The following list of terms contains words that might be unfamiliar to you. You can simply browse the entire list or click on the first letter to quickly link you to all the terms beginning with that letter.

A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N
O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z

O

Ocean Bill of Lading
See On-Board Ocean Bill of Lading

Offshore
Contracting work carried out at sea (e.g. drilling for oil).

Oil Bulk Ore Vessel
Abbreviation: OBO-Vessel
A vessel, designed for the carriage of either dry or liquid bulk cargo.

On Board Ocean Bill of Lading
Document issued by the steamship company indicating the freight covered by the bill of lading has been physically loaded aboard ship for transit. This document is usually not released to the shipper until the ship has set sail.

On-line Charge
The charge which applies to carriage over the lines of a single carrier (aircargo).
Synonyms: Local Charge, Local Rate, On-line Rate.

On-line Rate
See On-line Charge.

On-carriage
The carriage of goods (containers) by any mode of transport to the place of delivery after discharge from the ocean vessel (main means of transport) at the port (place) of discharge.

One Way Pallet
See disposable pallet.
Note: The addition 'One Way' has nothing to do with the number of pallet sides in which the forks of e.g. a fork lift can enter, as opposed to the two and four way pallets.

Open Account
Method of payment for goods. Seller and buyer agree on payment terms; freight and necessary documents are sent to buyer. The buyer generally has 60 to 90 days to reimburse the seller (with no interest charges). The seller carriers all the risk in this situation.

Open Order
See Backlog.

Open Sided Container
Shipping container with frames with wire-mesh at the sides covered by means of a tarpaulin which can be dropped down to give unrestricted access to the sides of the container for loading or discharging.

Open Top Container
A freight container similar in all respects to a general purpose container except that it has no rigid roof but may have a flexible and movable or removable cover, for example one made of canvas or plastic or reinforced plastic material normally supported on movable or removable roof bows.

Operating Efficiency
A ratio of the actual output of a piece of equipment, department, or plant as compared to the planned or standard output.

Operations Research
The development and application of quantitative techniques to the solution of problems. More specifically, theory and methodology in mathematics, statistics, and computing are adapted and applied to the identification, formulation, solution, validation, implementation, and control of decision making problems.

Operator
The party responsible for the day to day operational management of certain premises such as ware-houses, terminals and vessels.

Optimal Trim
The best calculated TRIM related to speed engine capacity, fuel consumption for a specific sailing condition.

Optimization
Achieving the best possible solution to a problem in terms of a specified objective function.

Option
One of a limited range of choices or features that is offered to a customer when purchasing an otherwise basic standard product and that has to be an integral part of the product (used in commercial trading).

Optional Cargo
Cargo of which the final destination is not known at the moment of booking but will be indicated during the transport.

Optional Port
A port of which it is not known whether or not it will be called by a vessel during a voyage.

Order
A request to deliver specified quantities of goods or to render specific services.

Order line
Each line on a customer's purchase order. An order line always contains one Stock Keeping Unit (SKU) only, but the number may vary.

Organization
An identifiable social unit with a particular responsibility which endeavor to achieve multiple goals by coordinated activities and relationships between members and objects.

Out of Gauge Cargo
Cargo which dimensions are exceeding the normal dimensions of a 20 or 40 feet container, e.g. overlength, overwidth, overheight, or combinations thereof.

Outsider
A carrier, which operates on a route served by a liner conference but which is not a member of that conference.

Outturn Report
Written statement by a stevedoring company in which the condition of cargo discharged from a vessel is noted along with any discrepancies in the quantity compared with the vessel's manifest.

Outward Handling
The operations to be performed on outgoing goods from a production unit, both administrative and physical, starting at the moment forwarding orders can be executed to the moment of actual departure of the goods.

Overcarrier
A carrier within a consortium who carries cargo beyond the allotment distributed to him.

Overheight Cargo
Cargo, exceeding the standard height.

Overlength Cargo
Cargo, exceeding the standard length.

Overtime
Work beyond normal established working hours which usually requires a premium to be paid to the employees concerned.

Overwidth Cargo
Cargo, exceeding the standard width.

Owner
The legal owner of cargo, equipment or means of transport.

Owner's Container Code
See Container Prefix.

P

Package
1. Any physical piece of cargo in relation to transport consisting of the contents and its packing for the purpose of ease of handling by manual or mechanical means.
2. The final product of the packing operation consisting of the packing and its contents to facilitate manual or mechanical handling.
Synonym: Parcel.

Packaging
Materials used for the containment, protection, handling, delivery and presentation of goods and the activities of placing and securing goods in those materials.

Packing
Any container or other covering in which goods are packed

Packing List
Document that itemizes shipment contents. Should include weight (gross and net), dimensions, contents, numbering of each parcel within the shipment, and any identifying characteristics (e.g., serial numbers). It also can be used to identify damages or shortages; the buyer only pays duty on what was actually received. Customers must present a packing list for all export shipments.

Packing Instruction
Document issued within an enterprise giving instructions on how goods are to be packed.

Packing List
Document specifying the contents of each individual package.

Packing Unit
A type of package where a standard quantity of products of a specific product type can be packed and that requires no additional packaging for storage and shipment.

Pallet
A platform on which goods can be stacked in order to facilitate the movement by a fork lift or sling.

Pallet Converter
Superstructure which can be applied to a pallet to convert it into either a box or post pallet

Pallet Rack
A skeleton framework, of fixed or adjustable design, to support a number of individual pallet loads.

Pallet Truck
Pedestrian- or rider-controlled non-stacking lift truck fitted with forks.

Panamax Size
The maximum measurements and dimensions of a vessel capable to pass the Panama Canal

Parcel
See Package.

Particular Average
A fortuitous partial loss to the subject matter insured, proximately caused by an insured peril but which is not a general average loss. Particular average only relates to damage and/or expenses which are exclusively borne by the owners of a vessel which has sustained damage as a result of e.g. heavy weather or by the owners of the cargo, which has been damaged in transit.

Partition
See Divider.

