Tips & Infos
SUPPLY CHAIN
A logistical management system which integrates the sequence of activities from delivery of raw materials to the manufacturer through to delivery of the finished product to the customer into measurable components.
SHIPPER
Person or legal entity for whom the carrier agrees to carry the goods at a specific destination and at a specific price (contract of carriage).
WAYBILL
A type of Bill of Lading used for port-to-port or combined transport carriage. A 'Waybill' is identical to a negotiable Bill of Lading except that it is not a document of title.
WAREHOUSE
A place for the reception, delivery, consolidation, distribution, and storage of goods/cargo.
VENTILATION
Voluntarily created circulation of air.
TRANSSHIPMENT
Transfer of containers between two ships (coupled ships or via the quay).
TWENTY-FOOT EQUIVALENT UNIT (TEU)
The size of a standard container. One TEU generally represents a single container measuring 20 feet long, 8 feet wide and 8.5 feet high.
THIRD PARTY-LOGISTICS (3PL)
A company which provides logistics services to other companies for some or all of their logistics needs. It typically includes warehousing and transportation services. Most 3PL’s also have freight forwarding licenses.
TERMINAL HANDLING CHARGE (THC)
A charge made for a service performed in a carrier’s terminal area.
TERMINAL
Part of a port with special equipment to berth ships for loading and discharging of goods from them.
TARIFF
A publication setting forth the charges, rates and rules of transportation companies. NVOCCs and VOCCs must publish and maintain tariffs.
TANK CONTAINER
A freight container which includes two basic elements, the tank and the framework. This type of container is used to carry hazardous or non-hazardous liquids (foodstuff). It is equipped with accessories to facilitate filling and emptying and has safety devices.
SURVEY
Inspection of goods to establish the extent and cause of damage.
SURCHARGES
An extra or additional charge applicable.
HANDLING COSTS
The cost involved in moving, transferring, preparing, and otherwise handling inventory.
STORAGE CHARGE
Charge for goods held in storage facilities (warehouses) under a fixed agreement for periods of time, and which is not included in other arrangements.
STEVEDORE
Terminal operator who is designated to facilitate the operation of loading and discharging ships and various terminal activities.
STANDARD SHIPPING NOTE
A shipping document which accompanies the container on its journey to the port of exit and gives details about the contents of a consignment to carriers, receiving authorities and forwarders.
SPREADER
A piece of equipment designed to lift containers by their corner castings.
SUPPLY CHAIN MANAGEMENT
The delivery of enhanced customer and economic value through synchronized management of the flow of physical goods, services and associated information from sourcing through consumption.
SHIPPING ORDER
Equivalent of booking and contract of carriage evidencing the agreement to transport goods.
HANDLING
Operations of loading and discharging of the containers and the goods onboard the Vessel.
SEAWAYBILL
Non-negotiable transport document allowing a quick release to the receiver named on.
SEAL
Metal strip and lead/plastic fastener used for locking containers doors. Seals are numbered for record purposes.
ROUTE
The manner in which a shipment moves.
ROLL-ON/ROLL-OFF (RO/RO)
A specialized vessel designed with a ramp to facilitate driving on and off cargo, as opposed to being loaded with cranes or other lifting equipment.
RELEASE NOTE
Receipt signed by customer acknowledging delivery of goods.
REFRIGERATED CARGO
Cargo requiring temperature control.
REEFER CONTAINER
Thermal container equipped with an electrical appliance (mechanical compressor) for the purposes of cooling or heating the air within the container.
RECONSIGNMENT (R/C)
Change of the consignee or destination on a Bill of Lading while the goods are still in transit.
PURCHASE ORDER
Common grouping of orders for goods/services to facilitate distribution at the other end.
PRO-FORMA INVOICE
A specimen invoice, requested by the buyer for the purpose of applying for such things as an import license, or foreign exchange allocation prior to the sale.
PROCUREMENT
All of the processes involved in requesting, ordering, auditing, and paying for goods and services.
PALLET
A standard size wooden platform with or without sides, on which packages or pieces can be loaded to facilitate handling.
PACKING LIST
List of packages for each shipment, showing individual breakdown in weights/measure and quantity.
OUT PORT
Destination port, other than a base port, to which rates apply but which may be subject to additional out port arbitraries.
OUT OF GAUGE (OOG)
Cargo which exceeds the internal dimensions of the container/flat rack in which it is packed.
OUTBOUND CARGO
Exported Cargo.
ORIGINAL BILL OF LADING
Bill of Lading which requires proper signatures for conclusion of contract of carriage.
NON-VESSEL OPERATING COMMON CARRIER (NVOCC)
A cargo consolidator in ocean trades that will buy space from a carrier and re-sell it to shippers. The NVOCC issues Bills of Lading, publishes tariffs and otherwise conducts itself as an ocean common carrier, except that it will not provide the actual ocean or intermodal service.
