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list Abandonment
The marine assured has to abandon property in order to establish a constructive total loss. An underwriter is not obliged to accept abandonment, but if he does he accepts responsibility for the property and liabilities attaching thereto, in addition to being liable for the full sum insured.
list ABI – (Automated Broker
Interface)
A computer system that allows a Customs
Broker to interface directly with U.S. Customs’ computer system. Customs Clearance services are enhanced by an automated interface broker, ensuring seamless, efficient, and error-free processing for all your import and export needs.
list Acceptance of Goods
The process of receiving a consignment
from a consignor, usually against the issue of a receipt. As from this moment
and on this place the carrier’s responsibility for the consignment begins.
list Account Party
The buyer under a letter of credit. The party ultimately responsible for reimbursing the
issuing bank for all payments extended on its behalf.
list Act of God
Accidents of a nature beyond human control
such as flood, lightning or hurricane usually quoted as ‘force majeure’.
list Ad Valorem
In proportion to the value: A phrase applied to certain freight or
customs duties levied on goods, property, etc. set as a percentage of their value. Customs brokarage services expertly navigate Ad Valorem duties, ensuring accurate and compliant valuation of your goods based on their value, to streamline the customs process.
list Advice Note
A written piece of information e.g. about the status of the
goods.
list Affreightment
A contract to carry goods by ship. Charter-parties and Bills
of Lading are contracts of affreightment
list After Sight
When a draft bears this phrase, the time begins to run from
its acceptance date.
list Agency Fee
Fee payable by a ship owner or ship operator to a port
agent.
list Agent
A person or organization authorized to act for or on behalf
of another person or organization. As a trusted Customs House Agent, we act as your dedicated agent, ensuring all customs regulations are met and your shipments are cleared efficiently and promptly.
list AGR Imports
American Goods Returned.
list Air Waybill
Abbreviation: AWB
A document made out by or on behalf of the carrier(s) confirming receipt of the
goods by the carrier and evidencing the contract between the shipper and the
carrier(s) for the carriage of goods as described therein. Air Freight and Customs handle services ensure that every air waybill is meticulously managed, guaranteeing smooth transit and timely delivery of your shipments.
list Allotment
A share of the capacity of a means of transport assigned to
a certain party, e.g. a carrier or an agent, for the purpose of the booking of cargo
for a specific voyage.
list All-in
A freight quotation including all charges, often in one
lump sum rather than broken down.
list All-risk Insurance
The broadest form of coverage available, providing
protection against all risk of physical loss or damage from any external cause. Does not
cover loss or damage due to delay, inherent vice, inadequate packaging, or loss of
market.
list American Bureau of Shipping
Abbreviation: ABS
American classification society which has established rules and regulations for
the classification of seagoing vessels or equipment.
list Antidumping Duty
A duty assessed on imported merchandise that is subject to an antidumping duty order.
The antidumping duty is assessed on an entry-by-entry basis in an amount equal to the
difference between the United States price of that entry and the foreign market value of
such or similar merchandise at the time the merchandise was sold to the United States.Our Ocean Freight and Customs brokerage  services ensure that even when shipments transition from air to sea, the air waybill is seamlessly integrated for a smooth and efficient clearance process.
list Arbitration
The process of referring to an agreed person for judgement
on issues of dispute, without requiring the use of courts.
list Arrival Date
The date on which goods or a means of transport is due to
arrive at the delivery site of the transport.Our Air Freight and Customs handle services are designed to ensure that your shipments are cleared promptly upon arrival, with meticulous tracking of the arrival date to avoid any delays.
list Arrival Notice
A notice sent by a carrier to a nominated notify party advising of the
arrival of a certain shipment or consignment.
list Assignment
The transfer of certain rights from one party to another.
list Authorized Consignee / Consignor
A trader authorized by the European Commission (regulation 2454/93) to
receive or dispatch consignments under transit procedures without having to present
goods and documents directly at the customs office.As a Customs House Agent, we act as your authorized consignee, handling all necessary documentation and compliance to ensure a smooth and efficient clearance process for your shipments.
list Authorization
The commission to a certain person or body to act on behalf of another person or body.
The person or body can be authorized e.g. to issue Bills of Lading or to collect
freight.
list Average
In marine insurance: a loss or damage to or in respect of goods or
equipment
The numerical result obtained by dividing the sum of two or more quantities by the
number of quantities
list Average
Adjusters
In general average affairs average adjusters are entrusted with the task
of apportioning the loss and expenditure over the parties interested in the maritime
venture and to determine which expenses are to be regarded as average or general
average.
list Average Bond
An agreement signed by all interested parties acknowledging
their liability to pay a share of the loss under General Average.
list Award
The decision given by an arbitrator, to whom a matter in
dispute has been referred. An arbitrator states only the effect of his decision, without
reasons thus differing from a judge, who usually states the grounds of his judgment.
list B / L
A particular article, stipulation or single proviso in a Bill of Lading.
A clause can be standard and can be pre-printed on the B / L.As a Customs House Agent, we emphasize the importance of the Bill of Lading (B/L) as a crucial document that serves as proof of ownership and facilitates the smooth clearance and delivery of your goods.
list BSI Container
Specification
Accidents of a nature beyond human control such as flood, lightning or
hurricane usually quoted as ‘force majeure’.
list Bank Guarantee
An undertaking by a bank to be answerable for payment of a sum of money
in the event of non performance by the party on whose behalf the guarantee is issued.
list Bar Coding
A method of encoding data for fast and accurate electronic readability.
Bar codes are a series of alternating bars and spaces printed or stamped on products,
labels, or other media, representing encoded information which can be read by electronic
readers, used to facilitate timely and accurate input of data to a computer system. Bar
codes represent letters and/or numbers and special characters like +, /, -, etc.
list Bay
A vertical division of a vessel from stem to stern, used as a part of
the indication of a stowage place for containers. The numbers run from stem to stern;
odd numbers indicate a 20 foot position, even numbers indicate a 40 foot position.
list Bay
Plan
A stowage plan which shows the locations of all the containers on the
vessel.
list Berth
A location in a port where a vessel can be moored often indicated by a
code or name.
list Bilateral Transport Agreement
Agreement between two nations concerning their transport relations.
list Bill of Exchange
An unconditional order in writing to pay a certain sum of money to a
named person.
list Bill of
Health
The Bill of Health is the certificate issued by local medical
authorities indicating the general health conditions in the port of departure or in the
ports of call. The Bill of Health must have been visaed before departure by the Consul
of the country of destination.
When a vessel has free pratique, this means that the vessel has a clean
Bill of Health certifying that there is no question of contagious disease and that all
quarantine regulations have been complied with, so that people may embark and disembark.
list Bill of Lading
Abbreviation: B/L, plural Bs/L
A document which evidences a contract of carriage by sea.
list The document has the following functions:
A receipt for goods, signed by a duly authorized person on behalf of the
carriers
A document of title to the goods described therein
Evidence of the terms and conditions of carriage agreed upon between the
two parties
list At the moment 3 different models are used:
A document for either Combined Transport or Port to Port shipments
depending whether the relevant spaces for place of receipt and/or place of delivery are
indicated on the face of the document.
A classic marine Bill of Lading in which the carrier is also responsible
for the part of the transport actually performed by himself
Sea Waybill: A non-negotiable document, which can only be made out to a
named consignee. No surrender of the document by the consignee is required
list Bill of Lading Clause
A particular article, stipulation or single proviso in a Bill of Lading.
A clause can be standard and can be pre-printed on the B/L.
list Bill of Material
A list of all parts, sub-assemblies and raw materials that constitute a
particular assembly, showing the quantity of each required item.
list Block Train
A number of railway wagons (loaded with containers), departing from a
certain place and running straight to a place of destination, without marshalling,
transshipping or any coupling or de-coupling of wagons.
list Bona Fide
In good faith; without dishonesty, fraud or deceit.
list Bonded
The storage of certain goods under charge of customs viz. customs seal
until the import duties are paid or until the goods are taken out of the country.
Bonded warehouse (place where goods can be placed under bond)
Bonded store (place on a vessel where goods are placed behind seal until
the time that the vessel leaves the port or country again)
Bonded goods (dutiable goods upon which duties have not been paid i.e.
goods in transit or warehoused pending customs clearance)
list Booking
The offering by a shipper of cargo for transport and the acceptance of
the offering by the carrier or his agent.
list Booking Reference
Number
The number assigned to a certain booking by the carrier or his agent.
list Break Bulk
To commence discharge , Customs Handle services efficiently handle break bulk cargo, ensuring each individual piece is processed accurately and compliantly for smooth and timely delivery.
