Accreditation

Certification by duly recognized body of the facilities, capability, objectivity, competence, and integrity of an agency, service, or operational group or individual to provide the specific service or operation needed. For example, the Registrar Accreditation Board accredits those organizations that register companies to the ISO 9000 series standards.

Ad Valorem

In proportion to the value.

Agent (Agt.)

A person authorized to transact business for, and in the name of, another person or company.

AMS

Automated Manifest System.  An application that expedites the clearance of cargo for the subsequent release of containers when imported to the U.S. through electronic submission of cargo manifests in lieu of bulk paper manifests. 

Arrival notice

An advice that the carrier sends to the 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 consignee prior to vessel arrival. This is done gratuitously by the carrier to ensure smooth delivery but there is no obligation by the carrier to do so. The responsibility to monitor the transit and present himself to take timely delivery still rests with the consignee.

Awkward cargo

Cargo of irregular size that can either be containerized (packed in container) or non-containerized (without equipment associated with) during transportation. It requires prior approval on a case by case basis before confirmation of booking.

Axle load

Maximum load permitted to be carried on each axle of a motor vehicle.

Bill of lading (B/L)

Official legal document representing ownership of cargo, a negotiable document to receive cargo, and the contract for cargo between the shipper and the carrier.

Block train

Railcars grouped in a train by destination so that segments (blocks) can be uncoupled and routed to different destinations as the train moves through various junctions. Eliminates the need to break up a train and sort individual railcars at each junction.

Blocking or bracing

Wood or metal supports to keep shipments in place or on railcars.

Bls.

Bales. A kind of customary packing unit.

Bobtail

Movement of a tractor, without trailer, over the highway.

Bona fide

In good faith.

Booking number

A reference number for bookings registered. It should be unique without duplication for a three-year period.

Bow

The front of a vessel.

Box

Common term for an ocean going freight container.

Boxcar

A closed freight car.

BPS

Business Process and Systems - section within ISD responsible for implementation of IRIS-2 and user support in system and business processes.

Break-bulk cargo

Goods shipped loose in the vessel's hold and not in a container.

British Thermal Unit (BTU)

The amount of heat required to produce a temperature change of one degree Fahrenheit in one pound of water.

Bulk carriers

A vessel carrying dry, liquid, grain, not packaged, bundled or bottled cargo, and is loaded without marks & number or count.

Bull rings

Cargo-securing devices mounted in the floor of containers; allow lashing and securing of cargo.

Bunker surcharge (BAF, BSC)

Bunker Adjustment factor (BAF), or Bunker Surcharge (BSC) are surcharges assessed by the carrier to freight rates to reflect current cost of bunker.

Bunkers

Heavy oil used as fuel for ocean vessels.

C.A.F.

Currency Adjustment Factor. Surcharge percentage applied to freight rates to reflect currency fluctuations.

C.B.M. (C.M.)

Cubic meter.

C.K.D.

Abbreviation for Cars Knocked Down.  Automobile parts and subassemblies manufactured abroad and transported to a designated assembly plant.  A classification of Third Party International shippers. See Knocked Down.

C.O.D.

Collect (cash) on Delivery; Carried on Docket (pricing); Change of Destination.

Cargo manifest

A manifest that lists only cargo, without freight and charges.

Carrier

Any individual, company or corporation engaged in transporting goods.

Cells

The construction system employed in container vessels; permits below ship containers to be stowed in a vertical line with each container supporting the one above it.

Cellular vessel

A vessel designed with internal ribbing to permit the support of stacked containers.

Certificate of origin

Document certifying the country of origin of goods which is normally issued or signed by a Chamber of Commerce or Embassy.

CFC's (Chlorofluorocarbons)

Chemical compounds containing mixtures of carbon, chlorine and fluorine molecules. Because of their stability, lack of flammability and ability to absorb and give up heat readily, CFC's have in the past been popular refrigerants. However, CFC's have been found to contribute to the deterioration of the ozone layer of the upper atmosphere, which is a condition believed to be hazardous to global health. These compounds should not be released into the atmosphere, but should be carefully collected for recycling. Production of CFC's is being phased out by an international convention, the Montreal Protocol.

CFS/CFS

A kind of cargo movement by container. Delivered loose at origin point with vanning by carrier, devanned by carrier at destination, and picked up loose at destination.

Chassis

A wheeled flat bed or a trailer constructed to accommodate containers moved over the road.

Closing date

Last day on which export cargo can be accepted for a nominated sailing.

Consolidated cargo

Cargo containing shipments of two or more shippers, usually shipped 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.

Consortium

Group of carriers pooling resources in a trade lane to maximize their resources efficiently.