Payee
A party to whom a payment is made or owed

Payer
A party who pays or is to pay

Payload
The revenue-producing load carried by a means of transport.

Payment
That which discharges a debt

Payment Against Documents
Instructions given by a seller to a bank to the effect that the buyer may collect the documents necessary to obtain delivery of the goods only upon actual payment of the invoice.

Performance Indicator
A variable indicating the effectiveness and/or efficiency of a process.

Performance Measurement
The comparison of the results of business processes with each other or with standards in order to know the effectiveness of these processes and/or the supportive actions.

Physical Distribution
Those activities related to the flow of goods from the end of conversion to the customer.

Physical Distribution Management
The planning execution and control of those activities which are related to the flow of goods from the end of conversion to the customer

Pick and Pack
Taking goods out of a stock and packing them according to customer conditions.

Pick Order
An order to pick certain quantities of goods out of a stock.

Pick Up and Delivery
A service concerning the collection of cargo from the premises of the consignor and the delivery to the premises of the consignee.

Picking
Taking products or components out of a stock.

Picking List
A list used to collect items from stores needed to fulfil an order.
Synonym: Material issue list, Kitting list.

Pier
See quay.

Piers Data
General information on import and export shipments that can provide business leads. Includes shipper name, commodity, shipment weight, and origin and destination ports.

Piggyback
The carriage of road vehicles and trailers on railway wagons.
Synonym: Huckepack Carriage.

Pilferage
Petty stealing of goods from a ship's hold, cargo shed or warehouse.

Pilot
Local expert advising a vessel's captain on safe navigation in those areas where the captain is ignorant of local circumstances or where it is obligatory to take a pilot.

Pipeline
A line of pipes for conveying liquids and gasses. The physical goods flow from a supplying organization to a receiving organization.

Pipeline Inventory
The amount of goods in a pipeline: the sum of loading stock, goods in transit and receiving stock.
Synonym: Floating Stock.

Place of Acceptance
See place of receipt.

Place of Delivery
The location where a consignment (shipment) is delivered to the consignee viz. the place where the carrier's liability ends for the transport venture.

Place of Receipt
The location where a consignment (shipment) is received by the carrier from the shipper viz. the place where the carrier's liability for transport venture commences.
Synonym: Place of Acceptance.

Placement
The activity of positioning an object or goods in a chosen location or position

Planning
The setting of goals over a certain time and the determination of how to achieve these goals and with what resource

Planning Horizon
The period of time to which a certain particular plan relates.

Platform
The bare floor of a container, suitable for the carriage of uncontainerable cargo, as several platforms can be placed together to provide a larger base. Plated for the carriage of heavy goods. 20' and 40'

Platform Body
A truck or trailer without ends, sides or top but with only a floor.

Plimsoll Mark
A mark, welded on both sides of the vessel, which gives the limit to which a vessel may be loaded, depending on the specific gravity of the water in which the vessel is situated.

Pontoon
A vessel with flat deck and a shallow draft.

Pool
The shared use of e.g. equipment by a number of companies, which make together the investments in the equipment mentioned.

Poop
Aft part of a vessel where the steering engine is located

Port
Harbor having facilities for vessels to moor and load or discharge.
Left side of a vessel when facing towards the front or forward end.

Port of Call
Place where a vessel actually drops anchor or moors during a certain voyage.

Port of Discharge
The port where the cargo is actually discharged (unloaded) from the sea (ocean) going vessel.

Port of Loading
The port where the cargo is actually loaded on board the sea (ocean) going vessel.

Portal Crane
A type of gantry crane with vertical legs of sufficient height and width to permit vehicles or railroad equipment to pass between the legs.

Portlog
A statement concerning a vessel containing the actual arrival and departure time used tugs, draft, deadweight, quantity of discharged and loaded goods/containers and any other important particulars.

Positioning
The transport of empty equipment from a depot to shipper's premises or from consignee's premises back to a depot as the empty leg of a carrier haulage transport.

Postal Code
A national code maintained by the Postal Authorities designed to indicate areas and accumulated addresses to facilitate sorting and the delivery of mail and other goods. Note: The coding system is different in the various countries throughout the world. In the Netherlands the code consists of 4 figures and 2 characters.

Power of Attorney
Legal ability or authority given by one individual or firm to another individual or firm to act on behalf of the first in specific matter. With regard to import shipments, power of attorney allows Yellow to arrange Customs clearance within the Yellow International program.

Practice
That what has become customary as a result of repeated acts.

Preadvice
Notice to partners of freight/containers destined to them. Copy of manifest should suffice.

Precarriage
The carriage of goods (containers) by any mode of transport from the place of receipt to the port (place) of loading into the ocean vessel (main means of transport).

Precarrier
The carrier by which the goods are moved prior to the main transport.

Preshipment Inspection
Abbreviation: PSI
The checking of goods before shipment for the purpose of determining the quantity and/or quality of said goods by an independent surveyor (inspection company) for phytosanitary, sanitary and veterinary controls. Presently there is a tendency by developing countries to use the inspection also for the purpose of determining whether the price charged for certain goods is correct.

Pre-slinging
The act of placing goods in slings which are left in position and used for loading into and discharging from a conventional vessel.

Pre-trip Inspection
Abbreviation: PTI
A technical inspection of Reefer containers prior to positioning for stuffing.

Principal
Person for whom another acts as agent.

Principal Carrier
See Responsible Carrier.

Principal Corporate Body
The company that owns the various subsidiary companies or branches acting as customers on their own and is registered as the corporate customer for statistical purposes.

Priority Order
An order which is identified as taking precedence over other orders to ensure its completion in the minimum time.
Synonym: Urgent order, Rush order.

Private Warehouse
A warehouse operated by the owner of the goods stored there.

Pro Forma Invoice
Draft invoice sent to an importer by the exporter prior to order confirmation and shipment to assist in matters relating to obtaining import licenses or foreign exchange allocations, or simply to advise the value of a consignment so that letters of credit can be opened.

Procurement
The activities which ensure the availability of the material and or services in the desired quantity, quality, place and time from the supplier.

Procurement Logistics
Control of the flow of materials up to the manufacturing process.