NON-NEGOTIABLE BILL OF LADING
Bill of Lading cannot be endorsed for the transfer of title on the goods. This is not a document of title.
NET WEIGHT
Weight of the product unpacked, exclusive of any containers.
NET TONNAGE
A Vessel’s net tonnage expresses the space available for carrying capacity.
NET TARE WEIGHT
Weight of an empty container.
MOTHER VESSEL
Main Ocean Vessel used in a maritime service during a specified voyage.
MANIFEST
A detailed list of cargo being carried by a Vessel as declared by the shipper in accordance with the Bill of Lading.
LOGISTICS
The process of planning, implementing, and controlling procedures for the efficient and effective storage of goods, services, and related information from the point of origin to the point of delivery for the purpose of conforming to customer requirements.
LETTER OF CREDIT (LC)
Document issued by a bank per instructions of a buyer of goods, authorizing the seller to draw a specified sum of money under specified terms, usually the receipt by the bank of certain documents within a given time.
LESS THAN CONTAINER LOAD (LCL)
A container consolidated with cargo from numerous shippers with the same destination, when many shipper’s goods occupy a single container, each shipper’s shipment is considered to be LCL.
INTERNATIONAL STANDARD ORGANIZATION (ISO)
The world’s largest developer of voluntary International Standards, given for the art specifications for products, services and good practice, helping to make industry more efficient and effective.
INSURANCE CERTIFICATE
Document issued to the consignee to certify that insurance is provided to cover loss of or damage to the cargo while in transit.
INCOTERMS
International terms written by the International Chamber of Commerce for the sale of goods worldwide and provide rules and guidance to importers, exporters, lawyers, transporters, insurers. This essential part of the daily language of trade. The latest applied version is the Incoterms 2010.
INBOUND CARGO
Imported cargo.
HIGH CUBE (HC)
A container that exceeds 8 feet 6 inches in height.
HAZARDOUS GOODS
Articles or substances which can pose a significant risk to health, safety, or property, and that ordinarily require special attention when transported. Also called Dangerous Goods.
CONTAINER CLEANING FEE
Additional costs for extra or special cleaning of containers which are applicable when the container does not meet the standard cleanliness criteria (inside and outside) upon empty return from the customer. This charge is not applicable to shipper-owned containers.
CONTAINER
Large box-shaped unit of standard design for the transport of goods, which facilitates the transfer of goods from one form of transport to another. Containers may be dry, ventilated, insulated, refrigerated, flat rack, vehicle rack, open top, bulk liquid, or equipped with interior devices.
GROUPAGE BILL OF LADING
Bill of Lading covering many goods, loaded in the same container by different shippers.
GROSS TONNAGE
Designates the overall internal volume of a Vessel, calculated based on 'the molded volume of all enclosed spaces of the ship'.
GEARLESS SHIP
A Vessel with no lifting (crane) equipment.
FULL CONTAINER LOAD
A container with a single shipper. A container that is loaded and unloaded entirely under the risk and account of the merchant.
FREIGHT PREPAID
The freight and charges to be paid before loading of the goods onboard the Vessel by the shipper against remittance of the original Bill of Lading.
FREIGHT FORWARDER (OR FORWARDING AGENT)
An individual or organization that specializes in organizing shipments, necessary volumes, and customs facilities for other individuals or organizations.
FREIGHT COLLECT
The freight and charges to be paid by the consignee.
FREIGHT BILL
Carrier's invoice for payment of transport services rendered.
FREIGHT
All charges payable to the carrier in accordance with the Applicable Tariff of the Bill of Lading of the carrier, including without limitation, storage, demurrage, detention, and reefer services.
FREE ON BOARD (FOB)
The seller delivers the goods on board the Vessel nominated by the buyer at the named port of shipment or procures the goods already so delivered. The risk of loss of or damage to the goods passes when the goods are on board the Vessel, and the buyer bears all costs from that moment onwards.
FINAL PLACE OF DELIVERY
Delivery of the cargo by the carrier at another than the terminal, as stated on the Bill of Lading. It means the end of the carrier's liability.
FAK
Freight All Kinds, standard rate charged per container, regardless of what commodity it is carrying.
EX-WORKS
The seller delivers when it places the Goods at the disposal of the buyer at the seller's premises or at another named place. The seller does not need to load the goods on any collecting vehicle, nor does it need to clear the goods for export, where such clearance is applicable.
ETD
Abbreviation for 'Estimate Time of Departure' of the Vessel.
ETA
Abbreviation for 'Estimate Time of Arrival' of the Vessel.
EQUIPMENT INTERCHANGE RECEIPT (EIR)
Document required when transferring a cargo container from one Vessel to another, or to a shipping terminal. The receipt includes the apparent exterior status of the Container.
DRY DOCK
A dock used to lay up Vessels for inspection, reparation, and maintenance.
