Point spontaneous ignition. It is an IMCO standard information requirement for
dangerous goods.
Federal Maritime Commission. US Government Agency responsible for
FMC
regulatory aspects of all maritime activities.
One of 11 INCOTERMS can be used only for sea or inland waterway
transport. “Free on Board” means that the seller delivers the goods on
board the vessel nominated by the buyer at the named port of shipment
FOB (INCOTERM)
or procures the goods already delivered. The risk of loss of or damage to
the goods passes when the goods are on board the vessel, and the buyer
has to bear all costs from that moment onwards.
Force Majeure An event outside the control of the parties to the contract.
Known also as Freight Forwarder, Foreign Freight Forwarder. It’s an
individual or business that dispatches shipments by land, air, or sea, or it
may specialize for exporters and for a fee. Usually it handles all the
services in the collection, consolidation, shipping and distribution of goods
Forwarder
connected with an export shipment; preparation of documents, booking
cargo space, warehouse, pier delivery and export clearance.
The firm may also handle banking and insurance services on behalf of a
client.
A contractual agreement between two or more parties under which they
give each other preferential market access. The agreement must apply to
substantially all the trade in goods between the two parties and must not
Free Trade Agreement
erect new barriers to other countries. Modern FTAs typically also cover
(FTA)
trade in services, as well as other non-tariff issues such as the recognition
of standards, customs cooperation, protection of intellectual property
rights and regulation of foreign investment.
Sometimes called "customs free zones" or "duty free zones". It is a
generic term referring to special commercial and industrial areas. At
which by special customs procedures it allows the importation of non-
prohibited foreign goods (including raw materials, components, and
finished goods) without the requirement that duties be paid immediately. If
the merchandise is later exported, duty free treatment is given to
Free Trade Zone
reexports. The zones are usually located in or near ports of entry.
Merchandise brought into these zones may be stored, assembled,
processed or used in manufacture prior to re-export or entry into the
national customs territory. When manufacturing activity occurs in free
trade zones, it usually involves a combination of foreign and domestic
merchandise, and usually requires special governmental authority.
(a) The price paid to the carrier for the transportation of goods or
merchandise by sea from one place to another. (b) Freight is also used to
Freight
denote goods which are in the process of being transported from one
place to another.
Freight Ton See Revenue Ton.
Treatment with a pesticide active ingredient that is a gas under treatment
Fumigation
conditions.
G.R.I. General Rate Increase - General Agreement on Tariff and Trade.

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 TERM DESCRIPTION
An international multilateral agreement embodying a code of practice for
GATT
fair trading in international commerce.
General average is an unwritten, non-statutory, international maritime law
which is universally recognized and applied. It is founded on the principle
that vessel and goods are parties to the same venture and share
General Average
exposure to the same perils, which may require sacrifice or the incurring
of extraordinary expense on the part of one for the benefit of the whole
venture.
General Order Issued by U.S. Customs as notice of intention to seize goods.
Applies to vessels, not to cargo. Determined by dividing by 100 the
Gross Tonnage contents, in cubic feet, of the vessel's closed-in spaces. A vessel ton is
100 cubic feet.
Gross Weight Entire weight of goods, packaging and container, ready for shipment.
The weight of the merchandise in its shipping form, i.e. including all its
Gross Weight
packaging.
A consolidation service, putting small shipments into containers for
Groupage
shipment.
1924 International Convention on Carriage of Goods by Sea. These rules
Hague Rules govern liability for loss or damage to goods carried by sea under a bill of
lading.
Hague-Visby Rules 1968 Revision of Hague Rules.
In March 1978 an international conference in Hamburg adopted a new set
of rules (The Hamburg Rules),which radically alter the liability which ship-
Hamburg Rules
owners have to bear for loss or damage to goods in the courts of those
nations where the rules apply.
A multi-purpose international code for classifying goods moving in
Harmonized Commodity international trade under a single commodity code. This code is a
Description and Coding hierarchically structured product nomenclature containing approximately
System 5,000 headings and subheadings describing the articles moving in
international trade.