Product
A result, end item or output from a certain process.

Product Chain
All phases in the transformation or production process of one product.

Product Life Cycle
The period of time between the introduction date and end date of a product in the market.
Note: Phases are introduction, growth, maturity, saturation, decline & end.

Production
1. The conversion of materials and or assembly of components to manufacture goods, products or services.
2. The total quantity of goods manufactured or to be manufactured in a particular period of time expressed in quantitative or financial terms. (The term manufacturing is often used specifically for physical operations resulting in a product).

Productivity
Relative measure of output of labor hour or machine hour.

Profit Center
An organizational unit which will be held responsible for its own profits and losses.

Project Cargo
Quantity of goods connected to the same project and often carried on different moments and from various places.

Proof of Delivery
The receipt signed by the consignee upon delivery.

Proper Shipping Name
A name to be used to describe particular goods on all shipping documents and notifications and, if appropriate, on the goods.

Protocol
A statement drawn up to attest certain events.

Public Authorities
The agencies or officials in a state responsible for the application and enforcement of the laws and regulations of that state. Source: IMO.

Public Warehouse
A warehouse which is available to all companies and persons who wish to make use of the services offered.

Pull Distribution System
A system to provide warehouses with new stock on request of the warehouse management.

Purchase Order
A definite order for one or more deliveries by the supplier to the customer of a specific quantity of goods, materials, services or products under agreed terms of delivery and prices.

Push Distribution System
A system to provide warehouses with new stock upon decision of the supplier of the goods.

Q

Qualifier
A data element whose value shall be expressed as a code that gives specific meaning to the function of another data element or a segment.

Quarantine
The period during which an arriving vessel, including its equipment, cargo, crew or passengers, suspected to carry or carrying a contagious disease is detained in strict isolation to prevent the spread of such a disease.

Quay
That part of a wharf that is intended for the mooring of vessels.
Synonym: pier.

Queue
A stored arrangement of computer data, programs or messages, waiting to be processed in the order in which they were submitted.

Quoin
Timber wedge used to secure drums against movement.

Quotas
A system of controlling imports, exports or production by specifying a certain limitation.

Quotation
Amount stated as the price according to tariff for certain services to be provided or issued to a customer with specification on conditions for carriage.

Quotation expiration date
The date as from which a quotation-price is no longer valid.

R

Rail Car
A wheeled wagon used for the carriage of cargo by rail.

Rail Consignment Note
A document evidencing a contract for the transport of goods by rail.

Ramp
An artificial inclined path, road or track along which wheeled vehicles, cargo and trailers may pass for the purpose of changing their elevation and facilitating the loading and unloading operation (e.g. an entrance way into a Roll-on Roll-off vessel).

Ramp Handling
See Platform Handling.

Rate
1. The price of a transport service.
2. Quantity, amount or degree measured or applied.

Rate of Calculation
A factor for the calculation of an amount.

Rate of Turn
The figure indicating the speed of a change of course of a means of transport expressed in degrees per minute.

Rate Request Form
Document information for proposed pricing.

Rating
A class to which an article is assigned.

Rebate
That part of a transport charge which the carrier agrees to return.

Receipt
A written acknowledgement, that something has been received.

Receiving Stock
The stock comprising all the goods that have arrived at the door of the receiving organization and which is not yet available in the stock of that organization.

Reconditioning
All activities connected with restoring and or adjusting the packaging of a product. In such manner that it can be presented to the customer in the requested form.

Reconditioning of Garments
The act or process of bringing garments after transport in shop's condition.

Reefer Cargo
Cargo requiring temperature control.

Reefer Container
A thermal container with refrigerating appliances (mechanical compressor unit, absorption unit etc.) to control the temperature of cargo.

Refund
The repayment to the purchaser of the total charge or a portion of that charge for unused carriage.

Region
Specified geographical area for operational purposes.

Register Ton
The unit of measurement for the internal capacity of a vessel whereby one register ton equals 100 cubic feet (2.83 cubic meter). The gross (bruto) tonnage comprises all spaces below the main (tonnage) deck and the enclosed spaces above the main (tonnage) deck less exempted spaces. The net tonnage consists of the gross tonnage less exemptions like ballast tanks, engine room, living quarters etc. The register tonnages are mentioned on the tonnage certificate.

Regroupage
The process of splitting up shipments into various consignments (degroupage) and combining these small consignments into other shipments (groupage).

Re-invoicing
The procedure whereby goods shipped directly from a supplier to the customer are invoiced in two stages: at first by the supplier to an intermediary and subsequently by the intermediary to the customer.

Rejection
Non-acceptance of cargo.

Reliability of Delivery
The reliability of a supplier concerning the agreed terms of delivery with regard to the quality, quantity, delivery time, conditions and price.

Replacement
Indicating that a subject is interchangeable with another subject, but which differs physically from the original subject in that the installation of the replacement subject requires extra machining or provisions in addition to the normal application and methods of attachment.

Replenishment
Completion of stock.

Reserve Inventory
See Safety Stock.

Responsible Carrier
The carrier liable under the terms of a consortium Bill of Lading.
Synonym: Principal Carrier.

Returns
Goods returned to their place of acceptance.

Revenue
Amounts of income stemming from the provision of transport services.

Reverse Distribution
The collection of used, damaged, or outdated products and/or packaging from end-users.

Rinacertificate
Certificate issued by the Italian Government for carrying dangerous goods in Italian Waters.

Road Carrier
Party undertaking transport by road of goods from one point to another such as indicated in the contract.
Synonym: Haulier.

Road Vehicle
A means of transport capable and allowed to move over public roads and other landways.

Roll Trailer
Special trailer for terminal haulage and stowage on board of Roll-on Roll-off vessels.
Also referred to as Mafi Trailer.

Rolling Resistance
The total frictional force that a tire, a set of tires or all the tires on a vehicle is developing with the road.

Roll-on Roll-off
Abbreviation: RoRo.
System of loading and discharging a vessel whereby the cargo is driven on and off by means of a ramp.

RoRo
See Roll-on Roll-off.

