TERMINOLOGY

SHIP’S TERMINOLOGY
 SHIP’S TERMINOLOGY

Gross Register Tonnage

Total internal volume of the vessel in one hundred cubic feet,
less the volume of certain exempted spaces which provide
comfort to the crew and ship's safety; also known as Gross
Tonnage or GRT for short

Net Register Tonnage

Gross Tonnage less spaces which are not allowed for the carriage of cargo
or passengers; also known as Net Tonnage or NRT for short
 SHIP’S TERMINOLOGY
• Gross tonnage, along with net tonnage, were defined by The International Convention on
Tonnage Measurement of Ships, 1969, adopted by the International Maritime Organization
in 1969, and came into force on July 18, 1982.

• GT and NT replaced gross register tonnage (GRT) and net register tonnage (NRT). It is a
unitless index related to a ship's overall internal volume.

• Gross tonnage or gross register tonnage is NOT a measure of the ship's displacement
(mass) and different from terms such as deadweight tonnage, or displacement.

• Gross tonnage is calculated based on "the moulded volume of all enclosed spaces of the
ship" and is used to determine things such as a ship's manning regulations, safety rules,
registration fees and port dues, whereas the older gross register tonnage is a measure of
the volume of certain enclosed spaces.
 SHIP’S TERMINOLOGY

Light weight / displacement

The weight of a ship complete with outfit and propulsion machinery, and
ready for sea but without fuel, fresh water, stores, provisions, passengers
or cargo on board

Deadweight
Total weight of cargo, stores, fuel and water needed to submerge a ship
from her light draught to her maximum permitted draught; it is given by
the difference between the load displacement and light displacement ;
DWT for short

Cargo deadweight
The remaining carrying capacity after deducting the fuel, water, stores,
dunnage, and such other items necessary for use on a voyage from
Deadweight Tonnage
LOADLINE
 Sizes of cargo ships
Cargo ships are categorized partly by their capacity, partly by their weight, and partly by their dimensions (often with
reference to the various canals and canal locks through which they can travel). Some common categories include:

• Small Handy size, carriers of 20,000 - 28,000 DWT

•
• Handy size, carriers of 28,000 - 40,000 DWT

• Handymax, carriers of 40,000 - 50,000 DWT

• Seawaymax, the largest size which can traverse the St Lawrence Seaway

• Aframax, oil tankers between 75,000 and 115,000 DWT. This is the largest size defined by the average freight rate
assessment (AFRA) scheme.

• Panamax, the largest size which can traverse the Panama Canal (generally: vessels with a width smaller than 32.2 m)

• Suezmax, the largest size which can traverse the Suez Canal

• Malaccamax, the largest size which can traverse the Strait of Malacca

• Capesize, vessels larger than Panamax and Suezmax, which must traverse the Cape of Good Hope and Cape Horn in
order to travel between oceans

• VLCC (Very Large Crude Carrier), supertankers between 150,000 and 320,000 DWT.

• ULCC (Ultra Large Crude Carrier), enormous supertankers between 320,000 and 550,000 DWT.
 SHIP’S TERMINOLOGY
Estimated Time Of Arrival (ETA)
Estimated time given by the ship to arrive at port

Estimated Time Of Departure (ETD)

Estimated time of departure of the ship from port

Arrived ship
A ship is considered arrived and the laytime can commence when certain conditions
specified in the charterparty are fulfilled, e.g. reach the designated position for loading or
discharging, vessel is ready in all respects for cargo operation and notice of readiness
properly given

Free pratique
Official permission from the port health authorities that the ship is without infectious
disease or plague and the crew is allowed to make physical contact with shore; otherwise the
ship may be required to wait at quarantine anchorage for clearance

Jump ship
To absent oneself from a ship; the said crew then becomes an illegal immigrant in the
country without proper document
CARGO TERMINOLOGY
 CARGO TERMINOLOGY
Cargo ship
Any ship which is not passenger ship, troop ship, pleasure craft or fishing boat

Liner
Refers to a ship calling same ports regularly

Tramp
Cargo ship operating without regular runs or schedules, and not limited to any particular
cargo

Transhipment
Transfer of cargo from one vessel to another

Feeder ship
Smaller ship which calls at less busy ports or ports inaccessible to deep sea vessels and
carries cargo to major loading port for transhipment

Spot cargo
Cargo which is available for immediate loading
GENERAL ARRANGEMENT OF BULK CARRIER
 CARGO TERMINOLOGY
Grain capacity
The cubic capacity of a cargo hold when the length, breadth and depth are measured right
up to the plating; in this case, the cargo is free-flowing and is capable of filling the spaces
between the ship's frames; sometimes known as Grain Cubic

Bale capacity
Cubic capacity of a cargo space when the breadth is measured from the inside of the cargo
battens (spar ceiling) and the measured depth is from the wood top ceiling to the underside
of the deck beams. The length is measured from the inside of the fore and aft bulkhead
Stiffeners i.e. the spaces between the frames are not filled; the bale capacity is generally less
than the hold's grain capacity; sometimes known as bale cubic