House Airway Bill - this is a document issued by the Freight Forwarder,
HAWB acting as a carrier, clearly showing the contract of affreightment between
the freight forwarder and the exporter.
House Bill of Lading (the Bill of Lading issued by a Freight Forwarder),
HBL acting as a carrier, clearly showing the contract of affreightment between
forwarder and exporter.
Heavy Lift Articles too heavy to be lifted by a ship's tackle.
Heavy-Lift Charge A charge made for lifting articles too heavy to be lifted by a ship's tackle.
High Cube Any container which exceeds 8ft. 6in. in height, usually 9ft. 6in.
House B/L Bill of lading issued by forwarder.
House-to-House (H/H) See CY/CY.
House-to-Pier (H/P) See CY/CFS.
A facility in the infrastructure where transport-related services (collection
& distribution) and commercial activities are performed, and it focuses on
Hub
logistics-centre management, facilities management, maintenance and
supply chain.

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 TERM DESCRIPTION
International Chamber of Commerce - A Paris-based international forum
I.C.C.
that aims to facilitate trade.
International Maritime Consultative Organization. A forum in which most
major maritime nations participate and through which recommendations
I.M.C.O.
for the carriage of dangerous goods, bulk commodities and maritime
regulations become internationally acceptable.
A freight forwarder licensed to handle air cargo. They are registered with
IATA Cargo Agent
the International Air Transport Association (IATA).
International Maritime Dangerous Goods Code - The IMO (UN)
IMDG Code
recommendations for the carriage of dangerous goods by sea.
A document required and issued by some national governments
Import License
authorizing the importation of goods into their individual countries.
Usually required for items that might affect the public health, morals,
animal life, vegetation, etc. Examples include foodstuffs, feedstuffs,
pharmaceuticals (human and veterinary), medical equipment, seeds,
Import Permit
plants and various written material (including tapes, cassettes, movies,
TV tapes or TV movies). In some countries an import permit is the same
as an import license.
Incoterms are a set of uniform rules codifying the interpretation of trade
terms defining the rights and obligation of both buyer and seller in an
Incoterms international transaction, thereby enabling an otherwise complex basis for
a sale contract to be accomplished in three letters. Incoterms are drafted
by the International Chamber of Commerce.
An insurance policy or certificate normally covers the shipments of
Insurance merchandise from the time they leave the warehouse at the shipping point
until they reach the destination point named in the policy or certificate.
Where the seller provides ocean marine insurance, it is necessary to
furnish insurance certificates, usually in duplicate. The certificates are
Insurance Certificate negotiable documents and must be endorsed before submitting them to
the bank. The seller can arrange to obtain an open cargo policy that the
freight forwarder maintains.
This type of clause covers merchandise if the damage amounts to 3
Insurance With Average- percent or more of the insured value of the package or cargo. If the vessel
Clause burns, sinks, collides, or gets sunk, all losses are fully covered. In marine
insurance the word average describes partial damage or partial loss.
This type of insurance offers the shipper the broadest coverage available,
Insurance, All-Risk
covering against all losses that may occur in transit.
A Marine insurance term to refer to partial loss on an individual shipment
from one of the perils insured against, regardless of the balance of the
Insurance, Particular- cargo (in this way it differs from general-average insurance).Particular-
Average average insurance can usually be obtained, but the loss must be in
excess of a certain percentage of the insured value of the shipment,
usually 3 to 5 percent, before a claim will be allowed by the company.
Used to denote movements of cargo or container between motor, rail or
Intermodal
water carriers.

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 TERM DESCRIPTION
Moving ocean freight containers by various transportation modes. The
fact that the containers are of the same size and have common handling
Intermodal Transport
characteristics permits them to be transferred from truck to railroad to air
carrier to ocean carrier.
Interstate Between states.
Intrastate Within a state.
Constitutes a definite undertaking of the issuing bank and the confirming
bank, if any, to honour the credit provided the terms of the credit are
Irrevocable Credit observed. It may be advised to the beneficiary without engagement by the
advising bank, and cannot be amended or cancelled unless the issuing
bank, the confirming bank and the beneficiary agree.