Rotation
Sequence in which a vessel calls at the ports on her itinerary.

Round Trip
A voyage, a journey etc. to a certain place, port or country and back again.

Route
The track along which goods are (to be) transported.

Routing
1. The determination of the most efficient route(s) that people, goods, materials and or means of transport have to follow.
2. The process of determining how a shipment will be moved between consignor and consignee or between place of acceptance by the carrier and place of delivery to the consignee.
3. The process of aiding a vessel's navigation by supplying long range weather forecasts and indicating the most economic and save sailing route.

Row
A vertical division of a vessel from starboard to portside, used as a part of the indication of a stowage place for containers. The numbers run from midships to both sides.

S

Safe Working Load
Abbreviation: SWL
The maximum load any lifting appliance may handle.

Safety Stock
1. In general, a quantity of stock planned to be in inventory to protect against fluctuations in demand and/or supply.
2. In the context of master production scheduling, safety stock can refer to additional inventory and/or capacity planned as protection against forecast errors and/or short term changes in the backlog. Also referred to as 'overplanning' or a 'market hedge'.
Synonym: Reserve Inventory.

Said to Contain
Abbreviation: STC
Term in a Bill of Lading signifying that the master and the carrier are unaware of the nature or quantity of the contents of e.g. a carton, crate, container or bundle and are relying on the description furnished by the shipper.

Salvage
The saving or rescue of a vessel and/or the cargo from loss and/or damage at sea.

Scale Ton
Freighting measurement used in certain trades for various commodities.

Schedule
A timetable including arrival/departure times of ocean- and feeder vessels and also inland transportation. It refers to named ports in a specific voyage (journey) within a certain trade indicating the voyage number(s). In general, the plan of times for starting and/or finishing activities.

Schedule B Number
Classification number assigned to freight. Used to identify U.S. exports by product and regulate the exportation of controlled commodities. Coincides with the harmonized system, which contains additional identifying numerics.

SCP (Simplified Clearance Procedure)
A procedure covering non-restricted goods which enables approved exporters or agents to export goods on presentation of minimum information. The full statistical information is supplied within 14 days of shipment.

SCR
See Specific Commodity Rate.

SDD
Scheduled Delivery date. PC-based system used to calculate delivery dates based on date shipped, optimum shipping dates based on required arrival date and rates.

SDR
See Special Drawing Rights.

Seal
A device used for containers, lockers, trucks or lorries to proof relevant parties that they have remained closed during transport.

Seal Log
A document used to record seal numbers.

Seasonal Inventory
Inventory built up in anticipation of a seasonal peak of demand in order to smooth production.

Seaworthiness
Fitness of a vessel to travel in open sea mostly related to a particular voyage with a particular cargo.

SED
Shipper's Export Declaration. This form includes a general description of the freight, the Schedule B number, value country of destination, and export license number if applicable. The SED serves two purposes: to give some control over shipments of sensitive commodities or shipments destined to unfriendly countries; to gather statistical data on exports. Also used by the shipper to compile quarterly reporting required by Customs on exports.

Segregation
Distance required by the rules of IMDG or BC codes between the various commodities of dangerous and or bulk cargoes.

Seller's Market
A 'seller's market' is considered to exist when goods cannot easily be secured and when the economic forces of business tend to be priced at the vendor's estimate of value. In other words, a state of trade favourable to the seller, with relatively great demand and high prices of something for sale.

Semi Trailer
A vehicle without motive power and with one or more axles designed to be drawn by a truck tractor and constructed in such way that a portion of its weight and that of its load rest upon e.g. the fifth wheel of the towing vehicle.

Sender
See Shipper.

Service Bill
A service Bill (of Lading) is a contract of carriage issued by one carrier to another for documentary and internal control purposes (e.g. in case Meridian IQ Global cargo is carried on a non Meridian IQ Global vessel)
Synonym: Memo Bill of Lading
For internal documentary and control purposes a so-called participating agent in a consortium uses some kind of document which, depending on the trade, is referred to as 'Memo Bill' which will among others state:

• Name of Carrier on whose behalf the original document (Way Bill, Bill of Lading, etc.) was issued.
• The original document number.
• The agent who issued the original document and his opponent at the discharging side.
• The number of packages, weight and measurement, marks and numbers and goods description.
• Further mandatory details in case of special cargo.
• No freight details will be mentioned and the Memo Bill is not a contract of carriage.

See Bill of Lading.

Service Level
A measure for the extent to which the customer orders can be executed at delivery conditions normally accepted in the market.

Setting/Air Delivery Temperature
An indication in the documents (B/L) stating the air supply temperature to the container.
Note: No other details than this temperature shall be included in the Bill of Lading.

Shed
See Warehouse.

Shelf Life
The specified length of time prior to use for which items, which are inherently subject to deterioration, are deemed to remain fit for use under prescribed conditions.
Synonym: Storage life.

Shift
Part of the work-program of a stevedoring company (a working day can have up to 3 shifts (24 hours)).

Ship
See Vessel.

Ship Broker
Acts as intermediary between ship-owners or carriers by sea on the one hand and cargo interests on the other. The functions are to act as forwarding agent or custom broker, fixing of charters, and acting as chartering agent.

Ship's Protest
Statement of the master of a vessel before (in the presence of) competent authorities, concerning exceptional events which occurred during a voyage.

Shipment
A separately identifiable collection of goods to be carried; also see Consignment.
Note: In the United States of America the word shipment is used instead of the word consignment.

Ship operator
A ship operator is either the ship-owner or the (legal) person responsible for the actual management of the vessel and its crew.

Ship owner
The (legal) person officially registered as such in the certificate of registry where the following particulars are contained:

• Name of vessel and port of registry.
• Details contained in surveyor's certificate.
• The particulars respecting the origin stated in the declaration of ownership.
• The name and description of the registered owner, if more than one owner the proportionate share of each.

Shipper
The merchant (person) by whom, in whose name or on whose behalf a contract of carriage of goods has been concluded with a carrier or any party by whom, in whose name or on whose behalf the goods are actually delivered to the carrier in relation to the contract of carriage.
Synonym: Consignor, Sender.

