A Glossary
Arbitration
Arbitration clause
Arbitrator
Arrest of a ship
ATA
ATD
ATS
B/L - Bearer of a B/L
B/L - Bill of Lading
B/L - Claused B/L
B/L - Clean Bill of Lading
B/L - Combined Bill of Lading Bill of lading issued for a voyage involving at least two legs, where the issuer is deemed
to take responsibility for the goods until delivery at final destination.
B/L - Non-negotiable B/L
B/L - Notify party
B/L - Original B/L
B/L - Release of a B/L
B/L - Through Bill of Lading
B/L - Unclean Bill of Lading
BIMCO
Booking Note
Breakbulk cargo
Method of settling disputes out of courts of law by means of arbitrators
Clause in a contract which stipulates that any dispute arising from the contract will be
settled through arbitration
Person designated to act as a private judge in a commercial dispute.
Detention of a ship by authority of a court of law
Actual time of arrival
Actual time of departure
Actual time of sailing
Person who remits a B/L to the Carrier at the place of discharge against delivery of the
goods.
Document issued by an Ocean Carrier to the Shipper of the goods which serves as
receipt of the goods on board, evidence of the contract of carriage, and document of
title.
B/L containing remarks on the condition of cargo or its packing noted by the Master at
the time the goods are received on board. See unclean
B/L free of remarks on the condition of cargo or its packing, thus indicating that the
cargo has been received by the ship in apparent good order. Clean Bs/L are required
by Banks for documentary credit purposes.
Bill of lading that cannot be used to transfer title to the goods.
Party who is to be notified by the ship's agent of the arrival of goods at discharge port.
Details of the notify party appear in a box on the B/L.
Bill of Lading which bears the original signature of the Master or ship's Agent and is
exchanged for the goods at the place of delivery.
Remittance to the Shipper of the original B/L (against payment of the freight in most
cases).
Bill of lading issued for a voyage requiring on-carriage. It should be checked whether
the issuer of the B/L takes responsibility for the full transport or whether he simply acts
as Agent for the on-carriage.
B/L containing remarks on the condition of cargo or its packing noted by the Master at
the time the goods are received on board. See claused B/L
Baltic and International Maritime Council - International Association of Shipowners
whose object is to defend Shipowners' interests - Bimco also develops & approves
Charter Parties and other shipping documents for the use of the shipping industry.
B/N - Document containing the terms and conditions of the contract between a Shipper
and a Shipping Line for the carriage of goods.
Cargo loaded and discharged from a ship one piece at a time by means of cranes or
derricks - Also referred to as conventional cargo.
Bulk cargo Homogeneous unpacked dry cargo

CA Charterer's Agent - Nominated by the voyage Charterer in accordance with the terms of
the Charter Party. Although nominated by the Charterer, the Agent is paid by the
Shipowner and so becomes Ship's Agent.

CPA Charterer's Protecting Agent - Nominated by the voyage Charterer to protect its interest
when Charter Party is fixed on Owner Agents basis. Unless agreed in the C/P, CPA fee
is paid by the Charterer.
C/P - Back to back charter Contract between a Charterer and a Sub-Charterer whose terms and conditions are
identical to the terms and conditions of the contract between the Charterer and the
Shipowner (Head Charter)
C/P - Charter (to) To hire a ship from a Shipowner for a period of time or reserve cargo space of a ship
for the carriage of goods.
C/P - Charterer Operator who hires a ship from a Shipowner for a period of time or reserves cargo
space of a ship for the carriage of goods.
C/P - Charterparty Document containing all the terms and conditions of the contract between a Shipowner
and a Charterer, for the hire of a ship or the space in a ship.
C/P - Disponent owner Operator who controls the commercial operations of a ship - Often used as an
equivalent to Time-Charterer.
C/P - FILO Free in liner out - Freight rate which consists of the ocean carriage and the cost of
handling cargo at discharge ports but excludes the cost of loading.
C/P - FIO Free in and out - Freight rates which excludes the cost of handling cargo at loading and
discharging ports and, if appropriate to the type of cargo, stowing, dunnaging, lashing,
securing or trimming.
C/P - FIOS Free in and out and stowed - Equivalent to FIO however specifying that the cost of
stowage is not for the account of the Shipowner to avoid any ambiguity.
C/P - FIOST Free in and out stowed and trimmed - Applies to bulk cargoes - Equivalent to FIO
however specifying that the cost of stowage and trimming is not for the account of the
Shipowner to avoid any ambiguity.
C/P - FIOT Free in and out and trimmed - Applies to bulk cargoes - Equivalent to FIO however
specifying that the cost of trimming is not for the account of the Shipowner to avoid any
ambiguity.
C/P - FLT Full Liner Terms - Freight rate which consists of the ocean carriage and the cost of
handling cargo at loading and discharging ports according to the custom of these ports.