International Shipping & Port Security. The International anti-terrorist
ISPS
legislation organised by IMO.
The bank that has issued or opened a letter of credit. Also known as
Issuing Bank
Opening Bank.
The bank that opens a documentary credit at the request of its customer,
Issuing Bank
the applicant.
Less than Container Load. Cargo in quantity less than required for the
L.C.L.
application for the application of a container load rate.
The total cost comprising goods, insurance, freight, loading, unloading,
Landed Cost
inland transport and anything else involved in clearing the goods at the
(or Landed Price)
port of destination.
More often known as “Consolidator”. Their business focuses on providing
services related to consolidate parts or smaller consignments, LCL (Less
LCL - NVO
than Container Load) cargoes into larger unit. They derive profit by paying
the vessel operating carrier the lower consolidated rate.
LCL/FCL See CFS/CY.
LCL/LCL See CFS/CFS.

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 TERM DESCRIPTION
(a) Back-to-Back: A secondary letter of credit issued to a beneficiary on
the strength of a primary credit;
(b) Clean: A letter of credit that requires the beneficiary to present only a
draft or a receipt for specified funds before receiving payment;
(c) Confirmed: A revolving letter of credit that permits any amount not
utilized during any of the specified periods to be carried over and added
to the amounts available in subsequent periods;
(d) Deferred Payment: A letter of credit issued for the purchase and
financing of merchandise, similar to acceptance-type letter of credit,
except that it requires presentation of sight drafts payable on an
instalment basis;
(e) Irrevocable: An instrument that, once established, cannot be modified
or cancelled without the agreement of all parties concerned;
(f) Non-cumulative: A revolving letter of credit that prohibits the amount
not used during the specific period to be available in the subsequent
periods;
(g) Restricted: A condition within the letter of credit which restricts its
Letter of Credit negotiation to a named bank;
(h) Revocable: An instrument that can be modified or cancelled at any
moment without notice to an agreement of the beneficiary, but customarily
includes a clause in the credit to the effect that any draft negotiated by a
bank prior to the receipt of a notice of revocation or amendment will be
honoured by the issuing bank;
(i) Revolving: An irrevocable letter issued for a specific amount; renews
itself for the same amount over a given period;
(j) Straight: A letter of credit that contains a limited engagement clause
addressed to the beneficiary; state
that the issuing bank promises to pay upon presentation of the required
documents at its counters or the counters of the named bank;
(k) Transferable: A letter of credit that allows the beneficiary to transfer in
whole or in part any amount of the credit to one or more third parties
provided that the aggregate of such transfers does not exceed the
amount of the credit.
(l) Unconfirmed: A letter of credit forwarded to the beneficiary by the
advising bank without engagement on the part of the advising bank.
American term for documentary credit. In the United States, the terms
Letter of Credit (L/C)
D/C can often be confused for documentary collection.
Guarantee from shipper or consignee to indemnity carrier for costs and/or
loss, if any, in order to obtain favourable action by carrier, e.g. sometimes,
Letter of Indemnity
it is used to allow consignee to take delivery of goods without
surrendering B/L which has been delayed.
Lien A legal claim upon goods for the satisfaction of some debt or duty.
Lift-On/Lift-Off (LO-LO) A container ship onto which and from which containers are lifted by crane.
Transportation from one city to another as differentiated from local
Line-haul
switching service.
Vessel plying a regular trade/defined route against a published sailing
Liner
schedule.

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 TERM DESCRIPTION
They define the condition / responsibility of cost under which a carrier has
had at port of loading to port of discharge. As such they also determine
the freight / charges payable for loading & discharging the cargo from the
vessel in their quotation, according to the customs of the port and it is not
internationally codified.
Carrier cost responsibility under respective Liner Terms:
Liner In Liner Out (CY to CY) - Carrier bears the costs for loading at
loading port, sea voyage up to cargo discharged at discharging port.
Liner In Hook Out ( CY to Hook) - Carrier bears the costs for loading at
loading port, sea voyage up to cargo alongside cargo hook at discharging
port.