Shipper's Export Declaration
Abbreviation: SED
A United States customs form to be completed for all exports to assist the government in compiling export statistics.

Shipper's Letter of Instruction
Abbreviation: SLI
A document containing instructions given by the shipper or the shipper's agent for preparing documents and forwarding.

Shipping Documents
Documents required for the carriage of goods.
Synonym: Transport Documents.

Shipping Instruction
Document advising details of cargo and exporter's requirements of its physical movement.

Shipping Label
A label attached to a shipping unit, containing certain data.

Shipping Marks
The identification shown on individual packages in order to help in moving it without delay or confusion to its final destination and to enable the checking of cargo against documents.
Synonym: Marks.

Shipping Note
Document provided by the shipper or his agent to the carrier, multimodal transport operator, terminal or other receiving authority, giving information about export consignments offered for transport, and providing for the necessary receipts and declarations of liability.

Shortage
The negative difference between actual available or delivered quantity and the required quantity.

Shrink Wrapping
Heat treatment that shrinks an envelope of polyethylene or similar substance around several units, thus forming one unit. It is used e.g. to secure packages on a pallet.

Shut-out
Containers not carried on intended vessel.

Shuttle Service
The carriage back and forth over an often short route between two points.

SIC
See Standard Industrial Classification.

Siding
A short railroad track connected with a main track by a switch to serve a warehouse or an industrial area.

Sight Draft
Method of payment for goods. Used if seller wishes to retain control over the goods until the buyer actually pays for them. The buyer must make full payment to her/her bank before receiving the necessary documents to take possession of the freight. Similar to C.O.D.

Simulation
The imitation of the reality for studying the effect of changing parameters in a model as a means of preparing a decision.

Skeleton Trailer
Road trailer consisting of a frame and wheels, specially designed to carry containers.
See chassis.

Skids
Battens fitted underneath frames, boxes or packages to raise them off the floor and allow easy access for fork lift trucks, slings or other handling equipment.

Sliding Tandem
An undercarriage with a subframe having provision for convenient fore and aft adjustment of its position on the chassis/semi-trailer. The purpose being to be able to shift part of the load to either the king pin or the suspension to maximize legally permitted axle loads (road cargo).

SLI
Shipper's Letter of Instructions. This form is completed by the shipper instead of a bill of lading and contains all pertinent shipment information. Yellow International's SLI also provides necessary authorization if no MSA is on file with Yellow.

Sling
Special chain, wire rope, synthetic fibre strap or ropes used for cargo handling purposes.

Slot
The space on board a vessel, required by one TEU, mainly used for administrative purposes.

Slot Charter
A voyage charter whereby the ship-owner agrees to place a certain number of container slots (TEU and/or FEU) at the charterer's disposal.

SOB - Shipped on board
An endorsement on a B/L confirming loading of goods on the vessel. See also Cell Position.

Space Charter
A voyage charter whereby the ship-owner agrees to place part of the vessels capacity at the charterer's disposal.

Special Drawing Rights
Abbreviation: SDR
Unit of account from the International Monetary Fund (IMF), i.e. used to express the amount of the limitations of a carrier's liability.

Special Rate
A rate other than a normal rate.

Specific Commodity Rate
A rate applicable to carriage of specifically designated commodities.

Spoke
The stretch between a hub and one of the group of consignees and/or consignors being served by the hub.

Spontaneous Ignition Temperature
The lowest temperature at which a substance will start burning spontaneously without an external source of ignition.

Spreader
Device used for lifting containers and unitized cargo.
Beam or frame that holds the slings vertical when hoisting a load, to prevent damage to cargo.

Stability
The capacity of a vessel to return to its original position after having been displaced by external forces. The stability of a vessel depends on the meta-centric height.

Stack
An identifiable amount of containers stowed in a orderly way in one specified place on an (ocean) terminal, container freight station, container yard or depot (see container stack).

Stacking
To pile boxes, bags, containers etc. on top of each other.

Stack weight
The total weight of the containers and cargo in a certain row.

Standard Costs
A carefully prepared estimate of the cost of performing a given operation under specified conditions. In Meridian IQ Global, standard costs are determined for operations called 'standard Work Orders'.
Note: A standard work order describes a standard operation for which a standard cost is to be established.

Standard Industrial Classification
Abbreviation: SIC
A method, used in the United States, to categorize companies into different industrial groupings.

Standard Product Module
Abbreviation: SPM
The building blocks used by business management to define services (shipment products) which can be offered to customers. They describe a more or less isolated set of activities with a standard cost attached to it. For operations management each module defines a combination of standard operations that needs to be carried out for a customer.
Note: SPM's can be regarded as the interface between business and operations management.

Starboard
Right side of a vessel when facing towards the front or forward end.

STC
See Said To Contain.

Steering of Containers
The function, with the aid of specific software for tracking and forecasting (IRMA, MINKA), to direct empty containers to demanding areas at minimum costs.

Stem
The foremost part of a vessel.

Stern
The aftermost part of a vessel.

Stock
The materials in a supply chain or in a segment of a supply chain, expressed in quantities, locations and or values.
Synonym: Inventory when used as a generic term, common in the USA and extensive in the UK.

Stock Control
The systematic administration of stocklevels with respect to quantity at all times.

Stock Keeping Unit
The description of the unit of measurement by which the stock items are recorded on the stock record.

Stock Locator System
A system in which all places within a warehouse are named or numbered.

Stock Point
A point in the supply chain meant to keep materials available.

Stock Record
A record of the quantity of stock of a single item, often containing a history of recent transactions and information for controlling the replenishment of stock.

Storage
The activity of placing goods into a store or the state of being in store (e.g. a warehouse).

Storage Charge
The fee for keeping goods in a warehouse.

Stores
Provisions and supplies on board required for running a vessel.

Stowage
The placing and securing of cargo or containers on board a vessel or an aircraft or of cargo in a container.

Stowage Factor
Ratio of a cargo's cubic measurement to its weight, expressed in cubic feet to the ton or cubic meters to the ton, used in order to determine the total quantity of cargo which can be loaded in a certain space.

