ABBREVIATION

MEANING

AA

Always Afloat

AAAA

Always Accessible Always Afloat

AAOSA

Always Afloat or Safe Aground. Condition for a vessel whilst in port

ABT

About

ADCOM

Address Commission

AFFREIGHTMENT

The hiring of a ship in whole or part

AFT

At or towards the stern or rear of a ship

AGROUND

Touching or fast to the bottom

AGW

All Going Well

ALOFT

Above the deck of the ship

AMIDSHIPS

In or toward the centre of the ship

ANCHORAGE

A place suitable for anchorage in relation to the wind, seas and bottom

APS

Arrival Pilot Station

ARBITRATION

Method of settling disputes which is usually binding on parties. A clause usually in a charter party

A/S

Alongside

ASPW

Any Safe Port in the World

ASTERN

In the back of the ship, opposite of ahead

ATDNSHINC

Any Time Day/Night Sundays and Holidays Included

ATUTC

Actual Times Used to Count

BACKLETTER

Where a seller/shipper issues a 'letter of indemnity' in favour of the carrier in exchange for a clean bill of lading

BAF

Bunker Adjustment Factor. A Fuel Surcharge expressed as a percentage added or subtracted from the freight amount, reflecting the movement in the market place price for bunkers.

BALE CAP.

Cubic capacity of a vessels holds to carry packaged dry cargo such as bales/pallets

BALLAST

Heavy weight, often sea water, necessary for the stability and safety of a ship which is not carrying cargo

BBB

Before Breaking Bulk. Refers to freight payments that must be received before discharge of a vessel commences

BDI

Both Dates Inclusive

BEAM

The maximum breadth or the greatest width of a ship

BELOW

Beneath the deck

BENDS

Both Ends (Load & Discharge Ports)

BIMCO

The Baltic and International Maritime Council

BL²

(Bill of Lading) A document signed by the carrier which acts as a Contract of Affreightment, a receipt and evidence of title to the cargo.

BM

Beam

BN

Booking Note

BOFFER

Best Offer

BOW

The forward part of a ship

BSS

Basis

BSS 1/1

Basis 1 Port to 1 Port

BT

Berth Terms

BULKHEAD

A vertical partition separating compartments

BUOY

An anchored float used for marking a position on the water or a hazard or a shoal and for mooring

BWAD

Brackish Water Arrival Draft

CAF

Currency Adjustment Factor

CBM

Cubic Metres

CBFT (or CFT)

Cubic Feet

CFR (or C&F)

Cost and Freight

CHOPT

Charterers Option

CHTRS

Charterers

CIF

Cost, Insurance & Freight. Seller pays all these costs to a nominated port or place of discharge.

COA

Contract of Affreightment - Owners agree to accept a cost per revenue tonne for cargo carried on a specific number of voyages.

CIP

Carriage and Insurance paid to...

COACP

Contract of Affreightment Charter Party

COB

Closing of Business

COD

Cash On Delivery

COGSA

Carriage of Goods by Sea Act

CONGESTION

Port/berth delays

C/SNEE

CONSIGNEE. Name of agent, company or person receiving consignment

COP

Custom Of Port

CP (or C/P)

Charter Party

CQD

Customary Quick Despatch

CR

Current Rate

CROB

Cargo Remaining on Board

CRN

Crane

CTR

Container Fitted

DA

Disbursement Account

DAPS

Days all Purposes (Total days for loading & discharging)

DDP

Delivered Duty Paid.

DECK

A permanent covering over a compartment, hull or any part thereof

DEM

Demurrage (Quay Rent). Money paid by the shipper for the occupying port space beyond a specified "Free Time" period.

DEQ

Delivered Ex Quay

DES

Delivered Ex Ship

DESP

Despatch. Time saved, reward for quick turnaround- in dry cargo only

DFRT

Deadfreight. Space booked by shipper or charterer on a vessel but not used

DHDATSBE

Despatch Half Demurrage on All Time Saved Both Ends

DHDWTSBE

Despatch Half Demurrage on Working Time Saved Both Ends

DISCH

Discharge

DK

Deck

DO

Diesel Oil

DOLSP

Dropping Off Last Sea Pilot (Norway)

DOT

Department of Transport

DNRCAOSLONL

Discountless and Non-Returnable Cargo and/or Ship Lost or Not Lost

DRAUGHT (or DRAFT)

Depth to which a ship is immersed in water. The depth varies according to the design of the ship and will be greater or lesser depending not only on the weight of the ship and everything on board, but also on the density of the water in which the ship is lying.

DRK

Derrick

DUNNAGE

Materials of various types, often timber or matting, placed among the cargo for separation, and hence protection from damage, for ventilation and, in the case of certain cargoes, to provide space in which the tynes of a fork lift truck may be inserted.