Hook In Liner Out ( Hook to CY) - Carrier bears the costs for cargo
alongside cargo hook at loading port, sea voyage up to cargo discharged
Liner Terms at discharging port.
Liner In Free Out (CY to Free Out, LIFO) - Carrier bears the costs for
loading at loading port, sea voyage and exclude costs for cargo at
discharging port.
Free In Liner Out (Free in to CY, FILO) - Carrier bears the costs for sea
voyage and costs for cargo discharged at discharging port.
Hook to Hook - Carrier bears the costs for sea voyage and costs for cargo
alongside at loading port & at discharging port.
Hook to Free Out - Carrier bears the costs for cargo alongside cargo hook
at loading port, sea voyage and exclude cost at discharging port.
Free In to Hook - Carrier bears the costs for sea voyage and costs for
cargo alongside cargo hook at discharging port.
Free In Free Out (FIFO) - Carrier bears the costs for sea voyage and
exclude costs at loading port & discharging port.
An organization maintained for the surveying and classing of ships so that
Lloyds' Registry insurance underwriters and others may know the quality and condition of
the vessels offered for insurance or employment.
Lo/Lo Lift On, Lift Off.
Logistics The management of moving or stationary inventory.
Long Ton 2,240 pounds. (l.t., l.tn.)
M/V Motor Vessel
Document that lists in detail all the bills of lading issued by a vessel or its
agent or master, i.e., a detailed summary of the total cargo of a vessel.
Manifest
Used principally for customs purposes. It is also called summary of Bills of
lading.
Provide specialist advice and cover for the most suitable form of
Marine Insurers
insurance against exporting risks such as loss or damage in transit.
Marks & Numbers placed on packages for export for identification
Marks & Nos. purposes; generally a triangle, square, circle, diamond, or cross with
letters and/or numbers and port discharge.
Maximum cargo that can be loaded into a container either by weight or
Maximum Payload
volume.
Measurement Ton 1 cubic meter. One of the alternative bases of Freight Tariff.
Minimum Charge The lowest charge that can be assessed to transport a shipment.

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 TERM DESCRIPTION
Minimum Quantity Commitment. Volume of cargo that a customer
MQC
commits to ship over the duration of their contract (in TEU).
(a) Metric Ton or Cubic meter (b) Empty container (c) Multimodal
MT
Transport.
N.O.S. Not otherwise specified.
Original bill of lading endorsed by shipper that is used for negotiating with
Negotiable B/L
banks.
A bank named in the credit; examines the documents and certifies to the
Negotiating Bank
issuing bank that the terms are complied with.
Weight of the goods alone without any immediate wrappings, e.g., the
Net Weight weight of the contents of a tin can without the weight of the can. Also
called actual net Weight.
Non-negotiable B/L Copy of original bill of lading which cannot be negotiated with bank.
(a) A cargo consolidator of small shipments in ocean trade, generally
Non-vessel Owning /
soliciting business and arranging for or performing containerization
Operating Common
functions at the port. (b) A carrier issuing Bs/L for carriage of goods on
Carrier (N.V.O.C.C.)
vessel which he neither owns nor operates.
NVOCC See Non-vessel Owning/Operating Common Carrier or N.V.O.C.C.
OBL See Original Bill of lading or O.B.L.
Document indicating that the exporter will consign a shipment to an
international carrier for transportation to a specified foreign market. Unlike
an inland B/L, the ocean B/L also serves as a collection document. if it is
Ocean Bill of Lading
a Straight B/L the foreign buyer can obtain the shipment from the carrier
(Ocean B/L)
by simply showing proof of identity. If a negotiable B/L is used, the buyer
must first pay for the goods, post a bond or meet other conditions
agreeable to the seller.
Ocean Freight See Freight.
Means that cargo has been loaded on board a combined transport mode
On Board of conveyance. Used to satisfy the requirements of a letter of credit, in the
absence of an express requirement to the contrary.
A B/L in which a carrier acknowledges that goods have been placed on
On Board B/L
board a certain vessel.
A special stowage instruction to confine the cargo stowage must be on
On Deck
deck rather than under deck.