To strip unitized cargo .
list Break Bulk
Cargo
General cargo conventionally stowed as opposed to unitized,
containerized and Roll On-Roll Off cargo. Specialize in Customs Clearance for break bulk cargo, ensuring each item is meticulously handled and cleared to facilitate a seamless and efficient shipping process.
list Broker
Person who acts as an agent or intermediary in negotiating contracts. As Customs Broker, we expertly navigate complex regulations to ensure your shipments are cleared swiftly and compliantly, saving you time and reducing hassle.
list Brussels Tariff Nomenclature
The old Customs Co-operation Council Nomenclature for the classification
of goods. Now replaced by the Harmonized System.
list Buffer Stock
A quantity of goods or articles kept in store to safeguard against
unforeseen shortages or demands.
list Bulk Cargo
Unpacked homogeneous cargo poured loose in a certain space of a vessel
or container e.g. oil and grain.
list Bulk Carrier
Single deck vessel designed to carry homogeneous unpacked dry cargoes
such as grain, iron ore and coal.
list Bulk Container
A container designed for the carriage of free-flowing dry cargoes, which
are loaded through hatchways in the roof of the container and discharged through
hatchways at one end of the container.
list Bunker Adjustment
Factor
Abbreviation: BAF
Adjustment applied by liner or liner conferences to offset the effect of fluctuations in
the cost of bunkers.
list Bunkers
Quantity of fuel on board a vessel.
list Bureau Veritas
French classification society.
list Business Process
A business process is the action taken to respond to particular events,
convert inputs into outputs, and produce particular results. Business processes are what
the enterprise must do to conduct its business successfully.
list Business Process Model
The business process model provides a breakdown (process decomposition)
of all levels of business processes within the scope of a business area. It also shows
process dynamics, lower-level process interrelationships. In Summary it includes all
diagrams related to a process definition that allows for understanding what the business
process is doing (and not how).
list Buyer
Party to which merchandise is sold.
The process of receiving a consignment from a consignor, usually
against the issue of a receipt. As from this moment and on this place the
carrier’s responsibility for the consignment begins.
list CAD
Terms of payment: if the buyer of goods pays for the goods against
transfer of the documents, entitling him to obtain delivery of the goods from the
carrier.
list CAF
Adjustment applied by P&O Nedlloyd lines or liner conferences on
freight rates to offset losses or gains for carriers resulting from fluctuations in
exchange rates of tariff currencies.
list CENSA
Council of European and Japanese National Shipowner’s
Associations.
list Cabotage
Transport of goods between two ports or places located in the same
country
Transport of cargo in a country other than the country where the vehicle
is registered road-cargo)
The carriage of a container from a surplus area to an area specified by
the Owner of that container, in exchange of which and during which the operator can use
this container
list Call
The visit of a vessel to a port.
list Call Sign
A code published by the International Telecommunication Union in its
annual List of Ships’ Stations to be used for the information interchange between
vessels, port authorities and other relevant participants in international trade.
Note: The code structure is based on a three digit
designation series assigned by the ITU and a one digit assigned by the country of
registration.
list Capacity
The ability, in a given time, of a resource measured in quality and
quantity
The quantity of goods which can be stored in or loaded into a warehouse,
store and/or loaded into a means of transport at a particular time
list Cargo
Goods transported or to be transported, all goods carried on a ship
covered by a B/L.
Any goods, wares, merchandise, and articles of every kind whatsoever carried on a ship,
other than mail, ship’s stores, ship’s spare parts, ship’s equipment,
stowage material, crew’s effects and passengers’ accompanied baggage
(IMO)
Any property carried on an aircraft, other than mail, stores and accompanied or
mishandled baggage Also referred to as ‘goods’ (ICAO).We provide comprehensive cargo customs clearance handling and transportation, ensuring your goods are seamlessly processed and delivered on time, no matter the complexity.
list Cargo Handling
All procedures necessary to enable the physical handling of goods.
list Cargo Tracer
A document sent by the agent to all relevant parties, stating that
certain cargo is either missing or over-landed.
list Cargo Unit
A vehicle, container, pallet, flat, portable tank or any other entity or
any part thereof which belongs to the ship but is not permanently attached to that ship.
list Carriage
The process of transporting (conveying) cargo, from one point to
another.
list Carriage Paid To (…named place of destination)
Abbreviation: CPT
list Carriage and Insurance Paid To (…named place of
destination)
Abbreviation: CIP
list Carrier
The party undertaking transport of goods from one point to another.
list Carrier Haulage
The inland transport service, which is performed by the sea-carrier under the terms and
conditions of the tariff and of the relevant transport document.
list Carriers Bill of Lading Ports
Terminal, Pre-terminal port or Post-terminal Port as per tariff, indicated on the Bill
of Lading and which is not the port physically called at by Carriers’ ocean
vessels.
Note: Under normal circumstances in the B/L only ports should be
mentioned which are actually called at.
list Carriers Lien
When the shipper ships goods ‘collect’, the carrier has a possessory claim
on these goods, which means that the carrier can retain possession of the goods as
security for the charges due
list Cartage
Abbreviation: CAD
Terms of payment: if the buyer of goods pays for the goods against transfer of the
documents, entitling him to obtain delivery of the goods from the carrier.
list Cash On Delivery
Abbreviation: COD
Terms of payment: if the carrier collects a payment from the consignee
and remits the amount to the shipper (air cargo).
list Caveat Emptor
Let the buyer beware, purchaser must ascertain the condition of the
goods to be purchased prior to the purchase.
list Cellular Vessel
A vessel, specially designed and equipped for the carriage of
containers.
list Certificate of Classification
A certificate, issued by the classification society and stating the
class under which a vessel is registered.
list Certificate of Origin
A certificate, showing the country of original production of goods.
Frequently used by customs in ascertaining duties under preferential tariff program
or in connection with regulating imports from specific sources.Certificate of Origin is crucial for customs clearance as it verifies the origin of the goods, impacting duties, tariffs, and compliance with trade regulations.
list Charge
An amount to be paid for carriage of goods based on the applicable rate
of such carriage, or an amount to be paid for a special or incidental service in
connection with the carriage of goods.
list Charge Type
A separate, identifiable element of charges to be used in the
pricing/rating of common services rendered to customers.
list Charter Party
A contract in which the ship owner agrees to place his vessel or a part
of it at the disposal of a third party, the charterer, for the carriage of goods for
which he receives a freight per ton cargo, or to let his vessel for a definite period or
trip for which a hire is paid
synonym: Charter Contract
list Charterer
The legal person who has signed a charter party with the owner of a
vessel or an aircraft and thus hires or leases a vessel or an aircraft or a part of the
capacity thereof.
list Chassis
A wheeled carriage onto which an ocean container is mounted for inland
conveyance
The part of a motor vehicle that includes the engine, the frame, suspension system,
wheels, steering mechanism etc., but not the body
list Claim
A charge made against a carrier for loss, damage or delay.
list Classification
Arrangement according to a systematic division of a number of objects
into groups, based on some likeness or some common traits.
list Classification Society
An Customs House Agent Organization, whose main function is to carry out surveys of vessels,
its purpose being to set and maintain standards of construction and upkeep for vessels,
their engines and their safety equipment. A classification society also inspects and
approves the construction of containers.
list Clean Bill of Lading
A Bill of Lading which does not contain any qualification about the apparent order and
condition of the goods to be transported (it bears no stamped clauses on the front of
the B/L). It bears no superimposed clauses expressly declaring a defective condition of
the goods or packaging (resolution of the ICS 1951).
list Clean on Board
When goods are loaded on board and the document issued in respect to these goods is
clean.
Note: Through the usage of the UCP 500 rules the term has now become
superfluous.
list Client
A party with which a company has a commercial relationship concerning the transport of
e.g. cargo or concerning certain services of the company concerned, either directly or
through an agent.
list Co-loading
The loading, on the way, of cargo from another shipper, having the same final
destination as the cargo loaded earlier.
list Combined Transport
Intermodal transport where the major part of the journey is by one mode such as rail,
inland waterway or sea and any initial and/or final leg carried out by another mode such
as road.
list Combined Transport Document
Abbreviation: CTD
Negotiable or non-negotiable document evidencing a contract for the performance and/or
procurement of performance of combined transport of goods.
Thus a combined transport document is a document issued by a Carrier who contracts as a
principal with the Merchant to effect a combined transport often on a door-to-door
basis.
list Combined Transport Operator
Abbreviation: CTO
A party who undertakes to carry goods with different modes of transport.
list Commercial Invoice
A document showing commercial values of the transaction between the
buyer and seller.
list Commodity
Indication of the type of goods. Commodities are coded according to the
harmonized system. Commodity classification and its accurate description are crucial for customs clearance, as they determine the applicable tariffs, regulations, and compliance requirements for your shipment.
list Conditions
Anything called for as requirements before the performance or completion
of something else
Contractual stipulations which are printed on a document or provided
separately
list Conditions of Carriage
The general terms and conditions established by a carrier in respect of
the carriage (air cargo).
list Conditions of Contract
Terms and conditions shown on the Air Waybill (air cargo).
list Conference
Accumulation of vessels at a port to the extent that vessels arriving to
load or discharge are obliged to wait for a vacant berth.
list Consignee
The party such as mentioned in the transport document by whom the goods,
cargo or containers are to be received.
list Consignment
A separate identifiable number of goods (available to be) transported
from one consignor to one consignee via one or more than one modes of transport and
specified in one single transport document.We handle all aspects of your consignment, including customs clearance, freight management, and transportation, ensuring a seamless and efficient process from start to finish.
list Consignment Instructions
Instructions from either the seller/consignor or the buyer/consignee to
a freight forwarder, carrier or his agent, or other provider of a service, enabling the
movement of goods and associated activities. The following functions can be covered:
list Damaged Cargo Report
Written statement concerning established damages to cargo and/or
equipment.