Stowage Instructions
Imperative details about the way certain cargo is to be stowed, given by the shipper or his agent.

Stowage Plan
A plan indicating the locations on the vessel of all the consignments for the benefit of stevedores and vessel's officers.

Stowaway
An unwanted person who hides on board of a vessel or an aircraft to get free passage, to evade port officials etc.

Straddle Carrier
Wheeled vehicle designed to lift and carry shipping containers within its own framework. It is used for moving, and sometimes stacking, shipping containers at a container terminal.

Straddle Crane
A crane usually running on rails and spanning an open area such as rail-tracks or roadways.

Strap
A band of metal, plastic or other flexible material used to hold cargo or cases together.

Stripping
The unloading of cargo out of a container.
Synonym: Devanning, Unstuffing, Unpacking.

Stuffing
The loading of cargo into a container.
Synonym: Vanning, Packing.

Suboptimizing
Striving for optimum performance in one element of an organization disregarding the effects this may cause to the performance of the other elements. In other words, a solution for a problem that is best from a narrow point of view but not from a higher or overall company point of view.

Substretch
Part of a stretch. This term is used if it is necessary to distinguish between a stretch and a part thereof.

Supercargo
Experienced officer assigned by the charterer of a vessel to advise the management of the vessel and protect the interests of the charterer.

Supply Chain
A sequence of events in a goods flow which adds to the value of a specific good. These events may include:

• conversion
• assembling and/or disassembling
• movements and placements

Supply Vessel
Vessel which carries stock and stores to offshore drilling rigs, platforms.

Surcharge
An additional charge added to the usual or customary freight.

Surety Bond
This is a bond posted by the importer to guarantee payment of U.S. Customs duties.

Survey
An inspection of a certain item or object by a recognized specialist.

Surveyor
A specialist who carries out surveys.
Note: A surveyor is quite representing a classification bureau or a governmental body.

SWL
See Safe Working Load.

Swop Body
Separate unit without wheels to carry cargo via road sometimes equipped with legs to be used to carry cargo intermodal within Europe. The advantage being that this unit can be left behind to load or discharge whilst the driver with the truck/chassis can change to another unit. These units are not used for sea transport.

Synergy
The simultaneous joint action of separate parties which, together, have greater total effect than the sum of their individual effects.

System
A whole body of connected elements which influence each other and have specific relations with the environment.

T

Tallyman
A person who records the number of cargo items together with the condition thereof at the time it is loaded into or discharged from a vessel.

Tank Container
A tank, surrounded by a framework with the overall dimensions of a container for the transport of liquids or gasses in bulk.

Tanker
A vessel designed for the carriage of liquid cargo in bulk.

Tare Mass of Container
See Tare Weight of Container.

Tare Weight of Container
Mass of an empty container including all fittings and appliances associated with that particular type of container on its normal operating condition.
Synonym: Tare Mass of Container.

Tariff
The schedule of rates, charges and related transport conditions.

Tarpaulin
Waterproof material, e.g. canvas, to spread over cargo to protect it from getting wet.

TEDIS
See Trade Electronic Data Interchange Systems.

Terminal
A location on either end of a transportation line including servicing and handling facilities.

Terms of Delivery
All the conditions agreed upon between trading partners regarding the delivery of goods and the related services.
Note: Under normal circumstances the INCO terms are used to prevent any misunderstandings.

Terms of Freight
All the conditions agreed upon between a carrier and a merchant about the type of freight and charges due to the carrier and whether these are prepaid or are to be collected.
Note: The so-called Combi terms based on the INCO terms do make a distinction what of the freight and related costs is to be paid by the seller and what by the buyer. In the UN recommendation 23 a coding system is recommended to recognize the various items.

TEU
Twenty Foot Equivalent Unit. A standard of measure used to indicate container vessel or terminal capacity. Twenty foot container s are often referred to as TEUs.

Thermal Container
A container built with insulating walls, doors, floor and roof by which heat exchange with the environment is minimized thus limiting temperature variations of the cargo.

Third Party Logistics
Supply of logistics related operations between traders by an independent organization.

Through Charge
The total rate from point of departure to point of destination. It may be a joint rate or a combination of rates (aircargo).
Synonym: Through Rate.

Through Rate
See Through Charge.

TIB
(Temporary In Bond) Posted by the importer to avoid paying duties on freight that is to be re-exported. This arrangement allows foreign goods to enter the U.S. for a limited period of time (six months to three years) without payment of duties. TIBs are commonly used to accommodate goods sent to the U.S. for repair and sample merchandise. If goods are not re-exported, the bond amount is forfeited to the U.S. government.

Tier
A horizontal division of a vessel from bottom to top. The numbers run from bottom to deck and from deck upwards and are used as a part of the indication of a stowage place for containers.

Tilt Transport
Road transport whereby the cargo area is protected against the elements by means of a tilt made of canvas or other pliable material.

Time Charter
A contract whereby a vessel is let to a charterer for a stipulated period of time or voyage, for a remuneration known as hire, generally a monthly rate per ton deadweight or a daily rate. The charterer is free to employ the vessel as he thinks fit within the terms as agreed, but the ship-owner continues to manage his own vessel through the master and crew who remain his servants.

Time Draft
Method of payment for goods. This allows for deferred payment. The buyer agrees to pay for the freight within a specific time-period.

Time Sheet
Statement, drawn-up by the ship's agent at the loading and discharging ports, which details the time worked in loading and discharging the cargo together with the amount of laytime used.

TOFC
See Trailer on Flat Car.

Ton
1. Unit of weight measurement: 1000 kilograms (metric ton) or 2,240 lbs (long ton).
2. Unit of cubic measurement, mainly used to express the cubic capacity of a vessel.
3. Unit of weight or measurement used as a basis for the calculation of freights (freight ton).

Tonnage
1. Cubic capacity of a merchant vessel.
2. Total weight or amount of cargo expressed in tons.

Tracing
The action of retrieving information concerning the whereabouts of cargo, cargo items, consignments or equipment.

