ADR
Accord European Nation du transport international des marchandise Dangereux par Route
AN (U. S.)
Arrival Notice: U.S. equivalent of an ANF
ANF (Europe)
Arrival Notification Form Advice to Consignee of goods coming forward
ATA Carnet (Europe)
Admission Temporaire Temporary Admission An ATA Carnet makes the Customs clearance of certain temporary importations and exportations easier.
Ad Valorem
(literally) “according to the value” An Ad Valorem freight rate is one where freight is based on the value of the goods. An Ad Valorem Bill of Lading is one where the value of the goods is shown on the face of the document, which value becomes the Carrier’s limit of liability, in return for the payment of a freight surcharge
Athens Convention
International convention governing Carrier’s liability for Passengers and their baggage.
BAF
Bunker Adjustment Factor Freight adjustment factor to reflect current cost of bunkers.
BE
Bill of Exchange A forward dated undertaking to pay prepared by the debtor and signed by the creditor to acknowledge debt and date payment due. Used in Documentary Credits to allow period of credit.
BIFA
British International Freight Association Trade Association of British Freight Forwarders Baltic and International Maritime Council A Danish based organisation to which many shipowners belong that represents their interests and assists by preparing standard charter parties and other shipping documents and providing other advisory services.
B/L
Bill of Lading Acts as a receipt for goods, contains the terms of the contract of carriage and is usually a document of title to the goods
B/L Ton
Bill of Lading Ton The greater weight or measurement of goods where 1 ton is either 1000 kilos or 1 cubic metre (Also called Freight Ton).
BSC
British Shippers Council
BSI
British Standards Institution The authorised body for the preparation of national standards in the U.K.
Bolero
An “Electronic” Bill of Lading project
Box
Colloquial name for container.
Boxtime
A standard B1MC0 time charter for containerships.
Break-Bulk Cargo
Goods shipped loose in the vessel’s hold and not in a container…
CABAF
Currency and Bunker Adjustment Factor A combination of CAF and BAR
CAF
Currency Adjustment Factor Freight adjustment Factor to reflect currency exchange fluctuations.
CAP (Europe)
Common Agricultural Policy EC Policy relating to agricultural produce.
C/B
Containerbase One of a group of UK Container Freight Stations.
CCC
Customs Co-operation Council. The forum for international co-operation between Customs authorities in an attempt to provide harmony and uniformity of approach.
C&D
Collection and Delivery Carriage from/to Customer’s premises to/from CFS.
C&E (U.IC.)
Customs and Excise CEFIC European Chemical Industry Council
CENSA
Council of European & Japanese National Shipowners’ Associations
C&F
Cost and Freight A conventional / port-to-port INCOTERM term of sale. (More correctly known as CFR)
CFS
Container Freight Station. Place for packing and unpacking LCL consignments. Variously known as C/Bs (in U.K.), Depots (Australia), and ICI’s (U.K. and the Indian Subcontinent)
CFSP
Customs Freight Simplified Procedures A paperless simplified clearance procedure currently undergoing trials with selected parties.
CFR
Cost and Freight A conventional / port-to-port only INCOTERM term of sale. (More popularly referred to as C&F).
CHIEF (U.K.)
Customs Handling of Import and Export Freight. Customs computer system to handle clearance procedures.
CIF
Cost Insurance Freight A conventional port-to-port only INCO’TERM term of sale
CIM (Europe)
Convention Internationale concernant le transport des Marchandises par chemin de fer. International convention on Carriage of Goods by Rail
C1P
Carriage and Insurance paid to A new Combined Transport INCOTERM replacing CIF where CT is involved but applicable to all modes of transport. Particularly appropriate for Combined Transport
CMI
Comite Maritime International An international committee of maritime lawyers.
CMR (Europe)
Conventional relative au contrat transport international des Marchandises par Route. International convention on carriage of Goods by Road
COGSA
Carriage of Goods by Sea Act IU.K.I COGSA 1971 = Hague Visby Rules (see Section 8 A(ii)) COGSA 1992 = Rights of Suit against Carrier (see Section 6 B(v)) (IU.S.) COGSA 1936 = Hague Rules
COT (U.K.)
Customer’s Own Transport Customer collects from / delivers to CFS/CY
COTIF (Europe)
Convention Concerning International carriage by Rail
COU
Clip on Unit Portable refrigeration units or Central Operating Unit Body set up to co-ordinate consortium operations in a trade.
CPT
Carriage Paid to A new Combined Transport INCOTERM replacing CFR where CT is involved but applicable to all modes of transport Particularly appropriate for Combined Transport
CRN (U.K.)
Customs Registered Number. A number allocated by C&E to an exporter or agent (Freight Forwarder) for use when exports are to be entered under the SCP.