list Dangerous Goods
Goods are to be considered dangerous if the transport of such goods
might cause harm, risk, peril, or other evil to people, environment, equipment or any
property whatsoever.Handling dangerous goods during customs handling involves heightened risk management due to stringent regulations and safety protocols, requiring meticulous documentation and adherence to safety standards to ensure compliance and minimize delays.
list Dangerous Goods Declaration
Document issued by a consignor in accordance with applicable conventions
or regulations, describing hazardous goods or materials for transport purposes, and
stating that the latter have been packed and labelled in accordance with the provisions
of the relevant conventions or regulations.
list Dangerous Goods Packing Certificate
A document as part of the dangerous goods declaration in which the
responsible party declares that the cargo has been stowed in accordance with the rules
in a clean container in compliance with the IMDG regulations and properly secured.
list Date Draft
A draft that matures in a specified number of days after
issuance without regard to date of acceptance.
list DAF (Delivered At Frontier)
Delivered At Frontier (DAF) The seller (exporter) is
responsible for all costs involved in delivering the goods to the named point and place
at the frontier. Risk of loss transfers at the frontier. The buyer must pay the costs
and bear the risk of unloading the goods, Customs clearing , and transporting the goods
to the final destination. If FOB is the Customs valuation basis, the international
insurance and freight costs must be deducted from the DAF price.
list DDU (Delivered Duty Unpaid)
The seller (exporter) is responsible for all costs involved
in delivering the goods to a named place of destination where the goods are placed at
the disposal of the buyer. The buyer (importer) assumes risk of loss at that point and
must clear Customs clearance  and pay duties and provide inland transportation & insurance to
the final destination.
list DDP (Delivered Duty Paid)
The seller (exporter) is responsible for all costs involved
in delivering the goods to a named place of destination and for clearing Customs in the
country of import. Under a DDP Incoterm, the seller provides literally door-to-door
delivery, including Customs clearance in the port of export and the port of destination.
Thus the seller bears the entire risk of loss until goods are delivered to the
buyer’s premises. A DDP transaction will read “DDP named place of
destination”. For example, assuming goods imported through Baltimore are delivered
to Silver Spring , the Incoterm would read “DDP, Silver Spring “. If CIF is
the Customs valuation basis, the costs of unloading the vessel, Customs Clearance , and
delivery to the buyer’s premises in the country of destination including inland
insurance, must be deducted to arrive at the CIF value.
list Deadfreight
Slots paid for but not used.
list Deadweight
Abbreviation: DWT
The total weight of cargo, cargo equipment, bunkers, provisions, water,
stores and spare parts which a vessel can lift when loaded to her maximum draught as
applicable under the circumstances. The dead-weight is expressed in tons.
list Degroupage
The ability, in a given time, of a resource measured in quality and
quantity
The quantity of goods which can be stored in or loaded into a warehouse,
store and/or loaded into a means of transport at a particular time
list Delivered Duty
Paid (…named place of destination)
Abbreviation: DDP
list Delivered Duty
Unpaid (…named place of destination)
Abbreviation: DDU
list Delivered Ex
Quay (…named port of destination)
Abbreviation: DEQ
list Delivered Ex
Ship(…named port of destination)
Abbreviation: DES
list Delivery Instruction
Document issued by a buyer giving instructions regarding the details of
the delivery of goods ordered.
list Delivery Note
A document recording the delivery of products to a consignee (customer).
list Delivery Order
A carrier’s delivery order (negotiable document) is used for splitting a B/L
(after surrender) in different parcels and have the same function as a B/L.
The authorization of the entitled party for the shipment to a party other than the
consignee showed on the Air Waybill (air cargo)
list Demurrage
A variable fee charged to carriers and/or customers for the use of Unit
Load Devices (ULD’s) owned by a carrier beyond the free time of shipment
Additional charge imposed for exceeding the free time, which is included
in the rate and allowed for the use of certain equipment at the terminal. Efficient customs clearance is essential to avoid demurrage charges, as delays in processing can lead to additional costs and impact your overall shipping timeline.
list DEQ (Delivered Ex-quay)
The seller (exporter) is responsible for all costs involved
in transporting the goods to the wharf (quay) at the port of destination. The buyer must
pay duties, Customs handle , and pay the cost/bear the risk of loss from that point
forward. If FOB is the Customs valuation basis, the international insurance and freight
costs, in addition to unloading costs, must be deducted from the DEQ price.
list DES (Delivered Ex-ship)
The seller (exporter) is responsible for all costs involved
in delivering the goods to a named port of destination. Upon arrival, the goods are made
available to the buyer (importer) on-board the vessel. Therefore, the seller is
responsible for all costs/risk of loss prior to unloading at the port of destination.
The buyer (importer) must have the goods unloaded, pay duties, Customs clearance  and provide
inland transportation & insurance to the final destination.
list Dispatch Advice
Information send by shippers to the recipient of goods informing that
specified goods are sent or ready to be sent advising the detailed contents of the
consignment.
list Destination
Place for which goods or a vehicle is bound
The ultimate stopping place according to the contract of
carriage (air cargo)
list Detention
Keeping equipment beyond the time allowed. Timely customs brokerage is crucial to prevent detention fees, as delays in clearing your shipment can result in extended storage costs and disruptions to your supply chain.
list Detention Charge
Charges levied on usage of equipment exceeding free time period as
stipulated in the pertinent inland rules and conditions.
list Devanning
See Stripping, Unpacking Deviation from a Route
A divergence from the agreed or customary route.
list Dimensions
Measurements in length, width and height, regarding cargo.
list Direct Delivery
The conveyance of goods directly from the vendor to the buyer. Frequently used if a
third party acts as intermediary agent between vendor and buyer
Direct discharge from vessel onto railroad car, road vehicle or barge with the purpose
of immediate transport from the port area (usually occurs when ports lack adequate
storage space or when ports are not equipped to handle a specific cargo)
list Direct Interchange
Transfer of leased equipment from one lessee to another (container).
list Direct Route
The shortest operated route between two points.
list Discharge
The unloading of a vehicle, a vessel or an aircraft
The landing of cargo
list Discrepancy
Difference between the particulars given and the particulars found.
list Distribution Centre
A warehouse for the receipt, the storage and the dispersal of goods among customers.
list Distribution Channel
The route by which a company distributes goods.
list Door to Door Transport
The transport of cargo from the premises of the consignor to the
premises of the consignee.
Note: In the United States the term ‘Point to Point Transport’ is used
instead of the term ‘Door to Door Transport’, because the term
‘house’ may mean ‘customs house agent ’ or ‘Customs Broker ’,
which are usually located in the port.
list Double Stack Train
A number of railway wagons, usually a block train, on which containers
can be stacked two- high.
list Draft
The draft of a vessel is the vertical distance between the waterline
and the underside of the keel of the vessel. During the construction of a vessel the
marks showing the draft are welded on each side of the vessel near the stem, the stern
and amain-txtships.
list Drawback
Repayment of any part of customs or excise duties previously collected
on imported goods, when those goods are exported again.
list Drayage
The hauling of a load by a cart with detachable sides (dray)
Road transportation between the nearest railway terminal and the
stuffing place
list Drop off Charge
Charge made by container owner and/or terminal operators for delivery
of a leased, or pool container into depot stock. The drop-off charge may be a
combination of actual handling and storage charges with surcharges during customs clearance.
list Dunnage
Stowage material, mainly timber or board, used to prevent damage to
cargo during carriage.
list Duty Free Zone
An area where goods or cargo can be stored without paying import
customs duties awaiting further transport or manufacturing.
list EDI For Administration, Commerce and
Transport
Abbreviation: UN/EDIFACT
The ISO application level syntax rules for the structuring of user data
and of the associated service data in the interchange of messages in an open
environment.
list Electronic Data Interchange
Abbreviation: EDI
The transfer of structured data, by agreed standards from applications
on the computer of one party to the applications on the computer of another party by
electronic means.
list Electronic Data Processing
Abbreviation: EDP
The computerized handling of information (e.g. business data).
list Embargo
A government order prohibiting the entry or departure of commercial
vessels or goods at its ports
The refusal by a carrier, for a limited period, to accept for transport
over any route or segment thereof, and to or from any area or point, of a connecting
carrier, any commodity, type of class of cargo duly tendered (air cargo)
list Emergency Medical Service
Abbreviation: EMS
Medical procedures in case of emergencies on board of vessels.
list Endorsement
The transfer of the right to obtain delivery of the goods of the carrier
by means of the consignee’s signature on the reverse side of a bill of lading. If
the name of the new consignee (transferee) is not stated, the endorsement is an open one
which means that every holder of the document is entitled to obtain delivery of the
goods.
list Equipment Interchange Receipt
Abbreviation: EIR
Physical inspection and transfer receipt.
list Estimated Time of Arrival
Abbreviation: ETA
The expected date and time of arrival in a certain (air)port.
list Estimated Time of Departure
Abbreviation: ETD
The expected date and time when a certain (air)port is left.
list Ex Works (…named
place)
Abbreviation: EXW
list Export
The process of carrying or sending goods to another country or
countries, especially for purposes of use or sale in the country of destination. The
sale of products to clients abroad.
list Export License
Document granting permission to export as detailed within a specified
time for export customs clearance service.
list Exporter
The party responsible for the export of goods.