A container fitted with a solid removable roof or with a tarpaulin roof that
Open-Top Container
can be loaded or unloaded from the top.
The phrase To Order is sometimes shown on Bills of Lading against
consignee: this means that the Bill of Lading must be endorsed in blank
Order (To)
by the shipper (i.e. not to any particular named party which makes it
bearer document and it becomes transferable by delivery.)
Origin Location where shipment begins its movement at cargo's expense.
Original Bill of Lading A document which requires proper signatures for consummating carriage
(O.B.L.) of contract.
Cargo stowed in an open-top container; projects above the uppermost
Overheight Cargo
level of the roof struts.

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 TERM DESCRIPTION
A container with goods protruding beyond the sides of the container/flat
Overwidth Cargo
rack onto which they are packed.
P.& I. Protection and Indemnity, an insurance term.
Port of Discharge where cargo is discharged from vessel. In case of
P.O.D. transhipment is needed, there can be a number of POD during the course
of shipment until it reaches the final POD.
P.O.L. Port of Loading where loading to vessel takes place
Point or Place of Receipt. Starting point of carrier’s liability where cargo is
P.O.R. received from shipper and under carrier’s custody for transportation to
final destination.
Under letters of credit, one or more shipments are allowed by the phrase"
Partial Shipments partial shipments permitted." In bulk shipments a tolerance of 3 percent is
allowed.
Payload The revenue-producing part of the cargo.
A charge made by one transportation line against another for the use of
Per Diem
its equipment. The charge is based on a fixed rate per day.
Those causes of loss for which the carrier is not legally liable. The
Perils of the Sea
elemental risks of ocean transport.
Perishable Cargo Cargo subject to decay or deterioration.
Pier-to-House (P/H) See CFS/CY.
Pier-to-Pier (P/P) See CFS/CFS.
Pilferage The act of stealing cargo.
Place of Delivery See Final Destination.
Place of Receipt Location where cargo enters the care and custody of carrier.
Location where imported merchandise is off loaded from the importing
Port of arrival
aircraft or vessel.
Port of Discharge Port where cargo is unloaded from vessel.
Port of Loading (POL) Port where cargo is loaded to vessel.
Port Service Charge See THC.
One of the payment status where freight and charges are required to be
paid by shipper before original bill of lading is released to them except for
Prepaid (Ppd.)
shipment under Sea Waybill (or Express BL) as no original bill of lading is
required or for shipment under credit arrangement.
The bank that requests payment of a collection bill - may be the Collecting
Presenting Bank Bank or its nominated branch or local correspondent, which is better
placed to contact the importer
Pro Rata In proportion.
All of the processes involved in requesting, ordering, auditing, and paying
Procurement
for goods and services
A specimen invoice, requested by the buyer for the purpose of applying
Pro-forma Invoice for such things as an import license, or foreign exchange allocation prior
to the sale.

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 TERM DESCRIPTION
A signed statement containing a written promise to pay a stated sum to
Promissory Note
specified person at a specified date or on demand.
(a) A legal means of proving presentation and default of a negotiable
instrument, as well as providing notice to interested parties that the
instrument was not paid. (b) A declaration made by the master of a vessel
before a notary public in the United States and Great Britain or a tribunal
of commerce on the European Continent, or before the consul of the
country from which the vessel hails if in a foreign port, on arrival in port,
when, through stress of weather, it has not been practicable to adopt
ordinary precaution in the matter of ventilation for perishable cargoes;
Protest when the condition of the cargo or any part thereof at the time of shipment
is such as to lead to the belief that damage or some further damage has
occurred during the voyage; when any serious breach of a charter party
by the charterer in a foreign port happens; when a vessel experiences
bad weather while at sea and when the master has reason to believe that
the cargo is damaged or part of the deck load lost overboard. Copies of
the protest are frequently demanded underwriter in the event of a claim.
Protests are received as evidence in tribunal on the Continent but they
cannot be made.
PSA Port of Singapore Authority
The quantity of goods that may be imported without restriction or
Quota
additional duties or taxes.
Rail terminal where containers are either loaded or discharged from train.