Stowage factor
Volume of space in cubic feet/metre required for stowing one ton of a named commodity;
This is used to calculate how much cargo can be carried in a ship, container, or other space.;
e.g. a cargo with SF 88 will occupy 88 cubic feet/metre per ton

Broken stowage
The space which cannot be utilised due to the type and nature of cargo loaded or structural
interferences in the cargo hold. It is greatest when large cases are stowed in an end hold or
at the turn of a bilge.
 CARGO TERMINOLOGY

Consignment
A shipment of cargo to consignee; the act of shipping goods to another

Cargo batten
Long and narrow strip of wood used for various purposes, e.g. hatch battens for holding
down tarpaulins covering hatches, or in cargo hold to keep cargo away from the ship's sides

Dunnage
Any material (e.g. wooden planks) which is placed at the bottom of the cargo hold to raise
the cargo; serves to keep cargo dry or prevent shifting

Tarpaulin
A waterproof canvas used for covering hatches and for protecting against weather
TRADE TERMS
 SHIPPING TRADE TERMS

Voyage charter (spot charter)

A ship hiring contract for a single voyage from one or more named load port to one or more
specified destination ports; this is common for bulk carriers and tramps

Time charter
A contract for the hire of a ship or charterparty for a specified period of time; the charterer
pays for the bunker fuel, fresh water, port charges, etc. in addition to charter hire

Bareboat charter
A type of charter in which the shipowner provides only the ship and gives the charterer
complete control, management and operation of the vessel for an agreed leasing period; the
charterer has to appoint the crew and pay all operating costs including stores and bunkers;
also known as demise charter

Laytime
Time allowed by the shipowner to the voyage charterer to carry out the cargo loading and/or
discharging operations; laytime may be expressed as a certain number of days or number of
tons of cargo loaded/unloaded per day
 SHIPPING TRADE TERMS
Laycan
A ship chartering term which stands for lay days commencement and cancelling; specifies the
earliest date on which laytime can commence and the latest date, after which the charterer
can opt to cancel the charterparty

Despatch
Compensation paid by shipowner to chartered as a 'reward' when the latter is able to
complete the cargo operations in less time than the laytime allowed

Demurrage
Fee paid by the charterer to the shipowner when the latter's ship is detained beyond the
specified date agreed in the charterparty

Notice of readiness
Notice presented to shipper or his agent by masters or ships' agent stating the readiness of
the arrived ship to load; it determines when the time starts to count; NOR for short
 SHIPPING TRADE TERMS

Freight rate
Fee payable to the carrier for the transportation of cargo from one place to another

Deadfreight
A form of compensation payable by the charterer or shipper to the shipowner when the
charterer is unable to load the cargo quantity agreed in the charterparty; the amount
payable is the loss of freight equivalent to the cargo unavailable

Back freight
Charges over and above the normal freight for cargo returned due to shipping
errors of either the consignee or consignor
 TRADE TERMS (INCOTERM)
Free On Board (FOB)
A shipping term in which the exporter is responsible for clearing the goods for export and
placing the goods onboard a ship at the designated port; once the goods are over the ship's
rail, the importer or buyer has to bear all costs and risks of loss or damage to the goods

Cost and Freight (CFR)

A trade term requiring the seller to arrange for the carriage of goods by sea to a port of
destination, and provide the buyer with the documents necessary to obtain the goods from
the carrier. Under CFR, the seller does not have to procure marine insurance against the
risk of loss or damage to the goods during transit.

Cost, Insurance and Freight (CIF)

A trade term requiring the seller to arrange for the carriage of goods by sea to a port of
destination, and provide the buyer with the documents necessary to obtain the goods from
the carrier.

Delivered Ex Ship ( DES)

Trade term requiring the seller to deliver goods to a buyer at an agreed port of arrival. The
Seller remains responsible for the goods until they are delivered.
 TRADE TERMS (INCOTERM)

Free Alongside ( FAS)

A trade term requiring the seller to deliver goods to a named port alongside a vessel
designated by the buyer. "Alongside" means that the goods are within reach of a ship's
lifting tackle.

Free Carrier (FCA)

A trade term requiring the seller to deliver goods to a named airport, terminal, or other
place where the carrier operates. Costs for transportation and risk of loss transfer to the
buyer after delivery to the carrier.

Ex Works ( EXW)
A trade term requiring the seller to deliver goods at his or her own place of business. All
other transportation costs and risks are assumed by the buyer.

Delivered Ex Quay ( DEQ)

In international trade, a contract specification where the seller must deliver the goods to the
wharf at the destination port. Delivered ex quay may be noted as having duty paid or
unpaid. If it is marked as paid, the seller is responsible for any costs, such as duty, and risks
associated with the delivery. The buyer must pay the costs and duty when the DEQ is
marked as "duty unpaid."