list EXW (Ex-works)
The seller (exporter) makes the goods available to the
buyer (importer) at the seller’s premises. The buyer is responsible for all
transportation costs, duties, and insurance, and accepts risk of loss of goods
immediately after the goods are purchased and placed outside the factory door. The Ex
Works price does not include the price of loading goods onto a truck or vessel, and no
allowance is made for customs clearance . If FOB is the Customs valuation basis of the
goods in the country of destination, the transportation and insurance costs from the
seller’s premises to the port of export must be added to the Ex Works price.
list FAS (Free Alongside Ship)
The seller transports the goods from his place
of business, clears the goods for export and places them alongside the vessel at the
port of export, where the risk of loss shifts to the buyer. The buyer is responsible for
loading the goods onto the vessel (unless specified otherwise) and for paying all costs
involved in shipping the goods to the final destination.
list FCA (Free Carrier)
The seller (exporter) clears the goods for
export and delivers them to the carrier and place specified by the buyer. If the place
chosen is the seller’s place of business, the seller must load the goods onto the
transport vehicle; otherwise, the buyer is responsible for loading the goods. Buyer
assumes risk of loss from that point forward and must pay for all costs associated with
transporting the goods to the final destination.
list FCL
Full Container Load, Full Car Load.
list Federal Maritime Commission
(FMC)
The U.S. Federal agency responsible for
overseeing Ocean Carriers, Conferences, NVOCC’s and Ocean Freight Forwarders (now
called OTI’s – Ocean Transportation Intermediaries) at ocean ports and
inland waterways.
list Feeder Vessel
A vessel that connects with a line vessel to
service a port not directly served by that line vessel.
list FEU
(Forty foot equivalent) Term normally used in
ocean freight rate negotiations referring to the equivalent of two twenty foot ocean
containers.
list FIATA
International Federation of Freight Forwarders
Associations.
list Flag Carrier
An airline or vessel of one national registry
whose government gives it partial or total monopoly over international routes.
list Flat Bed Chassis
A semi-trailer with a level bed and no sides or
tops. The floor is a standard height from the ground.
list Flat Rack
A platform designed with the flexibility to
carry oversized cargo on board container vessels. It can be loaded from the sides and
top, usually having adjustable or removable bulkheads at the front and back.
list FMC
Federal Maritime Commission (Control of Shipping acts USA)
list FOB (Free On Board)
The seller (exporter) is responsible for delivering the
goods from his place of business and loading them onto the vessel of at the port of
export as well as clearing customs in the country of export. As soon as the goods cross
the “ships-rails” (the ship’s threshold) the risk of loss transfers to
the buyer (importer). The buyer must pay for all transportation and insurance costs from
that point, and must clear customs in the country of import. An FOB transaction will
read “FOB, port of export”. For example, assuming the port of export is
Boston , an FOB transaction would read “FOB Boston “. If CIF is the Customs
valuation basis, international freight and insurance must be added to the FOB value.
list Foreign Trade Zone ( FTZ )
A port designated by the government for duty-free entry of
any non-prohibited goods. Merchandise may be stored, displayed, and used for
manufacturing within the zone and re-exported without duties being paid. Duties are
imposed only when the original goods or items manufactured from those goods pass from
the zone into an area of the country subject to customs authority. Also called a Free
Trade Zone.
list Foreign Trade Zone Entry
A form declaring goods which are brought duty free into a
Foreign Trade Zone for further processing or storage and subsequent exportation from the
zone into the commerce of another country.
list Forwarder
An independent business that dispatches shipments for
exporters for a fee. The firm may ship by land, air, or sea, or it may specialize.
Usually it handles all the services connected with an export shipment, including
preparation of documents, booking cargo space, warehousing, pier delivery, and export customs
clearance. The firm may also handle banking and insurance services on behalf of a
client.
list Free Of Particular Average (FPA )
A marine insurance clause relating to the recoverability of
partial and total losses from perils of the sea. The American and English
coverage’s vary as follows:
American Conditions (FPAAC) – The underwriter does not assume responsibility for
partial losses unless caused by sinking, stranding, burning, or colliding with another
vessel.
English Conditions (FPAEC) – The underwriter assumes responsibility for partial
losses if the vessel is sunk, stranded, burned, on fire, or in collision, even though
such an event did not actually cause the damage suffered by the goods.
list FTL
Full Truck Load, an indication for a truck transporting
cargo directly from supplier to receiver.
list Factory Delivery
The delivery of goods by a factory whereby the goods are
put at the disposal of another (internal) party such as a commercial department.
list Feeder
A vessel normally used for local or coastal transport (for
carriage of cargo and/or containers) to and from ports not scheduled to be called by the
main (ocean) vessel, directly connecting these ports to the main (ocean) vessel.
list Flag
An indication of the country in which a means of transport
is registered through a reference to the ensign of this country.
list Flammable
Capable to be set on fire under given circumstances.
(Amendment 25 IMO DGS).
list Flash Point
The lowest temperature at which a good produces enough
vapor to form a flammable mixture with air.
list Flat Rack Container
A container with two end walls and open sides.
list Fleet
Any group of means of transport acting together or under
one control.
list Force
Majeure
Circumstance which is beyond the control of one of the
parties to a contract and which may, according to the terms and conditions, relieve that
party of liability for failing to execute the contract.
list Fork Lift Truck
A three or four wheeled mechanical truck with forks at the
front designed for lifting, carrying and stowing cargo.
list Forty Foot Equivalent Unit
Abbreviation: FEU
Unit of measurement equivalent to one forty foot container.
list Forwarder
The party arranging the carriage of goods including
connected services and/or associated formalities on behalf of a shipper or consignee.
list Forwarding Charge
Charges paid or to be paid for preliminary surface or air
transport to the airport of departure by a forwarder, but not by a carrier under an Air
Waybill (air cargo).
list Forwarding Instruction
Document issued to a freight forwarder, giving instructions
to the forwarder for the forwarding of goods described therein.
list Gang
A number of workmen acting together especially for
loading and/or discharging operations of a vessel in combination with the necessary
gear. (On a vessel for instance 6 gangs can be ordered to discharge or load.)
list Garments On Hangers
Clothes in containers on hangers and hung from rails
during transit, reducing the handling required for the garments.
list Gateway
A point at which cargo is interchanged between carriers or
modes of transport
A means of access, an entry
list GATT
(General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade) – A
multilateral treaty intended to help reduce trade barriers and promote tariff
concessions.
list General Agreement on Tariffs and
Trade
Abbreviation: GATT
Major international agreement on trade and tariffs between
many nations all over the world. The discussions are now held by the WTO.
list General Average
Abbreviation: G/A
Intentional act or sacrifice which is carried out to
safeguard vessel and cargo. When a vessel is in danger, the master has the right to
sacrifice property and/or to incur reasonable expenditure. Measures taken for the sole
benefit of any particular interest are not considered general average.
list General Average Act (York-Antwerp
Rules)
There is a general average act when, and only when any
extraordinary sacrifice or expenditure is intentionally and reasonably made or incurred
for the common safety for the purpose of preserving from peril the property involved in
a common maritime adventure.
list General Cargo
Cargo, consisting of goods, unpacked or packed, for example
in cartons, crates, bags or bales, often palletized. General cargo can be shipped either
in breakbulk or containerized
Any consignment other than a consignment containing
valuable cargo and charged for transport at general cargo rates (air cargo)
list General Purpose Container
A Container with two end walls and open sides. A container
used for the carriage of general cargo without any special requirements for the
transport and or the conditioning of the goods.
list Goods
Common term indicating movable property, merchandise or
wares
All materials which can be used to satisfy demands
Whole or part of the cargo received from the shipper, including any equipment supplied
by the shipper
list Goods Receipt
Document issued by a port, warehouse, shed, or terminal
operator acknowledging receipt of goods specified therein on conditions stated or
referred to in the document.
list Goods in Transit
he goods which have departed from the initial loading point
and not yet arrived at the final unloading point.
list Groupage
The collection of several small consignments and the
formation of one large shipment thereof (road cargo).
list Gross Weight (GR WT./GW)
The full weight of a shipment, including containers and
packaging materials.
list Hague Rules
International convention for the unification of certain
rules, relating to Bills of Lading (1924). These Rules include the description of
responsibilities of Shipping Lines.
list Hague-Visby Rules
Set of rules, published in 1968, amending the Hague Rules.
list Hamburg Rules
United Nations Convention on the carriage of goods by sea
of 1978 adopted in 1992.
list Harmonized System
Abbreviation: HS
It is a numeric multi purpose system, the international
convention on the HS was established under auspices of the World Customs Organisation in
1983, for the classification of goods with its six digits covering about 5000
descriptions of the products or groups of products most commonly produced and traded. It
is designed for customs services, but can also be used for statistics, transport
purposes, export, import and manufacturing.
list Haulage
The inland carriage of cargo or containers between named
locations/points.
Merchant inspired Carrier Haulage or customer nominated
Carrier Haulage or shipper preferred Carrier Haulage service performed by a
sub-contractor of the merchant
Carrier inspired Merchant Haulage means Haulage service
performed by a sub- contractor of the Carrier
list Hauler
Road carrier.
list Hi (Or High) Cube
Any container exceeding 102 inches in height.
list House Air Waybill
An air waybill issued by an airfreight consolidator.
list House to House Transport
The transport of cargo from the premises of the consignor
to the premises of the consignee.