DOOR-TO-DOOR
Shipment placed in a container at origin residence and delivered in the same container to a destination's residence. Also known as House to House.
DETENTION FEE-IMPORT
A separate freight charge, in addition to ordinary shipping costs, which is imposed according to the terms of a contract of carriage for the period in which the carrier's container is on hold by the shipper or the consignee. It is counted from the day of laden pick-up to the day of empty return (both days inclusive).
DETENTION FEE-EXPORT
A separate freight charge, in addition to ordinary shipping costs, which is imposed according to the terms of a contract of carriage for the period in which the carrier's container is on hold by the shipper or the consignee. It is counted from the day of empty container pick-up to the day of laden container return (both days inclusive).
DESTINATION DELIVERY CHARGE
A charge, based on container size, added to the base ocean freight. This charge covers crane lifts off the Vessel, drayage of the container within the terminal, and gate fees at the terminal operation.
DELIVERY ORDER (DO)
Document issued by the agent of the carrier authorizing the named party to take delivery of the cargo at the arrival of the ship. The Delivery Order is given against the original Bill of Lading.
DELIVERY OF CARGO
The physical and legal transfer of cargo from Carrier or his agent to receiver/consignee/notify party.
DECIDEE/DECIDING PARTY
The party that decides to transport cargo with the shipping carrier.
CUSTOMS
Official department which is administrating imported and exported goods.
DEMURRAGE
A separate freight charge, in addition to ordinary shipping costs, which is imposed according to the terms of a contract of carriage for an unreasonable period in which Shipper or consignee's laden container is stored at carrier's terminal facilities before Vessel's departure or after Vessel's arrival. It is also the amount identified in a charter contract as damages payable to a ship owner as compensation for the detention of a ship beyond the time specified by a charter party for loading and unloading or for sailing.
CUBIC CAPACITY
Volume of goods in a container expressed in cubic meters.
BAY
Section of the ship in which containers are stowed.
BARGE
The cargo-carrying vehicle used by Inland water carriers or for discharging of Vessels. Basic barges have open tops, but there are covered barges for both dry and liquid cargoes.
CONSOLIDATOR
A company that groups together shipments from different companies into a single shipment.
CONSIGNOR
Person who delivers a consignment to a carrier for transport to a consignee named in the transportation documents. Consignor has the ownership of the goods unless title is transferred through endorsement, or until the consignee pays for them in full.
CONSIGNEE
Person whose goods should be delivered and whose name is appearing on the Bill of Lading.
COMMODITY
Article shipped, which can be bought and sold.
CLEAN ON BOARD
A clause inserted in the Bill of Lading stating that they have not noted or are not familiar with any irregularities or discrepancies in the packing or in the general condition of any part of the goods or its description.
CARRIER HAULAGE
The Carrier organizes pre and post-transportation prior to and/or after the sea period.
CARRIAGE
Any person or entity who in a contract of carriage undertakes to perform or to procure the performance of carriage. The Bill of Lading is delivered in its name.
CARGO MANIFEST
A manifest which lists all cargoes carried on a specific Vessel voyage.
CARO DECLARATION AMENDMENT FEE
A required fee by customs that covers re-submission of necessary information due to an amendment request that is made by the customer after the carrier has submitted the documentation to local customs authorities.
BROKER
An intermediary person who buys and arranges for other some services, as transportation of loads, usually large operations, for a percentage of the revenue from the load.
BREAK-BULK CARGO
Usually, loose cargo transported not in a container. On a container ship, break bulk will be carried on one or more flatbed(s) or a platform container(s).
BOOKING
Act of recording arrangements for the transportation of goods by Vessel and other conveyance if any.
BOND
Written document used for a legal transfer of ownership which binds its debtor to make payment to its creditor.
BILL OF LADING (B/L)
Document which must be issued by the carrier to the shipper. It is a receipt of the Goods (it describes the cargo, with its weight and the number of packages). It is also a proof of the contract of carriage (the Terms and Conditions are in the recto), and it is a document of title on the goods.
BENEFICIAL CARGO OWNER
The importer of cargo, who physically takes possession of cargo at the final destination. It does not act as a third party in the movement of such goods.
AD VALOREM FREIGHT
Freight calculated according to the value of the cargo.
BANK GUARANTEE
A document representing an irrevocable obligation of the bank to pay a specified amount of money if the party for which the bank is giving the guarantee does not fulfill its contractual obligations under the Bill of Lading.
ALLIANCE
A group of companies cooperating. Supply chain alliances consist of trading partners that have complimentary goals and objectives and cooperate in areas of planning, forecasting, and replenishment.
ALL INCLUSIVE
Freight rate including all charges.
AGENT
A person authorized to do business for and in the name of another person or company.
AD VALOREM MENTION
According to value of the goods declared by the Shipper prior the commencement of the carriage as stated in writing on the Bill of Lading.