CSC
Container Safety Convention International convention for safe containers
CT
Combined Transport Carriage by more than one mode of transport against one contract of carriage.
CTD
Combined Transport Document The CTO’s Bill of Lading.
CTO
Combined Transport Operator A Carrier who contracts as a principal to perform a CT operation.
CWE
Cleared Without Examination Cleared by Customs without inspection.
CY
Container Yard Collection and Distribution point for loaded FCL and empty containers.
Certificate of Origin
Document certifying the country of origin of goods which is normally issued or signed by a Chamber of Commerce or Embassy.
Cellular
Term used to describe hold configuration of purpose built containerships equipped with cell guides into which containers fit.
Classification Clause
ICC Insurance clause listing Clause criteria for vessels on which automatic cargo insurance cover applies at standard rates.
Clean B/L
Closing Date
Last date on which export goods can be accepted for a nominated sailing.
Conference
Organisation of a group of lines operating in one trade who agree to operate a common tariff.
Consortium
A group of CTO’s who agree to rationalise sailings in a trade and carry each others’ containers.
Container Service
(see THC)
D (U.S.)
Door.
DAT
Delivered at Terminal
DAN (U.K.)
Deferment Approval Number An account held by a trader with HMC & E to which duty & VAT are debited direct.
DAP
Delivered at Place of Destination
DDP
Delivered Duty Paid. An INCOTERM term of sale applicable to all modes of transport
DETR
Department of the Environment Transport and the Regions
DGN (U.K.)
Dangerous Goods Note
DRS
Documentation & Revenue System The P&O Nedlloyd Commercial and Financial System to facilitate speedy reponse to Customers’ commercial requirements.
DTI (U.IC.)
Department of Trade and Industry Government Department with responsibility for trade matters.
DTI (U.IC.)
Direct Trader Input Procedure for Customs entry Clearance
Data Logger
Electronic temperature recording device for refrigerated ontainers.
Delivery Order
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.
Demurrage
Charge raised for detaining FCL container/trailer at a CFS for longer period than provided in Tariff.
Depot Detention
A CFS Charge raised for detaining container/ trailer at Customer’s premises for longer period than provided in Tariff.
Doc. Credit
Documentary Credit The basis of international trade by means of which payment is made against surrender of specified documents.
Document of Title Dock Receipt (U.S.)
Acknowledgement of receipt of goods/ container at Pier incorporating Bill of Lading terms from time of receipt
Door
Terminology for CT movement
Drawback
Repayment of duty upon re-exportation of goods previously imported.
ECG (U.K.)
Export Credits Guarantee Insurance on goods shipped against non-payment by reason of commercial and J or political risks as arranged.
ECP
Electronic Commerce Project
ECSA
European Community Shipowners Association
ECSI (U.K.)
Export Cargo Shipping Instruction. Shipping Instructions from Shipper to Carrier.
ECU
European Currency Unit A financial unit used for EC accounting.
EDI
Electronic Data Interchange The transfer of structured data from one computer system to another.
EDIFACT
EDI For Administration, Commerce and Transport Organisation responsible to UNECE for the development of standard EDI messages for Administration, Commerce and Transport.
EDISHIP
An organisation for exchanging data between Carriers and Merchants by electronic means.
EDP
Electronic Data Processing Computer processing of Data.
EHA
Equipment Handover Agreement Agreement acknowledging condition signed when taking over Carrier’s equipment and returning it, which incorporates terms of contract under which equipment is taken over.
EPU (U.K.)
Entry Processing Unit Customs office that processes Customs entries
ESC
European National Shippers Councils.
ETA
Estimated Time of Arrival.
ETD
Estimated Time of Departure
EXW
Ex Works An INCOTERMS term of sale applicable to all modes of transport
Electronic Commerce
The presently preferred term for trading with EDI
Export > Export
Declaration U.S. Customs Service Form Licence Governmental document authorising export of restricted goods.
FAK
Freight All Kinds System whereby freight is charged per container, irrespective of nature of goods, and not according to a Tariff.
FAS
Free Alongside Ship A conventional / port-to-port only INCOTERM term of sale
FCA
Free Carrier (named place) A new Combined Transport INCOTERM replacing FOB where CT is involved, but applicable to all modes of transport. Particularly appropriate for Combined Transport
FCL
Full Container Load Arrangement whereby Shipper utilises all the space in a container which he packs himself.
FFI
For Further Instructions Used in Place of Delivery box if final destination uncertain at time of shipment, e.g. Barking Containerbase FFI.
FIO S
Free In Out + Stow Shipper pays for loading, stowing and discharging.
FMC
Federal Maritime Commission US Federal Authority governing sea transport.
FOB
Free On Board A conventional / port-to-port only INCOTERM term of sale
Fantainer
Container with built in forced ventilation.