Note: In the United States the term ‘Point to Point
Transport’ is used instead of the term ‘Door to Door Transport’,
because the term ‘house’ may mean ‘customs house’ or
‘brokers house’, which are usually located in the port.
list Hub
The central transshipment point in a transport structure,
serving a number of consignees and/or consignors by means of spokes. The stretches
between hubs mutually are referred to as trunks.
list IATA
International Air Transport Association.
list ICAO
(International Civil Aviation Organization)
– A specialized agency of the United Nations headquartered in Montreal . It
promotes general development of civil aviation such as aircraft design and operation,
safety procedures, and contractual agreements.
list ICC (International Chamber Of
Commerce)
A non-governmental organization serving as a
policy advocate on world business.
list Idle Time
The amount of ineffective time whereby the available
resources are not used e.g. a container in a yard.
list IGLOO
A contoured structural container designed for use in
main-deck carriage on narrow body aircraft.
list Import License
A certificate issued by countries exercising import
controls that permits importation of the articles stated in the license and often
authorizes and/or releases the funds in payment of the importation.
list Inducement
When steamship lines publish in their schedules the name of
a port and the words “by inducement” in parentheses, this means the vessel
will call at the port if there is a sufficient amount of profitable cargo available and
booked.
list Inland Carrier
A transportation line which hauls export or import cargo
between ports and inland points.
list Inspection Certificate
A document certifying that merchandise was in good
condition, or in accordance with certain specifications immediately prior to shipment.
list Integrated Carrier
A forwarder that uses its own aircraft, whether owned or
leased, rather than scheduled airlines.
list Interline
A mutual agreement between airlines to link their route
network.
list Intermodal
This refers to the capacity to go from ship to train to
truck or the like. The term generally refers to containerized shipping or the capacity
to handle containers across different modes of transport.
list In Transit
The status of goods or persons between the
outwards customs clearance and inwards customs clearance.
list INCO Terms
Trade terms ( very much important in Freight & Customs Clearance Progress ) in coded form as established by the
International Chamber of Commerce in 1953, where after they have been regularly updated.
(Last update 2000). The terms represent a set of international rules for the
interpretation of the principal terms of delivery used in trade contracts.
list Inland Waterways Bill of
Lading
Transport document made out to a named person, to order or
to bearer, signed by the carrier and handed to the sender after receipt of the goods.
list Insurance
A system of protection against loss under which a party
agrees to pay a certain sum (premiums) for a guarantee that they will be compensated
under certain conditions for loss or damage.
list Insurance Certificate
Proof of an insurance contract.
list Insurance Company
The party covering the risks of the issued goods and/or
services that are insured.
list Intermodal Transport
The movement of goods (containers) in one and the same
loading unit or vehicle which uses successively several modes of transport without
handling of the goods themselves in changing modes.
list International Air Transport
Association
Abbreviation: IATA
An international organization of airlines, founded in
1945, with the aim of promoting the commercial air traffic. Parties should achieve this
by co-operation between the parties concerned and by performance of certain rules,
procedures and tariffs, regarding both cargo and passengers.
list International Association of
Classification Societies
Abbreviation: IACS
An organization in which the major classification
societies, among others American Bureau of Shipping, Lloyd’s Register of Shipping
and Germanischer Lloyd, are joined, whose principal aim is the improvement of standards
concerning safety at sea.
list International Chamber of
Shipping
Abbreviation: ICS
A voluntary organization of national shipowner’
associations with the objective to promote interests of its members, primarily in the
technical and legal fields of shipping operations.
list International Maritime Dangerous Goods
Code
Abbreviation: IMDG Code
A code, representing the classification of dangerous goods
as defined by the International Maritime Organization (IMO) in compliance with
international legal requirements.
list International Maritime
Organization
Abbreviation: IMO
An United Nations agency concerned with safety at sea. Its
work includes codes and rules relating to tonnage measurement of vessels, load lines,
pollution and the carriage of dangerous goods.
Its previous name was the Inter-Governmental Maritime Consultative Organization (IMCO).
list Invoice
An account from the supplier, for goods and/or services
supplied by him.
list Jetsam
Goods thrown or lost.
list Jettison
The act of intentionally throwing cargo overboard e.g. with the
objective of lightening a vessel, which has run aground, such for the common good of all
interests: vessel, crew and remaining cargo.
list Jetty
A mole or breakwater, running out into the sea to protect harbours or
coasts. It is sometimes used as a landing-pier.
list Jib
Projecting arm of a crane
Attachment connected to the top of a crane boom
list Job
That work which is undertaken to meet a customer or production order
and, for production control purposes, has a unique identification.
list Joint Venture
A joint activity of two or more companies usually performed under a
common name.
list Journey
A voyage from one place, port or country to another one, in case of a
round trip, to the same one.
list Jurisprudence
Juridical decisions used for explanation and meaning of law.
list Just In Time
Abbreviation: JIT
The movement of material/goods at the necessary place at the necessary
time.
The implication is that each operation is closely synchronised with the subsequent ones
to make that possible.
A method of inventory control that brings stock into the production
process, warehouse or to the customer just in time to be used, thus reducing stock
piling.
list KNOT, NAUTICAL
The unit of speed equivalent to one nautical
mile: 6,080.20 feet per hour or 1.85 kilometers per hour.
list Kyoto Convention
The convention for the International Customs Co-operation
Council held in Kyoto in 1974 for the simplification and harmonisation of national
customs procedures.
On 25th of June 1999 the updated and restructured
International Convention on the simplification and harmonisation of Customs Procedures
(Kyoto Convention) was unanimously adopted by 114 customs administrations.
This convention was restructured to deal with computerised controls and to ensure better
co- operation between customs authorities mutually and with trade in general.
list Label
A slip of e.g. paper or metal attached to an object to
indicate the nature, ownership, destination, contents and/or other particulars of the
object.
list Lash
To hold goods in position by the use of, e.g., wires,
ropes, chains and straps.
list ShipLeasing Company
The company from which property or equipment is taken on
lease.
list Legal Weight
The weight of the goods plus any immediate wrappings or
packagings that are sold along with the goods, e.g., the weight of a tin can as well as
its contents.
list Less than Container Load
Abbreviation: LCL
A general reference for identifying cargo in any quantity
intended for carriage in a container, where the Carrier is responsible for packing
and/or unpacking the container
For operational purposes a LCL (Less than full container
load) container is considered a container in which multiple consignments or
parts thereof are shipped
Abbreviation: LTL
A term used if the quantity or volume of one or more
consignment(s) does not fill a standard truck.
list Lessee
The party to whom the possession of specified property has
been conveyed for a period of time in return for rental payments.
list Lessor
The party who conveys specified property to another for a
period of time in return for the receipt of rent.
list Letter of Credit
Abbreviation: L/C
A written undertaking by a bank (issuing bank) given to
the seller (beneficiary) at the request, and on the instructions of the buyer
(applicant) to pay at sight or at a determinable future date up to a stated sum of
money, within a prescribed time limit and against stipulated documents.
list Letter Of Credit, Confirmed
A letter of credit containing a guarantee on the part of
both the issuing and advising banks of payment to the seller, provided the
seller’s documentation is in order and the terms of the letter of credit are met.
list Letter of Indemnity
Written statement in which one party undertakes to
compensate another for the costs and consequences of carrying out a certain act. The
issue of a letter of indemnity is sometimes used for cases when a shipper likes
receiving a clean Bill of Lading while a carrier is not allowed to do so.
list Liability
Legal responsibility for the consequences of certain acts
or omissions.
list Lien
A legal claim upon real or personal property to pay a debt
or duty.
list Lighter
An open or covered barge equipped with a crane and towed by
a tugboat. Used mostly in harbors and inland waterways.
list Liner
The word “liner” is derived from the term
“line traffic,” which denotes operation along definite routes on the basis
of definite, fixed schedules. A liner thus is a vessel that engages in this kind of
transportation, which usually involves the haulage of general cargo as distinct from
bulk cargo.
list Liner Conference
A group of two or more vessel-operating carriers, which
provides international liner services for the carriage of cargo on a particular trade
route and which has an agreement or arrangement to operate under uniform or common
freight rates and any other agreed conditions (e.g. FEFC = Far Eastern Freight
Conference).
list Liner In Free Out
Abbreviation: LIFO
Transport condition denoting that the freight rate is
inclusive of the sea carriage and the cost of loading, the latter as per the custom of
the port. It excludes the cost of discharging.
list Liner Terms
Condition of carriage denoting that costs for loading and
unloading are borne by the carrier subject the custom of the port concerned.
list Lloyd’s Register of
Shipping
British classification society.
list LO / LO (LIFT-ON/LIFT-OFF)
Denotes the method by which cargo is loaded onto and
discharged from an ocean vessel, which in this case is by the use of a crane.
list Load Factor
Capacity used as against capacity available and expressed
as a percentage.
list Logistics Management
The efficient and cost-effective management of the physical
movement of goods from supply points to final sale and the associated transfer and
holding of such goods at various intermediate storage points.
list Main-line Operator
Abbreviation: MLO
A carrier employing vessel(s) in the main or principal
routes in a trade but not participating within a consortium.
list Manifest
Document, which lists the specifications of goods, loaded
in a means of transport or equipment for transportation purposes.
