Glossary

Shipping has its own unique vocabulary, and using correct abbreviations is crucial for effective communication, successful negotiations, and accurate fixtures. Stay ahead with our comprehensive glossary of shipping-related terms.

Acronym Terms and Definitions
A
A&CP Anchors and Chains Proved
AA Always Afloat
AAAA Always Afloat and Always Accessible
AARA Always Accessible or Reachable on Arrival
A/C Account
A/E Accept/Except
AC Accessorial Charges
ACE Automated Commercial Environment
ACT Actual Time of Arrival
ADN European Agreement concerning the International Carriage of Dangerous Goods by Inland Waterways
ADR European Agreement concerning the International Carriage of Dangerous Goods by Road
AEO Authorized Economic Operator
AFSPS Arrival First Sea Pilot Station
AGW All Going Well
AIS Automatic Identification System
ATA Actual Time of Arrival
ATD Actual Time of Departure
APS Arrival Pilot Station
B
B/L Bill of Lading
BAF Bunker Adjustment Factor
BCO Beneficial Cargo Owner
BDI Baltic Dry Index
BIMCO Baltic and International Maritime Council
Bulk Carrier A ship designed to transport unpackaged bulk cargo
C
C&F Cost and Freight
CAF Currency Adjustment Factor
CBM Cubic Meter
C/P Charter Party
CFR Cost and Freight
CFS Container Freight Station
CIF Cost, Insurance, and Freight
CIP Carriage and Insurance Paid To
COC Carrier Owned Container
COD Cash on Delivery
COGSA Carriage of Goods by Sea Act
COA Contract of Affreightment
COB Closing of Business
CPD Charterers Pay Dues
CPT Carriage Paid To
CSC Container Safety Convention
CTD Combined Transport Document
CY Container Yard
CQD Customary Quick Despatch
Container Ship A cargo ship that carries all of its load in intermodal containers
D
D/A Disbursement Account
DAP Days All Purposes
DDP Delivered Duty Paid
DDU Delivered Duty Unpaid
DEM Demurrage
DESP Despatch
DGR Dangerous Goods Regulations
DO Delivery Order
DLOSP Dropping Last Outwards Sea Pilot
DOP Dropping Outward Pilot
Draft The vertical distance between the waterline and the bottom of the hull
DWT Deadweight Tonnage
E
EBS Emergency Bunker Surcharge
EDI Electronic Data Interchange
ETA Estimated Time of Arrival
ETD Estimated Time of Departure
EXW Ex Works
EIR Equipment Interchange Receipt
EIS Environmental Impact Statement
EORI Economic Operator Registration and Identification
EPC Electronic Product Code
EPCIS Electronic Product Code Information Services
F
FAS Free Alongside Ship
FCL Full Container Load
FCA Free Carrier
FD Free Despatch
FIOS Free In and Out Stowed
FIOST Free In, Out, Stowed, and Trimmed
FOB Free on Board
FRT Freight
FMC Federal Maritime Commission
FMCG Fast-Moving Consumer Goods
FMS Freight Management System
Freight Forwarder An agent who arranges the transportation of goods
G
G/A General Average
GRT Gross Registered Tonnage
GT Gross Tonnage
GMDSS Global Maritime Distress and Safety System
GSP Generalized System of Preferences
Grain Capacity The volume of a ship’s cargo hold measured in cubic meters
H
H/H Half Hire
H&M Hull and Machinery
Hatch An opening in a ship’s deck for loading and unloading cargo
HBL House Bill of Lading
HFO Heavy Fuel Oil
Heavy Lift Vessel A ship designed to transport heavy loads
I
IATA International Air Transport Association
IFO Intermediate Fuel Oil
IMDG International Maritime Dangerous Goods
INCOTERMS International Commercial Terms
IMO International Maritime Organization
Intermodal Transport The use of multiple transport modes for moving goods
ISPS International Ship and Port Facility Security
IWL Institute Warranty Limits