Container

A receptacle designed to transport cargo of many types in continuous transportation.

Container freight station (CFS, C.F.S.)

Consolidation depots where parcels of cargo are grouped and loaded into containers.

Container gross weight

Please refer to Gross Weight.

Container load plan (CLP)

A document prepared to show all details of cargo loaded in a container, e.g. weight (individual and total), measurement, markings, shippers, consignees, the origin & destination of goods, and location of cargo within the container.

Container number

The unique identification of a container.

Container seal number

The number of high security seals provided by OOCL.

Container size

The length of a container i.e. 20'', 40'' and 45'' (feet).

Container terminal

Also refereed to as a Container Yard (CY). A facility that receives full export containers from one shipper to loading the vessel and delivers full import containers to the consignee after; it is the same location where ocean vessels are loaded & unloaded.

Container type

The purpose of a container of which the code is to be adhered to ISO standard.

Containership

An ocean vessel specifically designed to carry ocean cargo containers. It is fitted with vertical cells for maximum capacity.

Controlled atmosphere (CA)

An atmosphere in which oxygen, carbon dioxide and nitrogen concentrations are regulated, as well as temperature and humidity.

Cu.

Cubic. A unit of volume measurement.

Cubic foot

1,728 cubic inches.

Custom house

A country Treasury Department office where duties, etc., on foreign shipments are handled.

Customs bonded warehouse

a public or privately owned warehouse where dutiable goods are stored pending payment of duty or removal under bond. The storage or delivery of goods are under the supervision of customs officers and if the warehouse is privately owned the keeper has to enter into a bond as indemnity in respect of the goods deposited, which may not be delivered without a release from the customs.

Cut-off time

Latest possible time the cargo may be delivered to the vessel or designated point.

Cwt.

Hundredweight ( U.S.A. , 100 pounds; United Kingdom , 112 pounds).

CY

Container Yard.  See "Container Terminal".

CY/CFS

Cargo loaded in a full container by a shipper at origin, delivered to pier facility at destination, and then devanned by the carrier for loose pick up.

CY/CY

Cargo loaded by the shipper in a full container at origin and delivered to the carrier's terminal at destination for pick up intact by consignee.

D & H

Dangerous and Hazardous. (Also see "Dangerous Goods")

D.W.

Dead Weight. The number of tons a ship can transport of cargo, stores and bunker fuel.  (Also see "Deadweight Tonnage")

Dangerous Goods

The term used by I.M.C.O. for hazardous materials which are capable of posing a significant risk to health, safety or property while being transported.

DDC

Destination Delivery Charges. A charge assessed by the carrier for handling positioning of a full container.

Dead Space

Space in a car, truck, vessel, etc., that is not utilized.

Deadweight Tonnage (D/W)

The number of total weight tons that a vessel can transport of cargo, stores and bunker fuel. It is the difference between the number of tons of water a vessel displaces "light" and the number of tons it displaces when submerged to the "load line."

Dedicated Unit Train

An unit train operated by various railroads for exclusive usage.

Delivery Order

A document authorizing delivery to a nominated party of goods in the care of a third party. Can be issued by a carrier on surrender of a bill of lading and then used by the merchant to transfer title by endorsement.

Depot Container

Container freight station or a designated area where empty containers can be picked up or dropped off.

Destination

The place where the carrier actually turns over the cargo to consignee or his agent.

Detention

Charges raised for detaining container/trailer at customer?s premises for longer period than provided in Tariff.

Detention Charge

See "Detention".

Devanning

The removal of cargo from a container. Also known as unstuffing, unloading or stripping.

DFG

Dynamic Flow Guidelines -- which is used to control the on-land stock level of each region taking into account of the traffic pattern and local vanning/devanning dwell time. The shortest the dwell time, the lowest the DFG and the more efficient the equipment utilization will be.

Differential Rate

An amount added or deducted from base rate to make a rate to or from some other point or via another route.

Diversion

A change made in the route of a shipment in transit.

Divert

The route of a shipment changed in transit from that shown on the original billing. Used interchangeably with reconsign.

Dock

(a) The water alongside a pier or wharf. (b) Loading or unloading platform at an industrial location or carrier terminal.

Dock Receipt

A form used to acknowledge receipt of cargo at a steamship pier. When delivery of a foreign shipment is completed, the dock receipt is surrendered to the vessel operator or the operator's agent and serves as basis for preparation of the ocean bill of lading.

Door-to-Door

Through transportation of a container and its contents from consignor's premises to consignee's premises.

Double-Deck Load

A second tier of cargo placed on top of the first tier.

Dray

A truck or other equipment designed to haul heavy loads.

Drayage

Charge made for local hauling by dray or truck.