C/P - FO Free out - Freight rate which excludes the costs of discharging the cargo from the ship's
holds.
C/P - Gross terms Equivalent to Full Liner Terms.

C/P - Hire Money paid by a Time-Charterer to a Shipowner for the hire of a ship.

C/P - LIFO Liner in Free out - Freight includes the cost of loading but not discharging.

C/P - Nett terms Equivalent to Free in and Out Terms

C/P - Owner Equivalent to Shipowner

C/P - Sub-Charterer Operator who charters a ship from a party who is not the Owner but a Charterer.

C/P - Time Charter Contract between a Shipwoner and a Charterer for the hire of a ship for a period of
time, during which the Charterer assumes the commercial management of the ship.
C/P - to sub-let Fact for a Charterer to charter a ship out to another party.

C/P - Voyage Charter Contract between a Shipwoner and a Charterer for the hire of space in a ship for one
voyage.
C/P -Demise Charter Contract between a Shipwoner and a Charterer for the hire of a ship for a period of time
during which the Shipowner provides only the ship and the Charterer assumes the
effective management of the ship (nautical and commercial).
C/P Head-owner Shipowner who actually owns the ship in a chain of charter agreements

Cargo interests Parties interested in the cargo such as Shipper, Receiver & Cargo insurers as opposed
to Vessel's interests (Shipowner, Carrier, P&I Club etc..). Is often used when discussing
contractual obligations.
Cargo Manifest Summary of cargo loaded on a ship.

Cargo Receipt Document issued by a Shipowner to the Shipper of the goods, generally within a
voyage Charter Party agreement, which serves as receipt of the goods on board and
evidence of the contract of carriage, but not as document of title.
Cargo superintendent In general, person employed by a Shipowner to advise on the most efficient and safest
ditribution of cargo on board and supervise cargo handling. Equivalent, Supercargo -
For meaning within WFP, see Superintendent (WFP)
Cargoworthiness Fitness of a ship to carry a specific cargo

Carrier Party who undertakes to transport the goods in a contract of carriage

Certificate of Compliance Document issued by regulatory body certifying compliance with ISM Code.

Certificate of Origin Document certifying the country of origin of goods which is normally issued or signed by
a Chamber of Commerce or Embassy.
CIF Cost Insurance Freight - Trading terms where the Seller is responsible for
arranging/paying for the transport & insurance but where risks are transferred to the
Buyer when the goods pass the ship's rail at the port of loading. See Incoterms.
CIM International convention on Carriage of Goods by Rail (Part of COTIF).

Closing Date Last date on which export goods can be accepted for a nominated sailing.

CMR Convention on the contract for the International Carriage of Goods by Road of 19 May
1956.
Conference Organisation of a group of Shipping Lines operating in one trade who agree to operate
a common tariff.
Consignee Party to whom the goods are to be delivered at destination in a contract of carriage by
sea.
Consignment Goods which are placed in the care of a Carrier for delivery to a Consignee.