Tracking
The function of maintaining status information, including current location, of cargo, cargo items, consignments or containers either full or empty.

Traction
The power to grip or hold to a surface while moving without slipping.

Tractor
A powered vehicle designed and used for towing other vehicles.

Trade
1. The exchange of goods, funds, services or information with value to the parties involved. This value is either previously agreed or established during business.
2. A commercial connection between two or more individual markets.

Traffic
The number of passengers, quantity of cargo etc. carried over a certain route.

Trailer
A vehicle without motive power, designed for the carriage of cargo and to be towed by a motor vehicle.

Trailer on Flat Car
Abbreviation: TOFC
Carriage of piggyback highway trailers on specially equipped railway wagons.

Tramp Vessel
A vessel not operating under a regular schedule.

Transshipment
Transfer and reloading of freight from one vessel to another (i.e., trailer to container) or from one mode of transportation to another (i.e., truck to steamship) during the course of shipment from origin to destination. Meridian IQ Global: A shipment under one (Meridian IQ Global) Bill of Lading, whereby sea (ocean) transport is 'broken' into two or more parts. The port where the sea (ocean) transport is 'broken' is the transshipment port. Transfer of cargo from one means of transport to another for on-carriage during the course of one transport operation.
Customs: Customs procedure under which goods are transferred under customs control from the importing means of transport to the exporting means of transport within the area of one customs office which is the office of both importation and exportation.

Transit Cargo
Cargo between outwards customs clearance and inwards customs clearance.

Transponder
A device (chip) used for identification, which automatically transmits certain coded data when actuated by a special signal from an interrogator.

Transport
The assisted movement of people and or goods.
Synonym: Carriage.
Note: Transport is often used as a generic term for various means of transport, and is distinguished from 'movement' in that it requires such means.

Transport Documents
See Shipping Documents.

Transportation and Exportation Entry (T&E)
Document that authorizes in bond transportation of freight across the U.S. for export to another foreign country.

Trip
See Voyage.

Truck
Class of automotive vehicles of various sizes and designs for transporting goods.

Trunk
The stretch between two hubs mutually.

Trunking
Movement of containers between terminal and carrier's inland facilities.

Tugmaster
Brand name of tractor unit used in ports to pull trailers. They are equipped with a fifth wheel or a gooseneck type of coupling.

'Tweendeck
Cargo carrying surface below the main deck dividing a hold horizontally in an upper and a lower compartment.

Twenty Foot Equivalent Unit
Abbreviation: TEU
Unit of measurement equivalent to one twenty foot shipping container.

Twistlock
Device which has to be inserted into the corner fittings of a shipping container and is turned or twisted, thus locking the container for the purpose of securing or lifting.

Two Way Pallet
A pallet of which the frame permits the entry of forks of (e.g. a fork lift at two opposite sides).

Type of Cargo
An indication of the sort of cargo to be transported, (e.g. Break Bulk, Containerized, RoRo).

Type of Equipment
The type of material used, e.g. 40 feet container, four way pallet or mafi trailer.

Type of Load indicator
A general reference or a classification of loads of cargo like 'FCL', 'LCL', 'unpacked' and even ship's convenience container, though this is rarely used nowadays.

Type of Means of Transport
The type of vehicle used in the transport process, e.g. wide-body aircraft, tank truck or passenger vessel.

Type of Movement
Description of the service for movement of containers.
Note: The following type of movement can be indicated on B/L and Manifest all combinations of FCL and LCL and break bulk and RoRo. Whilst only on the manifest combinations of House, Yard and CFS can be mentioned.

Type of Packing
Description of the packaging material used to wrap, contain and protect goods to be transported.
Synonym: Kind of Packing, Package Type.

Type of Transport
The indication whether the carrier or the merchant effects and bears the responsibility for inland transport of cargo in containers i.e. a differentiation between the logistical and legal responsibility.
Note: Values are Carrier haulage and Merchant haulage, whilst in this context special cases are carrier-nominated merchant haulage, and merchant nominated carrier haulage.

Type of Vessel
The sort of vessel used in the transport process e.g. Container, RoRo, or Multi Purpose.

U

UCP 500
See Uniform Customs and Practice for Documentary Credits.

UIC
See Union Internationale des Chemins de Fer.

ULCC
See Ultra Large Crude Carrier.

ULD
See Unit Load Device.

Ullage
Free space above a liquid contained in a tank, drum or tank-container, expressed as a percentage of the total capacity. Ullage is often used to leave room for possible expansion of the liquid.

Ultra Large Crude Carrier
Abbreviation: ULCC
A vessel designed for the carriage of liquid cargo in bulk with a loading capacity from 250.000 till 500.000 DWT.

Unaccompanied Baggage
Luggage not accompanied by a passenger.

Uncontainerable goods
Goods which cannot be carried in a container because of their dimensions

UNCTAD
See United Nations Conference on Trade And Development.

Undercarriage
A supporting frame or structure of a wheeled vehicle; The landing gear of an aircraft.

Undercarrier
A carrier in a conference or consortium who carries less cargo than the allotment distributed to him.

UNDG Number
See United Nations Dangerous Goods Number.

UNECE
See United Nations Economic Commission for Europe.

Uniform Customs and Practice for Documentary Credits
The 1993 revised rules of the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) governing a letter of credit issued in respect of goods shipped applicable as from 1-1-1994.

Unit Load
A number of individual packages bonded, palletized or strapped together to form a single unit for more efficient handling by mechanical equipment.

United Nations Conference on Trade and Development
Abbreviation: UNCTAD
A United Nations agency whose work in shipping includes the liner code involving the sharing of cargoes between the shipping lines of the importing and exporting countries and third countries in the ratio 40:40:20.

United Nations Dangerous Goods Number
Abbreviation: UNDG Number
The four-digit number assigned by the United Nations Committee of Experts on the Transport of Dangerous Goods to classify a substance or a particular groups of substances.
Note: The prefix 'UN' must always be used in conjunction with these numbers.