DWAT (or DWT)

Deadweight. Weight of cargo, stores and water, i.e. the difference between lightship and loaded displacement.

EC

East Coast

EIU

Even If Used

ELVENT

Electric Ventilation

ETA

Estimated Time of Arrival

ETC

Estimated Time of Completion

ETD

Estimated Time of Departure

ETS

Estimated Time of Sailing

EXW

Ex Works

FAS

Free Alongside Ship. Seller delivers goods to appropriate dock or terminal at port of embarkation and buyer covers costs and risks of loading

FD (FDIS)

Free Discharge

FDD

Freight Demurrage Deadfreight

FDESP

Free Despatch

FDEDANRSAOCLONL

Freight Deemed Earned, Discountless And Non-Returnable (Refundable) Ship And Or Cargo Lost Or Not Lost

FENDER

A cushion, placed between ships, or between a ship and a pier, to prevent damage

FILO

Free In/Liner Out. Seafreight with which the shipper pays load costs and the carrier pays for discharge costs.

FIO

Free In/Out. Freight booked FIO includes the seafreight, but no loading/discharging costs, i.e. the charterer pays for cost of loading/discharging cargo.

FIOS

Free In/Out Stowed. As per FIO, but excludes stowage costs.

FIOST

Free In/Out and Trimmed. Charterer pays for cost of loading/discharging cargo, including stowage and trimming.

FIOT

Free In/Out and Trimmed. As per FIOS but includes trimming, e.g. the levelling of bulk cargoes. FIOS includes seafreight, but excludes loading/discharging and stowage costs.

FIT

Free In Trimmed

FIXING

Chartering a Vessel

FIXTURE

Conclusion of shipbrokers negotiations to charter a ship - an agreement

FLATPACKING

Cargo to be presented stacked and secured as an integral unit.

FLT

Full Liner Terms

FMC

Federal Maritime Commission

FME

Force Majeure Excepted

FO¹

For Orders

FOB

Free on Board. Seller sees the goods "over the ship’s rail" on to the ship which is arranged and paid for by the buyer

FORCE MAJEURE

Clause limiting responsibilities of the charterers, shippers and receivers of cargo.

FORE-AND-AFT

In a line parallel to the keel

FORWARD

Toward the bow of the ship

FOT

Free On Truck

FP

Free Pratique. Clearance by the Health Authorities

FREEBOARD

The minimum vertical distance from the surface of the water to the gunwale

FRT

Freight. Money payable on delivery of cargo in a mercantile condition

FREE DESPATCH

If loading/discharging achieved sooner than agreed, there will be no freight money returned.

FREE OUT

Free of discharge costs to owners. Includes seafreight only.

FYI

For Your Information

GEAR

A general term for ropes, blocks, tackle and other equipment

GNCN

Gencon (GENERAL CONDITIONS)

GN (or GR)

Grain (Capacity)

GSB

Good, Safe Berth

GSP

Good, Safe Port

GTEE

Guarantee

GUNWALE

The upper edge of a ship's sides

HA

Hatch

HATCH

An opening in a ship's deck fitted with a watertight cover

HDLTSBENDS

Half Despatch Lay Time Saved Both Ends

HDWTS

Half Despatch Working (or Weather) Time Saved

HMS

Heavy Metal Scraps

HOLD

A compartment below deck in a large vessel, used solely for carrying cargo

HULL

The main body of a ship

ICW

Intercoastal Waterway : bays, rivers, and canals along the coasts (such as the Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico coasts), connected so that vessels may travel without going into the sea

IMO

International Maritime Organisation

IND

Indication

INTERMODAL

Carriage of a commodity by different modes of transport, i.e. sea, road, rail and air within a single journey

IU

If Used

IUHTAUTC

If Used, Half Time Actually To Count

KEEL

The centreline of a ship running fore and aft; the backbone of a vessel

KNOT

A measurement of speed equal to one nautical mile (6,076 feet) per hour

LASH

To hold goods in position by use of Ropes, Wires, Chains or Straps etc.

LAT

Latitude. The distance north or south of the equator measured and expressed in degrees.