Dry Cargo

Cargo that does not require temperature control.

Dry Dock

An enclosed basin into which a ship is taken for underwater cleaning and repairing. It is fitted with watertight entrance gates which when closed permit the dock to be pumped dry.

Dry-Bulk Container

A container constructed to carry grain, powder and other free flowing solids in bulk.

DST

Double Stack Train. Rail or train capable of carrying two 40' containers, one on top of the other.

Dunnage (Dge.)

Lumber or other material used to brace material in carrier's equipment.

Dwell Time

It is expressed in term of no. of day that a container changed from one status to another e.g. from under inbound load (UIL) to empty available (MTA) to under outbound load (UOL). The shorter the dwell time, the more efficient the container utilization will be.

ECU

European Currency Units. A financial unit used for EC accounting.

En route

Along the route of movement.

ETA

Estimated time of arrival.

ETD

Estimated time of departure.

Ex Work

An INCOTERMS term of sale applicable to all modes of transport.

Export

Shipment of goods to another country.

Export Declaration

A government document permitting designated goods to be shipped out of the country.

F.A.K.

Freight All Kind. System whereby freight is charged per container, irrespective of the nature of the goods, and not according to a Tariff.

F.A.S.

Free Alongside Ship.

F.C.L.

Full Container load. Arrangement whereby shipper utilizes all the space in a container which he packs himself.

F.I.O.

Free In and Out.

F.O.B.

Stands for Free On Board which is a mercantile expression used in sale contracts denoting that goods have to be delivered by the shippers on board the vessel at a particular place, free of charge.

FCL/FCL

See CY/CY.

FCL/LCL

See CY/CFS.

Feeder Vessel

Vessel employed in normally short sea routes to fetch or carry goods and containers to and from ocean going vessels.

FEU

Forty-foot Equivalent Unit (40'' or 2 TEUs)

Final Destination (FND)

End of carrier?s liability where carrier delivers the cargo to consignee.

Flash Point

A temperature that when certain inflammable cargo reaches will trigger spontaneous ignition. It is an IMCO standard information requirement for dangerous goods.

FMC

Federal Maritime Commission. US Government Agency responsible for regulatory aspects of all maritime activities.

Freight

(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 denote goods which are in the process of being transported from one place to another.

Fresh Air Exchange (FAE)

The fresh air exchange system on a reefer removes harmful gases from reefers carrying sensitive perishable commodities. The fresh air vent is located on the reefer machinery end of the container. The fresh air vent is adjustable to accommodate a variety of cargo and chilled load operating conditions. The fresh air vent should be tightly closed when carrying frozen cargo.

Full Cellular Ship

A ship fitted for container carriage in all available space. The ship is fitted with vertical cells for container placement both below and above deck. No provisions are available for cargo other than containers.

Fumigation

Treatment with a pesticide active ingredient that is a gas under treatment conditions.

G.R.I.

General Rate Increase

GATT

General Agreement on Tariff and Trade.  An international multilateral agreement embodying a code of practice for fair trading in international commerce.

General Average

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 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.

Genset (Generator Set)

A portable power generator, which converts fuel into electrical power by mechanical means, and from which a reefer draws power. A clip-on generator set is mounted to the front of the refrigeration unit. An underslung generator set is mounted to the chassis upon which the reefer is mounted for handling and transport. The underslung generator set can be either side-mounted or center-mounted on the chassis.

Gooseneck

The front rails of the chassis that raise above the plane of the chassis and engage in the tunnel of a container.

Gross Tonnage

Applies to vessels, not to cargo. Determined by dividing by 100 the 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.

Hague Rules

1924 International Convention on Carriage of Goods by Sea. These 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.

Hamburg 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-owners have to bear for loss or damage to goods in the courts of those nations where the rules apply.

Harmonized Commodity Description and Coding System

A multi-purpose international goods-classification for manufacturers. Transporters, exporters, importers, customs officials, statisticians, and others in classifying goods moving in international trade under a single commodity code. Developed under the auspices of the Customs Cooperation's Council (CCC), an international customs organization in Brussels , this code is a hierarchically structured product nomenclature containing approximately 5,000 headings and subheadings describing the articles moving in international trade. It is organized into 99 chapters arranged in 22 sections. Sections encompass an industry [ (e.g., Section XI, Textiles and Textile Articles); chapters encompass the various materials and products of the industry (e.g.: Chapter 50, Silk; Chapter 55, Manmade Staple Fibers; Chapter 57, Carpets).] The basic code contains four-digit headings and six-digit subheadings. (The U.S. will add digits for tariff and statistical purposes. In the U.S. duty rates will be the 8-digit level; statistical suffixes will be at the 10-digit level. The Harmonized System (HS) is scheduled to supplant the current U.S. tariff schedule (TSUSA) in January 1988.)