United Nations Economic Commission for Europe
Abbreviation: UN/ECE
The UN/ECE is one of a number of Economic and Social Commissions established by the General Assembly of the United Nations. Despite its name it embraces both Europe and North America. The UN/ECE comprises twenty nine core member states, as well as any country which is a member of the United Nations and which applies under Article 11 of the United Nations constitution for delegate status. The aim is to advance the economic development of Europe and associated countries through trade facilitation and common agreements.

United Nations Layout Key
Abbreviation: UNLK
A standard (ISO6422) which lays down the basic principles for the design of the image area on documents for use in international trade.
Synonym: Layout Key.

UNLK
See United Nations Layout Key.

United Nations Standard Message
Abbreviation: UNSM
A collection of structured data that is exchanged to convey information related to a specific transaction between partners engaged in electronic data interchange. Messages are composed of logically grouped segments required for the type of message transaction covered.
Note: A set of segments in the order specified in a message directory starting with the message header and ending with the message trailer (ISO9735).

UNSM
See United Nations Standard Message.

Utilization Rate
The quotient of used capacity and available capacity

V

Valuable Cargo
A consignment which contains one or more valuable articles (aircargo).

Valuation Charge
Transport charges for certain goods, based on the value declared for the carriage of such goods (aircargo).

Value Added Tax
Abbreviation: VAT
A form of indirect sales tax paid on products and services at each stage of production or distribution, based on the value added at that stage and included in the cost to the ultimate customer.

Value Surcharge
A surcharge for the carriage of cargo having a value in excess of a specified amount per kilogram (aircargo).

Vanning
See Stuffing.

VAT
See Value Added Tax.

Vendee
Buyer

Vendor
Seller

Ventilated/Coffee
Identical to the GP, except for the inclusion of full length ventilation galleries sited along the top and bottom side rails, and thus ideal for the carriage of coffee, as condesation is prevented from accumulating. 20' only

Very Large Crude Carrier
Abbreviation: VLCC
A vessel designed for the carriage of liquid cargo in bulk with a loading capacity from 50.000 till 250.000 DWT.

Vessel
1. A floating structure designed for the transport of cargo and/or passengers.
2. Boiler, drum
Synonym: Ship.

VLCC
See Very Large Crude Carrier.

Volatility Allowance
The largest difference in container availability taking into account past peaks in net demand after having removed the trend in container demand during the repositioning trade-off period.

Volume
Size or measure of anything in three dimensions.

Voucher
A receipt, entry or other document which establish the accounts.

Voyage
A journey by sea from one port or country to another one or, in case of a round trip, to the same port.
Synonym: Trip.

Voyage Charter
A contract under which the ship-owner agrees to carry an agreed quantity of cargo from a specified port or ports to another port or ports for a remuneration called freight, which is calculated according to the quantity of cargo loaded, or sometimes at a lump sum freight.

Voyage Number
Reference number assigned by the carrier or his agent to the voyage of the vessel.

W

Waiting Time
The period of time between the moment at which one is ready for an activity to start and the moment at which this activity can actually begin. See also queue time.

Waiver Clause
Clause in a marine insurance policy stating that no acts of the insurer or insured in recovering, saving or preserving the property insured, shall be considered a dismissal from or acceptance of abandonment.

War Risk
Perils of war or warlike operations, such as capture, seizure, arrests, restraints of kings, princesses and people, hostilities, civil war, mines, torpedo's. War risks are not covered under a policy for marine perils and must therefore be covered under a separate policy for war risks.

Warehouse
A building specially designed for receipt, storage and handling of goods.
Synonyms: Shed, Store.

Warehouse Entry
Applies to imported goods that won't be used immediately. Duties are deferred until the goods are required. Freight is sent to a customs-licensed warehouse. Upon withdrawal, duties are assessed.

Warehouse Keeper
Party who takes responsibility for goods entered into a warehouse.

Warehouse Receipt
Receipt for products deposited in a warehouse.

Warehousing
Those activities of holding and handling goods in a warehouse (store).

Waste Disposal
Processing and or removal to final resting place or transfer to a place for re-use or recovering of waste.

Waste Logistics
The collection of used, damaged, or outdated products and or packaging from designated users.
Synonym: Reverse Distribution.

Waybill
Non-negotiable document evidencing the contract for the transport of cargo

Wear and Tear
Loss or deterioration resulting from ordinary use

Weight Ton
A ton of 1000 kilos

Wharf
A place for berthing vessels to facilitate loading and discharging of cargo

Wharfage
The fee charged for the use of a wharf for mooring, loading or discharging a vessel or for storing goods.

WHO
See World Health Organization.

Wholesaler
An intermediary between manufacturers and retailers in various activities such as promotion, warehousing, and the arranging of transport and or distribution

Work Load
The quantity of work ahead assigned to a certain facility such as a work station, capacity group or a department respectively staff-member.

World Health Organization
Abbreviation: WHO
The global agency linked with the United Nations and cooperating with other technical agencies relating to health matters at sea and on land.

X

Y

Yard
Fenced off, outdoor storage and repair area.

Yield Bucket
The remaining slot capacity for a trade/voyage in a certain port of loading after deduction of the allowance for specific contracts.

Yield Management
The process of maximizing the contribution of every slot, vessel, trade and network. Basically it should be seen as the process of allocating the right type of capacity to the right kind of customer at the right price as to maximize revenue or yield. The concept should be used in combination with load factor management.

Z

ZIP
See Zone Improvement Plan.

Zodiac
A rubber dinghy; an inflatable craft for the transport of people

Zone
Area, belt or district extending about a certain point defined for transport and/or charge purpose.

Zone Haulage Rate
The rate for which the carrier will undertake the haulage of goods or containers between either the place of delivery and the carrier's appropriate terminal. Such haulage will be undertaken only subject to the terms and conditions of the tariff and of the carrier's Combined Transport Bill of Lading.

Zone Improvement Plan
Abbreviation: ZIP
System to simplify sorting and delivery of mail, consisting of a number of five digits (the so-called ZIP-code) for identification of the state, city or district, and the postal zone in the U.S.A. delivery areas.