Constructive total loss CTL - Loss or damage to goods or to a ship for which the costs of repair or recovery
would exceed the value.
Container - C&D Collection and Delivery - Carriage from/to Customer's premises to/from Container
Freight Station.
Container - Demurrage Charge raised by the terminal for detaining FCL container/trailer at a CY for longer
period than provided in Tariff. (Do not confuse with Detention nor Port Storage).
Container - Detention Charge raised by the ocean carrier for detaining container/trailer at Customer's
premises for longer period than provided in Tariff. (Do not confuse with Demurrage).
Container - FCL
Container - FCL/FCL
Container - FCL/LCL
Container - FEU
Container - Groupage
Container - Hub & Spoke
Container - LCL/FCL
Container - LCL/LCL
Container - Stuffing/Stripping The action of packing/unpacking a container.
Container - TEU
Container - THC
Container Freight Station
Container -LCL
Container Yard
CT
CTD
Deliver a ship (to)
Deliver cargo (to)
Delivery
Delivery Order
Demurrage
Despatch (money)
Documentary Credit
Draught
Full Container load - Arrangements whereby Shipper utilises all the space in a
container which he packs himself.
Term used to describe a container freight rate whereby the Shipper is responsible for
the stuffing and the Receiver responsible for the unstuffing.
Term used to describe a container freight rate whereby the Shipper is responsible for
the stuffing and the Carrier is responsible for the unstuffing.
Forty-Foot Equivalent Unit.
Consolidation of several LCL consignments into a container.
The way of describing modern containerised operations whereby large containerships
call at a restricted number of major (hub) ports to or from whence containers are carried
to/from minor ports by feeder services (spokes).
Term used to describe a container freight rate whereby the Carrier is responsible for
the stuffing and the Receiver responsible for the unstuffing of the container.
Term used to describe a container freight rate whereby the Carrier is responsible for
the stuffing and unstuffing of the container.
Twenty-foot Equivalent Unit
Terminal Handling Charge - A charge for handling FCLs at port terminals. Also known
as a Container/Port Service Charge.
CFS - Place where consignments are grouped together and stuffed into containers -
Often used in Bs/L as an equivalent to LCL term.
Less than container load - A parcel of goods too small to fill a container which is
grouped by the Carrier at a CFS with other compatible goods for the same destination.
CY - Place to which containers are delivered to the Carrier at loadport and to the
Consignee at disport - Often used in Bs/L as an equivalent to FCL term.
Combined Transport - Carriage by more than one mode of transport against one
contract of carriage.
Combined Transport Document - The CTO's Bill of Lading.
To place a time chartered ship at the disposal of a Charterer at the time and place
agreed.
To remit the cargo to the receiver upon completion of the contract of carriage.
Act that marks the termination of the contract of carriage by the remittance of the goods
by the Carrier, to the Receiver.
A document authorising 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
Merchant to transfer title by endorsement.
Amount of money paid to the Shipowner by the Charterer for failing to complete loading
and/or discharging within the time allowed in the C/P.
Amount of money payable by the Shipowner to the Charterer for loading and/or
discharging in less than the time allowed.
The basis of international trade by means of which payment is made to the Shipper
against surrender of specified documents to a bank acting on behalf of Consignee.
Depht to which a ship is immersed in the water.
Draught survey (draft survey) Method of survey used to determine the quantity of cargo on board a ship through
ascertainment of the ship's draughts prior to and after discharge - Mainly used for bulk
cargoes.
Endorse a B/L (to) To sign over a B/L to another party thus, transferring title to the goods to that party.

Endorsee Party holding title to the goods as a result of endorsement and thus, entitled to take
delivery on presentation of the original B/L.
ETA Estimated time of arrival

ETC Estimated time of completion

ETD Estimated time of departure

ETR Estimated time of readiness

ETS Estimated time of sailing

Excepted peril
Exception clause
Exclusion of liability
Export Licence
Specific circumstances which may justify that a Carrier be not held responsible for loss
or damage to cargo.
Clause in a B/L or C/P which exonerates the Carrier from responsibility in certain
named circumstances.
Specific circumstances which may justify that a Carrier be not held responsible for loss
or damage to cargo.
Governmental document authorising export of restricted goods.