Railhead
(A railhead is a CY)
Rail terminal where containers are either loaded or discharged from a
Ramp
train (A rail Ramp is a CY)
A term used in contradistinction to shipped bill of lading, which is the
standard document. Some bankers object to such bill of lading on the
ground that the security they offer is imperfect. This kind of bill of lading is
Receipt for Shipment B/L
normally issued to acknowledge receipt of shipment before cargo loading
or before official original bill of lading is issued. Nowadays, not many
shippers ask for this kind of bill of lading.
Changing the consignee or destination on a bill of lading while shipment is
Reconsignment (R/C)
still in transit. Diversion has substantially same meaning.
In the industry, it is the generic name for a temperature controlled
container. The containers, which are insulated, are specially designed to
allow temperature controlled air circulated within the container. A
Reefer
refrigeration plant is built into the rear of the container. For OOCL's
reefers, power for this plant needs to be provided from an external
source.
Relay To transfer goods from one ship to another of the same ownership.
Release Note Receipt signed by customer acknowledging delivery of goods.
The exporter's bank in collection transactions, which remits the bill to the
Remitting Bank collecting bank. The exporter's bank in DC transactions, which dispatches
the documents to the issuing bank.
The greater weight or measurement of goods where 1 ton is either 1000
Revenue Ton (R/T) kilos or 1 cubic metre (for metric system). Also known as bill of lading ton
or freight ton. It is used to calculate freight charge.

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 TERM DESCRIPTION
A specialised vessel designed with a ramp to facilitate driving on and off
Roll-On/Roll-Off (Ro/Ro)
cargo.
The manner in which a shipment moves, i.e., the carriers handling it and
Route (Rte.)
the points via which they handle it.
A loss which it is presumed would, but for certain services rendered, have
become a total loss. The charges incurred are "salvage charges". The
property salved is the "salvage". When referring to goods a salvage loss
is one resulting from shipwreck or from a situation where, by the peril of
the sea, the vessel is prevented from proceeding on her voyage and the
cargo, or the part that is saved is obliged to be sold at a place short of the
Salvage Loss
port of destination. The term is used in marine insurance when at a point
short of destination, it can be shown that it would cost more to forward
damaged goods to their destination than the goods would realize on the
spot. The underwriters usually pay the difference between the total
insured value and the net proceeds of the goods, such a settlement being
known as a "salvage loss".
Sea Waybill See "Express B/L"
Metal strip and lead fastener used for locking freight car or truck doors.
Seal (Container)
Seals are numbered for record purposes.
As provided in the Shipping Act of 1984, a contract between a shipper (or
a shippers' association) and an ocean common carrier (or conference) in
which the shipper makes a commitment to provide a certain minimum
quantity of cargo or freight revenue over a fixed time period, and the
Service Contract ocean common carrier or conference commits to a certain rate or rate
schedule as well as a defined service level (such as assured space,
transit time, port rotation or similar service features). The contract may
also specify provisions in the event of non-performance on the part of
either party.
The date inserted on the bills of lading evidencing goods received on
Shipment Date board is regarded for documentary credit purposes as being the date of
shipment.
A bill of lading issued only after the goods have actually been shipped on
Shipped Bill of Lading board the vessel, as distinguished from the received for shipment bill of
lading. Also see on board bill of lading.
Shipped on Board Endorsement on a bill of lading confirming loading of goods on vessel.
The person for whom the owners of a ship agree to carry goods to a
specified destination and at a specified price. Also called consignor. The
Shipper
conditions under which the transportation is effected are stipulated in the
bill of lading.
Shipper Owned Container The container used for cargo shipment is owned by shipper.
A custom house form filled by the shipper of goods. to foreign countries.
Shipper's Export
Also called shipper’s manifest. It mentions the marks, numbers, quantity,
Declaration
description and value of goods at time and place of export.
Shipments loaded and sealed by shippers and not checked or verified by
Shipper's Load & Count
the carriers.
Shut-out Goods not carried on intended vessel.
SI Shipping Instruction.

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 TERM DESCRIPTION
Slot Space on board a vessel occupied by a container.