Feeder Vessel
A short-sea vessel used to fetch and carry goods and containers to and from deep sea vessels.
Flat Rack
A container consisting of a base and two ends but no sides or roof.
Flexitanlc
Polythene bag to allow bulk liquids and powders to be carried in G.Ps
Force Majeure
Circumstances beyond the control of either party to a contract.
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.
Freight Broker
The Carrier’s Agent
Freight Forwarder
The Merchant’s Agent
Freight Ton
The tonnage on which freight is charged (also called B/L Ton).
GA
General Average
GATT
General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade. An international multilateral agreement embodying a code of practice for fair trading in international commerce.
GO (U.S.)
General Order Issued by U.S. Customs as notice of intention to seize goods.
G.P.
General Purpose container
Groupage
Consolidation of several LCL consignments into a container.
Groupage Agent
One who consolidates LCL consignments to offer to a Carrier as an FCL.
H/C
High Cube Containers 9 ft 6 ins high instead of usual 8 ft 6 ins.
HiH
Half Height An OT container only 4 ft 3 ins high.
H/L
Heavy Lift
HMC (U.K.)
Her Majesty’s Customs
HMC&E (U.K.)
Her Majesty’s Customs & Excise
HNS
Hazardous & Noxious Substances An international convention which was agreed at a diplomatic conference in 1996
Hague Rules
1924 International Convention on Carriage of Goods by Sea
Hague-Visby Rules
1968 Revision of Hague Rules
Hamburg Rules
1978 UNCTAD revision of Hague Rules
Haulier (U.K.)
A road transport operator (a trucker in U.S.)
House
Terminology for a CT movement
Hub & Spoke
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).
IBAP
Intervention Board for Agricultural Produce Authority monitoring application of CAP
ICC (Europe)
International Chamber of Commerce A Paris-based international forum that aims to facilitate trade (See UCP & Incoterms Sections 1 and 3).
ICC (U.S.)
Interstate Commerce Commission The U.S. governmental body to regulate interstate trade.
ICC (Ins)
Institute Cargo Clauses The Institute of London Underwriters standard clauses for cargo insurance.
ICD
Inland Clearance Depot A CFS with Customs Clearance Facilities
IMDG Code
International Maritime Dangerous Goods Code The 1M0 recommendations for the carriage of dangerous goods by sea.
IMO
International Maritime Organisation The UN Body charged with the duty of making safety and anti-pollution conventions and recommendations concerning sea transport.
INCOTERMS
International Rules for the Interpretation of Trade Terms. A list (currently 13) of standardterms for foreign trade contracts compiled by ICC. Current edition is 1990
ISO
International Standards Organisation National Standard Bodies responsible, inter alia, for setting standards for container construction.
Inherent Vice
Those properties of certain goods which lead to their arrival in damaged condition without accident or negligence e.g. unprotected steel will “weather”, bales of rubber stick together, copra is almost invariably infested.
Integral
Refrigerated container with own machinery
L/C
Letter of Credit The document in which the terms of a Documentary Credit transaction are set out.
LCL
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.
LEC (U.IC.)
Local Export Control A system of clearing export containers at Exporter’s premises.
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.
LIC (U.K.)
Local Import Control A system of clearing import containers at Importer’s premises.
LLMC
International Convention on Limitation of Liability for Maritime Claims A 1976 limitation convention enacted in the UK by the Merchant Shipping Act 1979
LOF’95
Lloyds Open Form 1995 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).
Latent Defect
A defect not obvious from cursory inspection
Lien
A right to retain goods and documents against payment of charges etc. due but unpaid
Liner
Vessel plying a regular trade/ defined route against a published sailing schedule.
Liner Terms
Freight includes the cost of loading onto and discharging from the vessel.
M
Motor
MAFF
Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries & Food
MLA
Maritime Law Association
MMO
Multi Modal Operator
MSA
Merchant Shipping Acts
MT
Empty An empty container or Multimodal Transport
MTD
Multimodal Transport Document
MTO
Multimodal Transport Operator Same as MMO.
Manifest
List of goods (or passengers) on a vessel.
Measurement Ton
I cubic metre One of the alternative bases of reight Tariff
Multimodal Transport
The UNCTAD preferred term for what we call Combined Transport
NAWK
National Association of Warehouse Keepers
NVO(C)C
Non Vessel-Owning/Operating (Common) Carrier A Carrier issuing Bs/L for carriage of goods on vessels which he neither owns nor operates.
Notify Party
Party to whom ANF is sent.
O (U.S)
(Ocean) Port
O/H
Overheight A container/flat rack with goods protruding above the top of the corner posts.
OOG
Out of Gauge Goods whose dimensions exceed those of the container/flat rack in which they are packed.
OPA 90
Oil Pollution Act 1990 A U.S. act with very onerous provisions covering all vessels trading to/from USA.