Feeder Vessel A short-sea vessel used to fetch and carry goods and containers to and from deep sea
vessels.
FOB Free On Board - A conventional/port-to-port only INCOTERM term of sale.

FOR / FOT Free on rail or free on truck - Railway cargo delivery terms - Seller responsible for
delivering the goods into the custody of the railway and, if agreed, for loading into the
railcars - Costs and risks for the Buyer from that time.
Force majeure In a contract, any unforeseen event beyond the control of either party and which neither
party is able to overcome, that hinders, either temporarily or definitely, the performance
of obligations and may justify the postponement, interruption or terminatio

Forwarding agent Forwarder, Freight forwarder - Persons responsible for exporting or importing
arrangements on behalf of a Shipper or Receiver.
Free In Liner Out Freight includes cost of discharge but not loading.

Free In Out + Stow Shipper pays for loading, stowing and discharging.

Freight The amount payable for the carriage of goods. Sometimes also used to describe the
goods themselves which are better described as cargo in marine transportation.

Freinte
G.A. - General Average
G/A - Average Bond
Minor inevitable transit loss due to the inherent characteristics of the cargo for which a
Carrier may not be held liable - See also Wastage
Deliberate sacrifice or expenditure incurred during a voyage for the common safety of
the ship and the cargo which results in contributions of vessel's and cargo's interests at
pro-rata of their interests, as adjusted as per international rules.
Undertaking by Merchant to pay G.A. contribution
G/A - Average Guarantee Guarantee from Cargo Insurer that G.A. contribution will be paid

H&M Hull and Machinery

ICC (Ins) Institute Cargo Clauses - The International Underwriting Association standard clauses
for cargo insurance.
Incoterms Trading terms and set of rules for their interpretation published by the International
Chamber of Commerce (ICC) - See below main characteristics - For more details, it
should be referred to the ICC official rules 2000.
Incoterms - CFR Cost & Freight - The Seller delivers when the goods pass the ship's rail in the port of
shipment - Freight paid by the Seller who also clears the goods for export - Risks and
costs after the delivery are for the Buyer.
Incoterms - CIF Cost, Insurance & Freight - The Seller delivers when the goods pass the ship's rail in
the port of shipment - Freight and Insurance paid by the Seller who also clears the
goods for export - Risks and costs after the delivery are for the Buyer.
Incoterms - CIP Carriage and Insurance Paid To - The Seller delivers the goods to the Carrier
nominated by him, pays the cost of carriage & procures insurance against Buyer's risks
of loss during carriage.
Incoterms - CPT Carriage Paid To - The Seller delivers the goods to the Carrier nominated by him and
pays the cost of carriage, risks being for the Buyer.
Incoterms - DAF Delivery at Frontier - The Seller delivers the goods when they are placed at the
disposal of the Buyer not unloaded, cleared for export but nor for import at the named
place at the frontier.
Incoterms - DDP Delivery Duty Paid - The Seller delivers the goods to the Buyer cleared for import and
not unloaded at the named place of destination.
Incoterms - DDU Delivery Duty Unpaid - The Seller delivers the goods to the Buyer not cleared for import
and not unloaded at the named place of destination.
Incoterms - DEQ Delivery Ex Quay - The seller delivers when the goods are placed at the disposal of the
buyer not cleared for import on the quay at the named port of destination - All costs and
risks for the Seller until completion of discharge.
Incoterms - DES Delivery Ex Ship - The Seller delivers when the goods are placed at the disposal of the
Buyer on board the ship not cleared for import at the named place of destination - All
costs and risks before discharging for the Seller.
Incoterms - EXW Ex Works - The Seller delivers when he places the goods at the disposal of the Buyer
at the Seller's premises, not cleared not loaded.
Incoterms - FAS Free Alongside Ship - The Seller delivers when the goods are placed alongside the
vessel at the named port of shipment - The Buyer bears all costs and risks to the goods
from that moment.
Incoterms - FCA Free Carrier - The Seller delivers the goods cleared for export to the Carrier nominated
by the Buyer at the named place.
Incoterms - FOB Free On Board - The Seller delivers when the goods pass the ship's rail at the named
port of shipment - Buyer to bear all costs and risks from that point.
Inherent vice Defect or inherent quality of the goods or their packing which leads to damage without
accident or negligence. Carriers and Insurers are normaly not liable for damage due to
inherent vice.
Insufficient packing Failure of the packing to protect the goods while in transit. A proven case of insufficient
packing may entitle the Carrier to exonerate from liability.
Joint survey Inspection carried out by a Surveyor on behalf of two parties. By extension, inspection
carried out by two or more Surveyors each of them being appointed by a party, to
L/C ascertain
Letter jointly -the
of Credit Thefacts.
document in which the terms of a Documentary Credit transaction
are set out.
L/I Letter of Indemnity - Sometimes used to allow Consignee to take delivery of goods
without surrendering B/L which has been delayed or become lost.
Latent Defect A defect not obvious from cursory inspection.