Standard Industrial A standard numerical code used by the U.S. government to classify
Classification (SIC) products and services.
Standard International A standard numerical code used by the United Nations to classify
Trade Classification (SITC) commodities used in international trade.
A rate established via direct routes from one point to another in relation
Standard Rate which the rates via other routes between the same points are made. See
also Differential Rate.
Said to Contain. A standard clause used to protect carrier for cargo
STC
stuffed by shipper or its agents.
Terminal operator who is designated to facilitate the operation of loading
Stevedore
and discharging vessels and various terminal activities.
Storage A charge made on property stored.
Stowage A marine term referring to loading freight into ships' holds.
Straight Bill of Lading A term for a non-negotiable bill of lading.
Stripping The unloading of a container.
Stuffing The loading of a container.
The delivery of enhanced customer and economic value through
synchronized management of the flow of physical goods, services and
Supply Chain Management associated information from sourcing through consumption. The
management of the process and activities to provide the flow of products,
services and information to customers.
A specially constructed container for transporting liquids and gases in
Tank Container
bulk.
The weight of packing material or, in carload shipments, the weight of the
Tare Weight
empty freight car.
A publication setting forth the charges, rates and rules of transportation
Tariff (Trf.)
companies.
An assigned area in which containers are prepared for loading into a
Terminal
vessel or are stacked immediately after discharge from the vessel.
TEU Twenty-foot Equivalent Unit (20") T.E.U.
Terminal Handling Charge. A charge assessed by the terminal for
THC
handling FCLs at ocean terminals.
Through Rate The total rate from the point of origin to final destination.
TOS Terms of Sale. Commonly used as an abbreviation for INCOTERMS
Permits the beneficiary to transfer all or some of the rights and obligations
Transferable Credit under the credit to a second beneficiary or beneficiaries - see Special
DCs.
To transfer goods from one transportation line to another, or from one
Tranship
ship to another.
Goods on board which upon their arrival at a certain port are not to be
Transit Cargo
discharged at that port.
A port where goods received is merely en route and from which they have
Transit Port to be transferred and dispatched to their ultimate destination by coasters,
barge and so on. Also called transhipment port.

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 TERM DESCRIPTION
Transhipment Port See Transit port.
Terminal receiving Charge. Charge assessed by the terminal for cargo
TRC
being delivered for export.
Time Volume Rate. A type of freight contract where the shipper commits
TVR
to a specified volume of TEU over a specific period of time.
A set of four twistable bayonet-type shear keys used as part of a spreader
Twist Locks
to pick up a container or as part of a chassis to secure the containers.
Uniform Customs and Practice of Documentary Credit. The "bankers
UCP
Bible" on Documentary Credit Interpretation issued by the I.C.C.
UCP500 Revised and updated version operating from January 1, 1994.
Packages loaded on a pallet in a crate or any other way that enables
Unit Load
them to be handled at one time as a unit.
The value which is declared to the customs at the port of discharge for the
Value for Duty
purpose of assessing customs duty
Vanning A term sometimes used for stowing cargo in a container.
A container designed with openings in the side and/or end walls to permit
Ventilated Container
the ingress of outside air when the doors are closed.
Vessel's Manifest Statement of a vessel's cargo (revenue, consignee, marks, etc.).
The numeric identification of a round trip sailing of a vessel on a fixed
Voyage Number
trade lane.
A document prepared by a transportation line at the point of a shipment;
shows the point of the origin, destination, route, consignor, consignee,
description of shipment and amount charged for the transportation
Waybill (WB)
service. A waybill is forwarded with the shipment or sent by mail to the
agent at the transfer point or waybill destination. Abbreviation is WB.
Unlike a bill of lading, a waybill is not a document of title.
Charge assessed by a pier or dock owner against freight handled over the
Wharfage (Whfge.)
pier or dock or against a steamship company using the pier or dock.
The international organisation dealing with the global rules of trade
World Trade Organization
between nations. It was created, and replaced GATT. Its main function is
(WTO)
to ensure that trade flows as smoothly, predictably and freely as possible

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