As a rule cargo the agents in the place of loading draw up
manifests
Note: For P&O Nedlloyd a manifest represents a
cumulation of Bills of Lading for official and administrative purposes
list Marine Insurance
Policy
An insurance policy protecting the insured against loss or
damage to his goods occurred during ocean transport.
list Mate’s
Receipt
A document signed by the chief officer of a vessel
acknowledging the receipt of a certain consignment on board of that vessel. On this
document, remarks can be made as to the order and condition of the consignment.
list Measurement Ton
The measurement ton (also known as the cargo ton or freight
ton) is a space measurement, usually 40 cubic feet or one cubic meter. Cargo is assessed
a certain rate for every 40 cubic feet or one cubic meter it occupies.
list Mercosur
A trade alliance between Argentina, Brazil , Paraguay and
Uruguay , with Chile and Bolivia as associate members.
list Medical First Aid
Guide
Abbreviation: MFAG
Instructions to be consulted in case of accidents involving
dangerous goods.
list Merchant
Haulage
Inland transport of cargo in containers arranged by the
Merchant.
It includes empty container-moves to and from hand-over
points in respect of containers released by the Carrier to Merchants.

Note: Carrier’s responsibility under the Bill
of Lading does not include the inland transport stretch under Merchant Haulage.
list Multimodal
Transport
The carriage of goods (containers) by at least two
different modes of transport.
list Multimodal Transport
Document
Negotiable or non-negotiable document evidencing a contract
for the performance and/or procurement of performance of combined transport of goods.
Thus a combined transport document is a document issued by
a Carrier who contracts as a principal with the Merchant to effect a combined transport
often on a door-to-door basis.
list Multimodal Transport
Operator/Carrier
Abbreviation: MTO/Carrier
The person on whose behalf the transport document or any
document evidencing a contract of multimodal carriage of goods is issued and who is
responsible for the carriage of goods pursuant to the contract of carriage.
list NAFTA
(North American Free Trade Agreement) – A
free trade agreement comprising the U.S.A. , Canada , and Mexico .
list National Carrier
A flag carrier owned or controlled by the
state.
list Net Terms
Free of charters’ commission.
list Net Weight (Actual Net Weight)
The weight of the goods alone without any
immediate wrappings; e.g., the weight of the contents of a tin can without the weight of
the can.
list Non Vessel Operating Common
Carrier
Abbreviation: NVOCC
A party who undertakes to carry goods and issues in his own
name a Bill of Lading for such carriage, without having the availability of any own
means of transport.
list Notify Address
Address of the party other than the consignee to be advised
of the arrival of the goods.
list Notify Party
The party to be notified of arrival of goods.
list OD
Outside Diameter.
list Open Account
A trade arrangement in which goods are shipped
to a foreign buyer without guarantee of payment such as a note, L/C, or other formal
written evidence of indebtedness.
list Open Policy
A cargo insurance policy that is an open
contract; e.g., it provides protection for all shipments in transit within a specified
geographic trade area for a limited period of time. It is referred to as
“open” because it does not require reporting of individual shipments.
Summary or grouped reporting requirements vary with different policies.
list Oncarriage
The carriage of goods (containers) by any mode of transport
to the place of delivery after discharge from the ocean vessel (main means of transport)
at the port (place) of discharge.
list One Stop Shop
An organisation, which provides all needed
requirements in one location.
list Open Top
Container
A freight container similar in all respects to a general
purpose container except that it has no rigid roof but may have a flexible and movable
or removable cover, for example one made of canvas or plastic or reinforced plastic
material normally supported on movable or removable roof bows.
list O/R
Owner’s Risk.
list Out of Gauge Cargo
Cargo which dimensions are exceeding the normal dimensions
of a 20 or 40 feet container, e.g. overlength, overwidth, overheight, or combinations
thereof.
list Outturn Report
Written statement by a stevedoring company
in which the condition of cargo discharged from a vessel is noted along with any
discrepancies in the quantity compared with the vessel’s manifest.
list Overheight Cargo
Cargo, exceeding the standard height.
list Overlength Cargo
Cargo, exceeding the standard length.
list Overwidth
Cargo
Cargo, exceeding the standard width.
list Owner
The legal owner of cargo, equipment or means
of transport.
list Part Charter
Where part of an airline’s scheduled
flight is sold as if it were a charter in its own right. Often incorrectly used as a
synonym for split charter.
list Part Load Charter
Where a part of an aircraft’s load is
discharged at one destination and a part of it at another. This is distinct from a split
charter where a number of consignments are carried to the same destination. Inbound,
part loads are treated as single entity charters under the regulations in most
countries.
list Particular Average (PA)
Partial loss or damage to goods.
list Perils Of The Sea
Fortuitous accidents or casualties peculiar to
transportation on navigable water, such as sinking, collision of vessel, striking a
submerged object, or encountering heavy weather or other unusual forces of nature.
list Perishables
Any cargo that loses considerable value if it
is delayed in transportation. This usually refers to fresh fruit and vegetables.
list Phytosanitary Inspection Certificate
A certificate issued by an exporting
countries’ Department of Agriculture indicating that a shipment has been inspected
and is free of harmful pests and plant diseases.
list Pilferage
As used in marine insurance policies, the term
denotes petty thievery-the taking of small parts of a shipment-as opposed to the theft
of a whole shipment or large unit. Many ordinary marine insurance policies do not cover
against pilferage, and when this coverage is desired it must be added to the policy.
list Port Marks
An identifying set of letters, numbers, or
geometric symbols followed by the name of the port of destination that are placed on
export shipments. Foreign government requirements may be exceedingly strict in the
matter of port marks.
list Port Of Discharge
A port where a vessel is off-loaded and cargo
discharged.
list Port Of Entry
A port at which foreign goods are admitted into
the receiving country.
list Port Of Loading
A port where cargo is loaded aboard the vessel,
lashed, and stowed.
list Prepaid Freight
Generally speaking, freight charges both in
ocean and air transport may be either prepaid in the currency of the country of export
or they may be billed collect for payment by the consignee in his local currency. On
shipments to some countries, however, freight charges must be prepaid because of foreign
exchange regulations of the country of import or rules of steamship companies or
airlines.
list Prima Facie
A Latin term frequently encountered in foreign
trade that means “on first appearance.” When a steamship company issues a
clean bill of lading, it acknowledges that the goods were received “in apparent
good order and condition” and this is said by the courts to constitute prima facie
evidence of the conditions of the containers; that is, if nothing to the contrary
appears, it must be inferred that the cargo was in good condition when received by the
carrier.
list P & I Club
A mutual association of shipowners who provide protection
against liabilities by means of contributions.
Any physical piece of cargo in relation to transport
consisting of the contents and its packing for the purpose of ease of handling by manual
or mechanical means
The final product of the packing operation consisting of
the packing and its contents to facilitate manual or mechanical handling
list Packaging
Materials used for the containment, protection, handling,
delivery and presentation of goods and the activities of placing and securing goods in
those materials.
list Packing
Instruction
Document issued within an enterprise giving instructions on
how goods are to be packed.
list Packing List
Document specifying the contents of each individual
package.
list Pallet
A platform on which goods can be stacked in order to
facilitate the movement by a fork lift or sling.
list Panamax Size
The maximum measurements and dimensions of a vessel capable
to pass the Panama Canal.
list Payload
The revenue-producing load carried by a means of transport.
list Payment Against Documents
Instructions given by a seller to a bank to the effect that
the buyer may collect the documents necessary to obtain delivery of the goods only upon
actual payment of the invoice.
list Physical Distribution
Those activities related to the flow of goods from the end
of conversion to the customer.
list Pier
That part of a wharf which is intended for the mooring of
vessels.
list Pilferage
Petty stealing of goods from a ship’s hold, cargo
shed or warehouse.
list Place of Acceptance
The location where a consignment (shipment) is received by
the carrier from the shipper viz. the place where the carrier’s liability for
transport venture commences.
list Place of Delivery
The location where a consignment (shipment) is delivered to
the consignee viz. the place where the carrier’s liability ends for the transport
venture.
list Place of Despatch
Name and address specifying where goods are collected or
taken over by the carrier (i.e. if other than consignor).
list Place of Receipt
The location where a consignment (shipment) is received by
the carrier from the shipper viz. the place where the carrier’s liability for
transport venture commences.
list Port of Call
Place where a vessel actually drops anchor or moors during
a certain voyage.
list Port of Discharge
The port where the cargo is actually loaded on board the
sea (ocean) going vessel.
list Precarriage
The carriage of goods (containers) by any mode of transport
from the place of receipt to the port (place) of loading into the ocean vessel (main
means of transport).
list Precarrier
The carrier by which the goods are moved prior to the main
transport.
list Preshipment Inspection
Abbreviation: PSI
The checking of goods before shipment for the purpose of
determining the quantity and/or quality of said goods by an independent surveyor
(inspection company) for phytosanitary, sanitary and veterinary controls.