ITF International Transport Workers’ Federation
J
JIT Just In Time
Jetty A structure extending into a body of water to protect a harbor
JOC Journal of Commerce
K
KPI Key Performance Indicator
KT Knot
Keel The central structural base of a ship
L
L/C Letter of Credit
L/D Laydays/Demurrage
LCL Less than Container Load
LIFO Liner In Free Out
LNG Liquefied Natural Gas
LOA Length Overall
LOI Letter of Indemnity
LPG Liquefied Petroleum Gas
LSA Life-Saving Appliance
LSD Laytime Saved Despatch
M
MARPOL International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships
Manifest A detailed list of a ship’s cargo
MDO Marine Diesel Oil
MGO Marine Gas Oil
MLB Mini Land Bridge
MOA Memorandum of Agreement
MT Metric Ton
Mooring Securing a ship to a fixed point
N
NAABSA Not Always Afloat But Safely Aground
NOR Notice of Readiness
NRT Net Registered Tonnage
NVOCC Non-Vessel Operating Common Carrier
NT Net Tonnage
O
OBO Ore/Bulk/Oil Carrier
OOG Out of Gauge
OS&D Over, Short, and Damaged
OT Open Top Container
On-Deck Cargo Cargo carried on the deck of a ship
Overboard Over the side of a ship into the water
OO Owners Option
OWS Owners
P
P&I Protection and Indemnity
PDA Proforma Disbursement Account
POL Port of Loading
POD Port of Discharge
PPP Perils of the Ports and Places
Pilotage Navigating a ship through dangerous waters
Port of Discharge The port where the cargo is unloaded
Q
QTY Quantity
QR Quick Response
Quay A structure built parallel to the bank of a waterway
Quarantine Isolation period for ships or goods
R
ROB Remaining on Board
RO/RO Roll-On/Roll-Off
RT Revenue Ton
Reefer A refrigerated container for perishable goods
S
S/R Signing and Releasing
SHEX Sundays and Holidays Excepted
SHINC Sundays and Holidays Included
SOLAS Safety of Life at Sea
SITC Standard International Trade Classification
SSHEX Saturdays, Sundays, and Holidays Excepted
SSHINC Saturdays, Sundays, and Holidays Included
SWAD Salt Water Arrival Draft
SWDD Salt Water Departure Draft
Starboard The right side of a ship when facing forward
Stevedore A person or company engaged in loading or unloading a ship
T
TBN To Be Named/Nominated
TC Time Charter
TEU Twenty-foot Equivalent Unit
TMSA Tanker Management and Self Assessment
T/S Transshipment
TTL Total
TW Tween Decker
Tonnage A measure of a ship's cargo-carrying capacity
U
UCP Uniform Customs and Practice for Documentary Credits
ULD Unit Load Device
UNCTAD United Nations Conference on Trade and Development
Underway A ship that is not at anchor or docked
Unloading The process of removing cargo from a ship
UU Unless Used
V
VGM Verified Gross Mass
VSA Vessel Sharing Agreement
Vessel A general term for any ship or boat
Voyage Charter A contract for hiring a ship for a specific voyage
W
W/M Weight or Measurement
WIBON Whether In Berth or Not
WIFPON Whether In Free Pratique or Not
WIPON Whether In Port or Not
WOG Without Guarantee
WPD Weather Permitting Day
Wharfage A charge assessed by a pier or dock owner for handling cargo
X
XFER Transfer
XTR Extra
X-Ray Inspection Inspecting cargo contents for security
Y
YAR York Antwerp Rules
Yard An area where ships are built, repaired, or stored
Yaw Twisting or oscillation of a ship around its vertical axis
YTD Year to Date
YTS Yard Transfer System
Z
ZIM Zim Integrated Shipping Services
ZPMC Shanghai Zhenhua Heavy Industries
Zodiac A type of inflatable boat used for transport to and from ships
Zone of Responsibility A designated area for shipping operations security

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