Laytime Time allowed by the Shipowner to the Voyage Charterer in which to load an/or
discharge the cargo.
Letter of Protest Notification by the Receiver to the Carrier of any damage or loss found at delivery with
a view to placing on him the burden of proving that he is not responsible.
Lien Right to retain goods and documents against payment of charges etc. due but unpaid.
Shipowners and Freight Forwarders may be entitled to exercise lien on cargo under
certain conditions and circumstances.
Limitation of liability Maximum amount of money payable by a carrier to a shipper or receiver for loss or
damage to cargo under the contract of carriage.
Liner Vessel plying a regular trade/defined route against a published sailing schedule.

Liner terms see Full Liner Terms - Equivalent: Gross Terms - Freight includes the cost of loading
onto and discharging from the vessel.
Lloyd's Agents Representative of the Lloyd's of London in a port who provides survey and adjusting
service to the marine insurance market.
Lloyd's of London Corporation of underwriters based in London with prominent role in the marine
insurance market - Also renowned for its Agency and shipping intelligence network.
LOF Lloyds Open Form - A standard form of salvage agreement.

LO-LO Lift-on/Lift-off - A containership onto which and from which containers are lifted by
crane (as opposed to Ro-Ro).
Manifest List of goods (or passengers) on a vessel.

Mate's receipt Document issued by the Chief Officer and remitted to the Shipper, stating the quantity
and condition of the cargo loaded on board.
MTD Multimodal Transport Document

MTO Multimodal Transport Operator

Multimodal Transport The UNCTAD preferred term for what we call Combined Transport.

On-carriage Carriage of cargo beyond the port of discharge by another means of transport

Owners Agent Ship's Agent nominated and paid for by Shipowner in those cases when agreed to in
the Charter Party.
P&I Club Protection & Indemnity Club. Mutual associations of Shipowners providing liability
cover and legal assistance to their members. Traditional Insurers do not cover, in
general, Shipowners' liability.
PA Particular Average - Partial accidental loss or damage ( as opposed to Total Loss or
General Average ).
Package limitation Maximum amount of money payable per unit by a Carrier to a Shipper or Receiver for
loss or damage to cargo under the contract of carriage.
Paramount clause Clause in a contract of carriage which provides that the contract will be governed by
certain sets of rules even though such rules would not apply to the carriage by the force
of law (i.e.Hague-Visby Rules).
PHA Port Health Authority
POA Place of Acceptance

POD Place of Delivery

POR Place of Receipt

Principal Carrier The Carrier issuing a CTD (regardless of whether or not goods are carried on his own,
a third party's or a consortium member's vessel).
Protecting Agent Agent appointed by a Shipowner or a Charterer to protect his interest and supervise the
work carried out by the ship's Agent when the latter is nominated by another party than
him.
Receiver Party who receives the goods at destination in a contract of carriage

Redeliver a ship (to) To return a time chartered ship to the Shipowner at the end of the period of charter.