Presently there is a tendency by developing countries to
use the inspection also for the purpose of determining whether the price charged for
certain goods is correct.
list Principal
Person for whom another acts as agent.
list Pro Forma Invoice
Draft invoice sent to an importer by the exporter prior to
order confirmation and shipment to assist in matters relating to obtaining import
licences or foreign exchange allocations, or simply to advise the value of a consignment
so that letters of credit can be opened.
list Project Cargo
Quantity of goods connected to the same project and often
carried on different moments and from various places.
list Proof of Delivery
The receipt signed by the consignee upon delivery.
list Proper Shipping Name
A name to be used to describe particular goods on all
documents and notifications and, if appropriate, on the goods. basis (air cargo).
list Protection and Indemnity Club
Abbreviation: P & I club
A mutual association of shipowners who provide protection
against liabilities by means of contributions
list Quarantine
The period during which an arriving
vessel, including its equipment, cargo, crew or passengers, suspected to carry
or carrying a contagious disease is detained in strict isolation to prevent the
spread of such a disease.
list Quay
That part of a wharf which is intended for
the mooring of vessels.
list Rate
The price of a transport service
Quantity, amount or degree measured or applied
list Rebate
That part of a transport charge which the carrier agrees to return.
list Receipt
A written acknowledgement, that something has been received.
list Reefer Cargo
Cargo requiring temperature control.
list Reefer Container
A thermal container with refrigerating appliances (mechanical compressor
unit, absorption unit etc.) to control the temperature of cargo.
list Regroupage
The process of splitting up shipments into various consignments
(degroupage) and combining these small consignments into other shipments (groupage).
list Release Order
A document issued by or on behalf of the carrier authorising the release
of import cargo identified thereon and manifested under a single Bill of Lading.
list Roll-on Roll-off
Abbreviation: RoRo
System of loading and discharging a vessel whereby the cargo is driven on and off by
means of a ramp.
list Route
The track along which goods are (to be) transported.
list Routing
The determination of the most efficient route(s) that
people, goods, materials and or means of transport have to follow
The process of determining how a shipment will be moved between
consignor and consignee or between place of acceptance by the carrier and place of
delivery to the consignee
The process of aiding a vessel’s navigation by supplying long
range weather forecasts and indicating the most economic and save sailing route.
list Said to
Contain
Abbreviation: STC
Term in a Bill of Lading signifying that the master and the
carrier are unaware of the nature or quantity of the contents of e.g. a carton, crate,
container or bundle and are relying on the description furnished by the shipper.
list Salvage
The saving or rescue of a vessel and/or the cargo from loss
and/or damage at sea.
list Schedule
A timetable including arrival/departure times of ocean- and
feeder vessels and also inland transportation. It refers to named ports in a specific
voyage (journey) within a certain trade indicating the voyage number(s). In general: The
plan of times for starting and/or finishing activities.
list Seal
A device used for containers, lockers, trucks or lorries to
proof relevant parties that they have remained closed during transport.
list Seaworthiness
Fitness of a vessel to travel in open sea mostly related to
a particular voyage with a particular cargo.
Seller
Party selling merchandise to a buyer.
list Sender
A service Bill (of Lading) is a contract of carriage issued
by one carrier to another for documentary and internal control purposes
For internal documentary and control purposes a so-called
participating agent in a consortium uses some kind of document which, depending on the
trade, is referred to as ‘Memo Bill’ which will among others state:
Name of Carrier on whose behalf the original document (Way
Bill, Bill of Lading, etc.) was issued
The original document number. The agent who issued the
original document and his opponent at the discharging side
The number of packages, weight and measurement, marks and
numbers and goods description
Further mandatory details in case of special cargo
No freight details will be mentioned and the Memo Bill is
not a contract of carriage.
Acts as intermediary between shipowners or carriers by sea on the one hand and cargo
interests on the other. The functions are to act as forwarding agent or custom broker,
fixing of charters, and acting as chartering agent.
list Ship Operator
A ship operator is either the shipowner or the (legal)
person responsible for the actual management of the vessel and its crew.
list Ship’s Protest
Statement of the master of a vessel before (in the presence
of) competent authorities, concerning exceptional events which occurred during a voyage.
list Shipment
A separately identifiable collection of goods to be
carried.
Note:
In
the United States of America the word shipment is used instead of the word consignment.
The (legal) person officially registered as such in the
certificate of registry where the following particulars are contained:
Name of vessel and port of registry
Details contained in surveyors certificate
The particulars respecting the origin stated in the
declaration of ownership
The name and description of the registered owner, if more
than one owner the proportionate share of each
list Shipper
The merchant (person) by whom, in whose name or on whose
behalf a contract of carriage of goods has been concluded with a carrier or any party by
whom, in whose name or on whose behalf the goods are actually delivered to the carrier
in relation to the contract of carriage.
list Shipper’s Export
Declaration
Abbreviation: SED
A United States customs form to be completed for all exports to assist the government in
compiling export statistics.
list Shipper’s Letter of
Instruction
Abbreviation: SLI
A document containing instructions given by the shipper or the shipper’s agent for
preparing documents and forwarding (air cargo).
list Shipping Note
Document provided by the shipper or his agent to the
carrier, multimodal transport operator, terminal or other receiving authority, giving
information about export consignments offered for transport, and providing for the
necessary receipts and declarations of liability.
list Shipping Documents
Documents required for the carriage of goods.
list Shipping Instruction
Document advising details of cargo and exporter’s
requirements of its physical movement.
list Shipping Label
A label attached to a unit, containing certain data.
list Shipping Marks
The identification shown on individual packages in order to
help in moving it without delay or confusion to its final destination and to enable the
checking of cargo against documents.
list Shortage
The negative difference between actual available or
delivered quantity and the required quantity.
list Shrink Wrapping
Heat treatment that shrinks an envelope of polyethylene or
similar substance around several units, thus forming one unit. It is used e.g. to secure
packages on a pallet.
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Slot
The space on board a vessel, required by one TEU, mainly used for administrative
purposes.
list Slot Charter
A voyage charter whereby the shipowner agrees to place a
certain number of container slots (TEU and/or FEU) at the charterer’s disposal.
list Special Drawing Rights
Abbreviation: SDR
Unit of account from the International Monetary Fund (IMF), i.a. used to express the
amount of the limitations of a carrier’s liability.
list Special Rate
A rate other than a normal rate.
list Stability
The capacity of a vessel to return to its original position
after having been displaced by external forces. The stability of a vessel depends on the
meta-centric height.
list Stack
An identifiable amount of containers stowed in a orderly
way in one specified place on an (ocean) terminal, container freight station, container
yard or depot.
list STEAMSHIP AGENT
A duly appointed and authorized representative in a
specified territory acting on behalf of a steamship line or lines and attending to all
matters relating to the vessels owned by his principals.
list STRIKES, RIOTS AND CIVIL COMMOTION’S
An insurance clause referring to loss or damage directly
caused by strikers, locked-out workmen, persons’ participation in labor
disturbances, and riots of various kinds. The ordinary marine insurance policy does not
cover this risk. Coverage against it can be added only by endorsement.
list Storage
The activity of placing goods into a store or the state of
being in store (e.g. a warehouse).
list Storage Charge
The fee for keeping goods in a warehouse.
list Stowage
The placing and securing of cargo or containers on board a
vessel or an aircraft or of cargo in a container.
list Stowage Factor
Ratio of a cargo’s cubic measurement to its weight,
expressed in cubic feet to the ton or cubic metres to the tonne, used in order to
determine the total quantity of cargo which can be loaded in a certain space.
list Stowage Instructions
Imperative details about the way certain cargo is to be
stowed, given by the shipper or his agent.
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Stowage Plan
A plan indicating the locations on the vessel of all the consignments for the benefit of
stevedores and vessel’s officers.
list Stripping
The unloading of cargo out of a container.
list Sue & Labor Cause
A provision in marine insurance obligating the assured to
do things necessary after a loss to prevent further loss and to act in the best
interests of the insurer.
list Stuffing
The loading of cargo into a container.
list Supply Chain
A sequence of events in a goods flow which adds
to the value of a specific good. These events may include:
Conversion
Assembling and/or disassembling
Movements and placements
list Supply Vessel
Vessel which carries stock and stores to offshore drilling
rigs, platforms.
list Surcharge
An additional charge added to the usual or customary
freight.
list Survey
An inspection of a certain item or object by a recognised
specialist.
list Surveyor
A specialist who carries out surveys.
Note:
A surveyor is often representing a classification bureau or a governmental body.
list Tallyman / Clerk
person who records the number of cargo items together with
the condition thereof at the time it is loaded into or discharged from a vessel.
list Tank Container
A tank, surrounded by a framework with the overall
dimensions of a container for the transport of liquids or gasses in bulk.
list Tanker
A vessel designed for the carriage of liquid cargo in bulk.
list Tare Weight of
Container
Mass of an empty container including all fittings and
appliances associated with that particular type of container on its normal operating
condition.
list Tariff
The schedule of rates, charges and related transport
conditions.
list Temperature Controlled Cargo
Any cargo requiring carriage under controlled temperature.
list Terminal
A location on either end of a transportation line including
servicing and handling facilities.
list Terms of Delivery
All the conditions agreed upon between trading partners
regarding the delivery of goods and the related services.
Note:

Under normal circumstances the INCO terms are used to prevent any
misunderstandings.
list Terms of Freight
All the conditions agreed upon between a carrier and a
merchant about the type of freight and charges due to the carrier and whether these are
prepaid or are to be collected.