LAYCAN

Laycan (Layday Cancelling Date)

LAYTIME

Time at Charterers disposal for purpose of loading/discharging

L/C

Letter of Credit

LOA

Length Overall of the vessel

LOAD LINE

SEE PLIMSOLL LINE

LOI

Letter of Indemnity

LONGITUDE

The distance in degrees east or west of the meridian at Greenwich, England

LS (or LUMPS)

Lumpsum Freight. Money paid to Shipper for a charter of a ship (or portion) up to stated limit irrespective of quantity of cargo

LSD

Lashed Secured Dunnaged

LT¹

Liner Terms

LT²

Long Ton = 1,016.05 kilogram (2,240 lbs)

LTHH

Liner Terms Hook/Hook

LYCN

Laycan (Layday Cancelling Date)

MANIFEST

Inventory of cargo on board

MDO (DO)

Marine Diesel Oil

MIDSHIP

Approximately in the location equally distant from the bow and stern

MIN/MAX

Minimum/Maximum (cargo quantity)

MOLCHOPT

More or Less Charterers Option

MOLOO

More or Less Owners Option

MOORING

An arrangement for securing a ship to a mooring buoy or pier

MT

Mertic Tonne (i.e. 1,000 kilos)

M/V

Motor Vessel / Merchant Vessel

NAABSA

Not Always Afloat But Safely Aground

NM

Nautical Mile. One minute of latitude; approximately 6,076 feet - about 1/8 longer than the statute mile of 5,280 feet

NCB

National Cargo Bureau

NON-REVERSIBLE

(Detention). If loading completed sooner than expected, then saved days will not be added to discharge time allowed.

NOR

Notice of Readiness

NRT

Net Restricted Tonnage

OO

Owners Option

OWS

Owners

P&I

Protection and Indemnity Insurance

PCGO

Part Cargo

PCT

Percent

PDPR

Per Day Pro Rata

PERDIEM

By the Day

PER SE

By Itself

PHPD

Per Hatch Per Day

PORT

The left side of a ship looking forward. A harbour.

PRATIQUE

Licence or permission to use a port

PROFORMA

Estimated Account

PWWD

Per Weather Working Day

RCVR

Receiver

RECAP

Recapitulation of the terms and conditions agreed

REVERSIBLE

(Detention). If loading completed sooner than expected at load port, then days saved can be added to discharge operations.

RT

Revenue Tonne (i.e. 1.0 metric tonne or 1.0 cubic meter, whichever greater). The overall RT is calculated on a line by line basis of the Packing List using the largest amount. The overall freight liability is calculated on the total RT amount, multiplied by the freight rate.

SB

Safe Berth

SD (or SID)

Single Decker

SEAFREIGHT

Costs charged for transporting goods over the sea. This does not cover haulage or loading/discharging costs but the sea transport only

SF

Stowage Factor. Cubic space (measurement tonne) occupied by one tonne (2,240 lbs/1,000 kgs) of cargo

SHINC

Sundays/Holidays Included

SHEX

Sundays/Holidays Excluded

SKIDS

Are bearers (timber or steel) positioned under the cargo to enable forklift handling at port, and for ease of rigging and lashing on board ship.

SOF

Statement of Facts

SP

Safe Port

SRBL

Signing and Releasing Bill of Lading

SSHEX

Saturdays, Sundays, Holidays Excluded

SSHINC (or SATSHINC)

Saturdays, Sundays, Holidays Included

STABILITY

It is paramount that a vessel is stable in all aspects at all times. When cargo is loaded/discharged, the stability is monitored by a computer, which takes into account the weight and position of cargo within the vessel.

STARBOARD

Right side of a ship when facing the front or forward end.

STEM

Subject to Enough Merchandise (Availability of cargo). Also, the forward most part of the bow.

STERN

The aformost or after part of a ship

SUB

Subject (to). Depending upon as a condition

SUPERCARGO

Person employed by a ship owner, shipping company, charterer of a ship or shipper of goods to supervise cargo handling operations. Often called a port captain.

TBN

To Be Named / To Be Nominated

TC

Time Charter - Owners agree to hire a particular ship for a set length of time and provide technical management, crewing etc.

TCP

Time Charter Party

TEU

Standard 20' Container

TOPSIDES

The sides of a ship between the waterline and the deck; sometimes referring to onto or above the deck

TRIM

Fore and aft balance of a ship

TTL

Total

TW

Tween Decker

UU

Unless Used

UUIWCTAUTC

Unless Used In Which Case Time Actually Used To Count

VPD

Vessel Pays Dues

WATERLINE

A line painted on a hull which shows the point to which a ship sinks when it is properly trimmed

WCCON

Whether Customs Cleared Or Not

WIBON

Whether In Berth Or Not

WIFPON

Whether In Free Pratique Or Not

WIPON

Whether In Port Or Not

WLTOHC

Water Line-To-Hatch Coaming

WOG

Without Guarantee

WP

Weather Permitting. That time during which weather prevents working shall not count as laytime

WPD

Weather Permitting Day

WWD

Weather Working Day

WWR

When, Where Ready

WWWW

Wibon, Wccon, Wifpon, Wipon