OT
Open Top A container with tarpaulin covered open roof.
ON
Overwidth A container with goods protruding beyond the sides of the container/flat rack onto which they are packed.
P (U.S.)
Pier
PA
Particular Average Partial accidental loss or damage (as opposed to Total Loss or General Average)
PHA
Port Health Authority
P&I Club
Protection and Indemnity Association Carrier’s mutual liability insurer.
POA
Place of Acceptance Where the goods are received for transit and Carrier’s liability commences. Now more usually called a POR.
POD
Place of Delivery Where goods are delivered and Carrier’s liability ceases or Proof of Delivery A signed receipt acknowledging delivery.
POR
Place of Receipt (See POA above).
P to P (U.K.)
Port to Port
P to P (U.S.)
Pier to Pier
Particular Charges
also known as Special Charges.
Partlow Chart
Paper disc recording chart for refrigeration temperatures.
Pier
Terminology for a CT movement
Poincare Franc
Fictitious gold franc originally used amongst other things to assess Carrier’s liability in an inflation-proofed manner in Hague Visby Rules. Now largely replaced by SDRs.
Porthole
Insulated container relying on external source of cold air.
Principal Carrier
The Carrler issuing a CTD (regardless of whether or not goods are carried on his own, a third party’s or a consortium member’s vessel).
R (U.S.)
Rail
RFS
Received for Shipment
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.
Reefer
Refrigerated
Removal Note(U.K.)
Indicates goods clear of Customs
SAD (U.K.)
Single Administrative Document Customs Declaration Form for both import and export cargo
SCAR
Straight Consignment Automatic Release
SCP (U.K.)
Simplified Clearance Procedure A simplified clearance procedure, under which Exporters of goods not requiring special control may submit an abbreviated Customs pre-entry or an approved commercial document at the time of export and provide the full statistical information after the goods are exported.
SDR
Special Drawing Rights The mean of a basket of currencies designed to “iron out” currency exchange fluctuations in international valuations. (Now used to express limitation in the Hague Visby Rules and MSA Limitation Convention etc.).
SITPRO
Simpler Trade Procedures Board
SOB
Shipped On Board Endorsement on a Bill of Lading confirming loading of goods on vessel.
SSN (U.IC.)
Standard Shipping Note
STC
Said to Contain
SWIFT
Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunications.
Salvage Shipper
The person tendering goods for carriage Not to be confused with the party issuing the B/L or the vessel operator who is the Carrier.
Shut-out
Goods not carried on intended vessel.
Slot
Space on board a vessel occupied by a container.
Slothire
A standard BIMCO slot charter for containerships.
Special Charges
also known as Particular Charges. Standard Trading Conditions The terms under which any company contracts for any services to Customers not covered by the Bill of Lading
Straight Bill of Lading
A term for a non negotiable Bill of Lading. In the U.S. the Fomerene Act governs its operation.
Stuffing/ Stripping
The action of packing/unpacking a container.
TEU
Twenty-foot Equivalent Unit eg. 1 x 40ft = 2 TEU 1 x 20ft = 1 T’EU
THC
Terminal Handling Charge A charge for handling FCLs at ocean terminals. Also known as a Container/Port Service Charge.
TIR (Europe)
Transports International Routiers A system involving the issue of a carnet to road hauliers which allows loaded vehicles to cross national frontiers with minimum Customs formalities.
TIR (U.S.)
Trailer Interchange Receipt Receipt to Shipper delivering a loaded export container to a terminal.
T/S
Transhipment Transfer from one vessel to another for oncarriage.
TTO
Through 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.
Tanlctainer
Container for bulk liquids.
Tariff
Terms, conditions and scale of charges.
Terminal
Port at which containers are loaded/unloaded onto/from container vessels.
Ton
2240 lbs
Tonne
1000 kilos
Trem Card Trucker
Transport Emergencies Card (U.S.) A road transport operator (a haulier in the UK).
Trunlcing
Movement of containers between Terminals and CFSs/CYs.
UCC (U.S.)
Uniform Commercial Code
UCP
Uniform Customs and Practice for Documentary Credits The “Bankers Bible” on Documentary Credit interpretation issued by the ICC (Brochure no. 500 operating from 1 st January 1994)
UN
United Nations
UNCITRAL
United Nations Commission on International Trade and Law
UNCON
Uncontainerable Goods which, because of their dimensions, cannot be containerised and which are therefore carried other than in a container.
UNCTAD
United Nations Conference on Trade and Development
UNCTAD MMO
UNCTAD Multi Modal Transport Convention
Waybill
Acts as a receipt for the goods and evidence of the contract of carriage, but is not a document of title
York/Antwerp Rules
Rules relating to the adjustment of G.A. Present draft is 1994