Note:
The so-called Combi terms based on
the INCO terms do make a distinction what of the freight and related costs is to be paid
by the seller and what by the buyer. In the UN recommendation 23 a coding system is
recommended to recognise the various items.
list THC (Terminal Handling Charge)
A charge for handling services performed at terminals.
list Time Draft
A draft that matures in a certain number of days, either
from acceptance or the date of the draft.
list Ton
Freight rates for liner cargo generally are quoted on the
basis of a certain rate per ton, depending on the nature of the commodity. This ton,
however, may be a weight ton or a measurement ton.
list Ton-deadweight
The carrying capacity of the ship in terms of the weight in
tons of the cargo, fuel, provisions, and passengers which a vessel can carry.
list Tonnage
Cubic capacity of a merchant vessel
Total weight or amount of cargo expressed in tons
list Tracking
A system of recording movement intervals of
shipments from origin to destination.
list Tracing
The action of retrieving information concerning the
whereabouts of cargo, cargo items, consignments or equipment.
list Track & Trace
The pro-active tracking of the product along the supply
chain, and the paper information flow relating to the order.
list Tracking
The function of maintaining status information, including
current location, of cargo, cargo items, consignments or containers either full or
empty.
list Trailer
A vehicle without motive power, designed for the carriage
of cargo and to be towed by a motor vehicle.
list Trailer on Flat Car
Abbreviation: TOFC
Carriage of piggyback highway trailers on specially equipped railway wagons.
list Tramp Vessel
A vessel not operating under a regular schedule.
list Transhipment
A shipment under one Bill of Lading, whereby sea (ocean)
transport is ‘broken’ into two or more parts. The port where the sea (ocean)
transport is ‘broken’ is the transhipment port
Transfer of cargo from one means of transport to another
for on-carriage during the course of one transport operation
Customs: Customs procedure under which goods are
transferred under customs control from the importing means of transport to the exporting
means of transport within the area of one customs office which is the office of both
importation and exportation
list Transit Cargo
Cargo between outwards customs clearance and inwards
customs clearance
Cargo arriving at a point and departing there-from by the same through flight (air
cargo)
list Transport
The assisted movement of people and or goods.
Note:
Transport is often used as a generic term for various means of transport, and
is distinguished from ‘movement’ in that it requires such means.
list Transport Document
Document evidencing a contract of carriage between a
shipowner and a consignor, such as bill of lading, seawaybill or a multimodal transport
document. (IMO)
See Shipping DocumentTwenty Foot Equivalent Unit
Abbreviation: TEU
Unit of measurement equivalent to one twenty foot container.
list TEU
A twenty-foot equivalent unit (6.1m). A standard unit for
counting containers of various lengths and for describing container ship or terminal
capacity. A standard 40′ container (FEU) equals 2 TEUs.
list Type of Cargo
An indication of the sort of cargo to be transported, (e.g.
Break Bulk, Containerised, RoRo).
list Type of Movement
Description of the service for movement of containers.
Note:The following
type of movement can be indicated on B/L and Manifest all combinations of FCL and LCL
and break bulk and RoRo. Whilst only on the manifest combinations of House, Yard and CFS
can be mentioned.
list Type of Packing
Description of the packaging material used to wrap, contain
and protect goods to be transported.
list Ultimate
Consignee
Party who has been designated on the invoice
or packing list as the final recipient of the stated merchandise.
list Unaccompanied Baggage
Luggage not accompanied by a passenger.
list Unit Load
A number of individual packages bonded,
palletised or strapped together to form a single unit for more efficient handling by
mechanical equipment.
list United Nations Conference on Trade and
Development
Abbreviation: UNCTAD
A United Nations agency whose work in Shipping includes the liner code involving the
sharing of cargoes between the Shipping lines of the importing and exporting countries
and third countries in the ratio 40:40:20.
list United Nations Dangerous Goods Number
Abbreviation: UNDG Number
The four-digit number assigned by the United Nations Committee of Experts on the
Transport of Dangerous Goods to classify a substance or a particular groups of
substances.
Note: The prefix ‘UN’ must
always be used in conjunction with these numbers.
list Valuable Cargo
A consignment which contains one or more valuable articles.
list Value Added Tax
Abbreviation: VAT
A form of indirect sales tax paid on products and services at each stage of production
or distribution, based on the value added at that stage and included in the cost to the
ultimate customer.
list Vanning
Buyer.
list Vendor
Seller.
list Very Large Crude Carrier
Abbreviation: VLCC
A vessel designed for the carriage of liquid cargo in bulk with a loading capacity from
50.000 till 250.000 DWT.
list Vessel
A floating structure designed for the transport of cargo and/or
passengers
Boiler, drum
list Volume
Size or measure of anything in three dimensions.
list Volume Charge
A charge for carriage of goods based on their volume (air cargo).
list Voyage
A journey by sea from one port or country to another one or, in case of
a round trip, to the same port.
list Voyage Charter
A contract under which the shipowner agrees to carry an agreed quantity
of cargo from a specified port or ports to another port or ports for a remuneration
called freight, which is calculated according to the quantity of cargo loaded, or
sometimes at a lumpsum freight.
list Voyage Number
Reference number assigned by the carrier or his agent to the voyage of the vessel.
list War Risk Insurance
Insurance issued by marine underwriters against
war-like operations specifically described in the policy. In former times, war risk
insurance was taken out only in times of war, but currently many exporters cover most of
their shipments with war risk insurance as a protection against losses from derelict
torpedoes and floating mines placed during former wars, and also as a safeguard against
unforeseen warlike developments. In the U.S.A. , war risk insurance is written in a
separate policy from the ordinary marine insurance; it is desirable to take out both
policies with the same underwriter in order to avoid the ill effects of a possible
dispute between underwriters as to the cause (marine peril or war peril) of a given
loss.
list Warehousing
Those activities of holding and handling goods in a
warehouse (store).
list Warehouse-to-warehouse
A clause in marine insurance policy whereby the underwriter
agrees to cover the goods while in transit between the initial point of shipment and the
point of destination with certain limitations, and also subject to the law of insurable
interest. The warehouse-to-warehouse clause was once extremely important, but marine
extension clauses now often override its provisions.
list Warsaw Convention
The Convention for the Unification of Certain Rules
Relating to International Carriage by Air, signed at Warsaw, 12 October 1929, or that
Convention as amended by the Hague Protocol, 1955, stipulating obligations or parties
and limitations and/or exonerations of carriers (air cargo).
list Waybill
Non-negotiable document evidencing the contract for the
transport of cargo.
list Weight Charge
The charge for carriage of goods based on their weight (air
cargo).
list Weight Load Factor
Payload achieved as against available capacity, expressed
as a percentage. Cargo is frequently limited by volume rather than weight; load factors
of 100 percent are rarely achieved.
list Wharf
A place for berthing vessels to facilitate loading and
discharging of cargo.
list Wharfage
The fee charged for the use of a wharf for mooring, loading
or discharging a vessel or for storing goods.
list With Average (WA)
A marine insurance term meaning that shipment is protected
for partial damage whenever the damage exceeds a stated percentage.
list With Particular Average (WPA)
An insurance term meaning that partial loss or damage of
goods is insured. The damage generally must be caused by sea water, and many terms
specify a minimum percentage of damage before payment. It may be extended to cover loss
by theft, pilferage, leakage and breakage, or other perils depending on the nature of
the cargo.
list X-ray
High frequency electromagnetic ray of short
wave-length, capable of penetrating most solid substances.
list X.25
International standard of the CCITT for packet
switching.
list X.400
A CCITT recommendation designed to facilitate
international message and information exchange between subscribers of computer based
store-and-forward services and office information systems in association with public
and private data networks.
list X.500
The CCITT now ITU recommendations (ISO9594) for the structure of
directories for the maintenance of addresses used in electronic mail.
list XML
Extensible mark-up language is an official recommendation by the World
Wide Web Consortium as a successor of HTML (Hyper Text Mark-up language) it can be used
to convey documents layout and contents from one computer application to another. XML is
a subset of SGML.
list XML / EDI
The exchange of structured information over the Internet using XML as the syntax.
list Yard
Fenced off, outdoor storage and repair area.
list Yaw
Variation of the course of a ship to port or
starboard caused by the action of waves or wind.
list Yawl
A vessel’s small boat moved by one oar
A small sailboat rigged fore-and-aft, with a short mizzenmast astern of the cockpit
– distinguished from ketch
list Yield Bucket
The remaining slot capacity for a trade/voyage in a certain port of
loading after deduction of the allowance for specific contracts.
list Yield Management
The process of maximising the contribution of every slot, vessel, trade
and network. Basically it should be seen as the process of allocating the right type of
capacity to the right kind of customer at the right price as to maximise revenue or
yield. The concept should be used in combination with load factor management.
list York – Antwerp Rules
There is a general average act when, and only when any extraordinary sacrifice or
expenditure is intentionally and reasonably made or incurred for the common safety for
the purpose of preserving from peril the property involved in a common maritime
adventure.
list Zodiac
A rubber dinghy. An inflatable craft for the
transport of people.
Zone Area, belt or district extending about a certain point defined for transport
and/or charge purpose.
list Zone Haulage
Rate
The rate for which the carrier will undertake the haulage of goods or
containers between either the place of delivery and the carrier’s appropriate
terminal. Such haulage will be undertaken only subject to the terms and conditions of
the tariff and of the carrier’s Combined Transport Bill of Lading.
list Zone Improvement Plan
Abbreviation: ZIP
System to simplify sorting and delivery of mail, consisting of a number of five
digits (the so-called ZIP-code) for identification of the state, city or district,
and the postal zone in the U.S.A. delivery areas.
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