Hatch

The opening in the deck of a vessel; gives access to the cargo hold.

Haulier

The participating carrier responsible for drayage.

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 8 feet 6 inches (102 inches) in height, usually 9 feet 6 inches.

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.

Hull

The body of a vessel exclusive of masts, yards, sails, rigging, machinery and equipment.

Hull Underwriter

The person with whom the ships hull, machinery apparel, and tackle is insured.

I.M.C.O.

International Maritime Consultative Organization. A forum in which most major maritime nations participate and through which recommendations for the carriage of dangerous goods, bulk commodities and maritime regulations become internationally acceptable.

I.P.I.

Inland Points Intermodal. Inland carriage by another mode of transportation after discharge.

IMDG Code

International Maritime Dangerous Goods Code. The IMO recommendations for the carriage of dangerous goods by sea.

Import

Shipment of goods from a foreign country.

Import License

A document required and issued by some national governments authorizing the importation of goods into their individual countries.

Import Permit

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, 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.

In Transit

In transit, or in passage.

Inbound

Inward bound. Direction of vessel or cargo going to port of discharge or final destination.

Incoterms

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 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.

Inland Clearance Depot

A CFS with Customs Clearance Facilities.

Insulated Container

A container insulated on the walls, roof, floor and doors, to reduce the effect of external temperatures on the cargo.

Insulated Tank Container

The frame of a container constructed to hold one or more thermally insulated tanks for liquids.

Interchange

Transfer of a container from one party to another.

Interchange Points

A terminal at which freight in the course of transportation is delivered by one transportation line to another.

Intercostals

Water service between two coasts; usually refers to water service between a point on the Atlantic and Pacific Coasts.

Intermodal

Used to denote movements of cargo or container between motor, rail or water carriers.

Intermodal Transport

Moving ocean freight containers by various transportation modes. The fact that the containers are of the same size and have common handling characteristics permits them to be transferred from truck to railroad to air carrier to ocean carrier.

International Organization for Standardization (ISO)

ISO is a worldwide federation of national standards bodies from some 130 countries, one from each country. It is a non-governmental organization established in 1947 to promote the development of standardization facilitating international trade. ISO's work results in international agreements which are published as International Standards.

Keel

The main center-line structural member, running fore and aft along the bottom of a ship, sometimes referred to as the backbone.

Knot

A unit of speed. The term "knot" means velocity in nautical miles per hour whether of a vessel or current. One nautical mile is roughly equivalent to 1.15 statute miles or 1.85 kilometers.

L.C.L.

Less than Container Load. Cargo in quantity less than required for the application of a container load rate.

LCL/FCL

See CFS/CY.

LCL/LCL

See CFS/CFS.

Letter of Indemnity

Guarantee from the shipper or consignee to indemnify carrier for costs and/or loss, if any, in order to obtain favorable action by carrier, e.g. sometimes, it is used to allow consignee to take delivery of goods without surrendering B/L which has been delayed or become lost (for straight consignment case).

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 containers are lifted by crane.

Lighter

An open or covered barge towed by a tugboat and used mainly in harbors and inland waterways.

Lighterage

Refers to the carriage of goods by lighter and the charge assessed therefore.

Line-haul

Transportation from one city to another as differentiated from local switching service.

Liner

Vessel plying a regular trade/defined route against a published sailing schedule.

Liner Terms

Freight includes the cost of loading onto and discharging from the vessel.

Lloyds' Registry

An organization maintained for the surveying and classing of ships so that insurance underwriters and others may know the quality and condition of the vessels offered for insurance or employment.

Load Factor

Percent of loaded containers against total capacity of vessel or allocation.

Locking Bar

Device that secures container doors at top and bottom.

Long Ton

2,240 pounds. (l.t., l.tn.)

Longshoreman

Individual employed locally in a port to load and unload ships.

Loose

Without packing.

Low-Bed

A trailer or semi-trailer with no sides and with the floor of the unit close to the ground.

Manifest

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.  Used principally for customs purposes. It is also called summary of Bills of lading.

Marine Insurance

Broadly, insurance covering loss or damage of goods at sea. Marine insurance typically compensates the owner of merchandise for losses sustained from fire, shipwreck, piracy and various other causes but excludes losses that can be legally recovered.

Maritime

Business pertaining to commerce or navigation transacted upon the sea or in seaports in such matters as the court of admiralty has jurisdiction over.

Marks & Nos.

Marks & Numbers placed on packages for export for identification purposes; generally a triangle, square, circle, diamond, or cross with letters and/or numbers and port discharge.

Master Lease