Release of a B/L Remittance to the Shipper of the original B/L (against payment of the freight in most
cases).
Release of cargo Delivery of the cargo to the consignee at the place of destination.

Remarks Provisions inserted into a B/L stating the actual condition and quantity of goods at the
time they are received on board.
RN Release Note - Receipt signed by Customer acknowledging delivery of goods.

RO-RO Roll On-Roll Off - A ferry type vessel onto which goods and containers can be driven,
usually via a ramp.
Said to contain S.T.C. - When inserted in a Bill of Lading, means that the Carrier is unaware of the
quantity or nature of a packaged consignment (crate, bundles) and is relying on the
description furnished by the Shipper - Also used for FCL containers.
Salvage Assistance by 3rd Party independent of contract to vessel in distress.

Shipment Equivalent to consignment

Shipper Party who enters into a contract with a Carrier for the carriage of goods.

Ship's agent Representative of the Shipowner in a port, appointed either on a permanent or on a

temporary basis.
Ship's tackle (under) Designates the point where liability for the goods passes from the Carrier to the
Receiver under liner terms.
Shortlanded quantity Quantity shortdelivered from a vessel in comparison with the B/L quantity.

Shortsupplied quantity Quantity shortdelivered from a Supplier in comparison with the contracted quantity.

Shut-out Goods not carried on intended vessel.

Slot Space on board a vessel occupied by a container.

SOB Shipped On Board - Endorsement on a Bill of Lading confirming loading on vessel

Statement of facts SOF - Document prepared by the ship's Agent which reconciles dates and times of
arrival, commencement and completion of loading/discharging, quantities, hours
worked, stoppages etc..
Straight Bill of Lading A term for non-negotiable Bill of Lading.

Subrogation Transfer of rights from an insured to the insurer further to compensation

Suit time Period within which a claimant must bring lawsuit against another party. Failure to
respect suit time results in the other party being discharged of liability.
Supercargo see cargo superintendent

Superintendent (WFP) Independent cargo Surveyor / expert appointed by WFP to assess the quantity and
condition of goods delivered from transport contractors.
Survey In the transportation disciplines, the process of conducting technical investigations

Surveyor Independent expert appointed to conduct technical investigations.

T/S Transhipment - Transfer from one vessel to another for oncarriage.

Tally Physical count of units that are being loaded or discharged from a ship.

Tally (to) Record the number of units that are loaded into or discharged from a ship.

Tally clerk Person employed by a Shipowner, Shipper, Receiver or Stevedore to carry out a
physical count of cargo being loaded or discharged from a ship.
Tally sheet Written record of a tally at the time of loading and/or discharge.

Tariff Terms, conditions and scale of charges.

Terminal Port at which containers are loaded/unloaded onto/from container vessels.

Third Party Any party other than the parties to a contract.

Time bar Expiry of the period within which lawsuit must be brought by a claimant.

Transhipment Transfer of cargo from one transport mode to another.

TTD Through Transport Document - The TTO's Bill of Lading.

TTO Trough Transport Operator - A Carrier who contracts to carry goods (only part of which
carriage he undertakes himself) on the basis that he is a principal whilst the goods are
in his personal care and an Agent only whilst they are not.
UNCITRAL United Nations Commission on International Trade and Law.

Unseaworthiness Unfitness of a ship for a particular voyage with a particular cargo.

Vessel's interests Parties interested in the ship such as shipowner, carrier, P&I Club, as opposed to cargo
interests (Shipper, Receiver, Cargo Insurers). Is often used when discussing
contractual obligations.
Wastage Minor inevitable transit loss due to the inherent characteristics of the cargo for which a
Carrier may not be held liable - See also Freinte
Waybill Document issued by a Carrier to the Shipper of the goods which serves as receipt of
the goods and evidence of the contract of carriage, but is not a document of title.