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

A

ABI
Automated Broker Interface. This is a computer system used by custom house brokers to communicate import information to U.S. Customs.

ABS
See American Bureau of Shipping.

Absorption
Acceptance by the carrier of a portion of a joint rate or charge which is less than the amount which it would receive for the service in the absence of such joint rate or charge (aircargo).

Acceptance of Goods
The process of receiving a consignment from a consignor, usually against the issue of a receipt. As from this moment and on this place the carrier's responsibility for the consignment begins.

Accompanied Transport
The transport of complete road vehicles by another means of transport (e.g. train, ferry accompanied by the driver).

ACEP
See Approved Continuous Examination Program.

Acknowledgement of receipt
A notification relating to the receipt of e.g. goods, messages and documents.

Act of God
Accidents of a nature beyond human control such as flood, lightning or hurricane.

Active Inventory
Covers raw material, work in progress, finished products which will be used or sold within a given period without extra cost or loss. This term does not cover the so-called reserve inventory.

Actual Demand
Customer orders and often also the allocation of items, ingredients and/or raw materials to production or distribution.

Actual Voyage Number
A code for identification purposes of the voyage and vessel which actually transports the container/cargo.

Added Value
The value attributed to products, and services as the result of a particular process (e.g. production process, storage, transport).

Advance Arrangement
An agreement between the shipper and the carrier, concerning contacts between those parties prior to tendering the consignment.

Advanced Amount
Quantity of cash or cash equivalents expressed in a monetary amount given to a driver to cover expenses during a trip.

Advanced Interline
An interline carrier that picks up cargo from the shipper and delivers it to another carrier for shipment to the consignee.

Advice Note
A written piece of information e.g. about the status of the goods.

Aeroquip System
Special accessories in a container consisting of among others the attachment rails on the inside walls to provide facilities for lashing and separation of the cargo.

Agency Fee
Fee payable by a ship owner or ship operator to a port agent.

Agent
1. A person or organization authorized to act for or on behalf of another person or organization.
2. In shipping, an agent is a corporate body with which Meridian IQ Global has an agreement to perform particular functions on behalf of Meridian IQ Global at an agreed payment. An agent is either a part of the Meridian IQ Global organization or an independent body.

The following functions and responsibilities may apply to the activities of an agent.
1. Sales - Marketing, acquisition of cargo, issuing quotations, concluding contracts in coordination with Meridian IQ Global. Basically the agent is the first point of entry into the organization for a shipper.
2. Bookings - Booking of cargo in accordance with allotments assigned to the agent for a certain voyage by Meridian IQ Global.
3. Documentation - Responsible for timeliness and correctness of all documentation required, regarding the carriage of cargo.
4. Handling - Taking care of all procedures connected with physical handling of cargo.
5. Equipment control - Managing of all equipment stock in a particular area.
6. Issuing - Authorized to sign and issue Bills of Lading and other transport documents.
7. Collecting - Authorized to collect freight and charges on behalf of Meridian IQ Global.
8. Delivery - The agent who releases the cargo and is responsible for its delivery to the consignee.
9. Handling of cargo claims - Handling of cargo claims as per agency contract.
10. Husbanding - Handling non cargo related operations of a vessel as instructed by the master, owner or charterer.

Aggregate Inventory
The inventory for any group of items or products, involving multiple stock-keeping units.
Synonym: Aggregate Stock.

AIM
See Automatic Identification Manufacturers.

Allocation
The process of assigning activities, costs or facilities e.g. space to a certain organizational units.

Allotment
A share of the capacity of a means of transport assigned to a certain party, e.g. a carrier or an agent, for the purpose of the booking of cargo for a specific voyage.

American Bureau of Shipping
Abbreviation: ABS
American classification society which has established rules and regulations for the classification of seagoing vessels or equipment.

Applicant
The buyer of foreign goods in a letter of credit transaction. The applicant asks his/her bank to establish credit for the purchase of these goods.

Approved Continuous Examination Program
Abbreviation: ACEP
An agreement between the owners of the equipment and the responsible governmental body to allow continuous examination of the equipment (e.g. containers).

Apron
See Platform.

Area Code
A code for the area where a container is situated.

Area of Repair
Geographical area where a container is under repair.

Area Off Hire Lease
Geographical area where a leased container becomes off hire.

Area Off Hire Sublease
Geographical area where a subleased container becomes off hire.

Area On Hire Lease
Geographical area where a leased container becomes on hire.

Area On Hire Sublease
Geographical area where a subleased container becomes on hire.

Arrival Notice
A notice sent by a carrier to a nominated notify party advising of the arrival of a certain shipment.

Articles Dangereux de Route
Abbreviation: ADR
A European agreement concerning the international carriage of dangerous goods by road.

Assembly
The stage of production in which components are put together into an end product appropriate to the process concerned.

Assignment
The transfer of certain rights from one party to another.

Athwartships
Across the vessel, that is, from side to side. Said of cargo stowed in this way, as opposed to lengthwise.

Audit
A methodical examination and review of a situation or condition (as within a business enterprise) concluding with a detailed report of findings.

Authentication
Proof by means of a signature or otherwise that a certain document or certain data is of undisputed origin and genuine.

Authorization
The commission to a certain person or body to act on behalf of another person or body. The person or body can be authorized e.g. to issue Bills of Lading or to collect freight.

Auto Container
Container equipped for the transportation of vehicles.

Automated Guided Vehicle System
Unmanned vehicles equipped with automatic guidance equipment which follow a prescribed path, stopping at each necessary station for automatic or manual loading or unloading.

Automatic Identification
A means of identifying an item e.g. a product, parcel or transport unit by a machine (device) entering the data automatically into a computer. The most widely used technology at present is bar code; others include radio frequency, magnetic stripes and optical character recognition.

Automatic Identification Manufacturers
Abbreviation: AIM
International organization of companies and/or associations involved or interested in automatic identification.

Average
The numerical result obtained by dividing the sum of two or more quantities by the number of quantities.
In marine insurance: a loss or damage to or in respect of goods or equipment.

Average Adjusters
In general average affairs average adjusters are entrusted with the task of apportioning the loss and expenditure over the parties interested in the maritime venture and to determine which expenses are to be regarded as average or general average.

B

Back Haul
The return movement of a means of transport which has provided a transport service in one direction.

Back Letter
Back letters are drawn up in addition to a contract in order to lay down rights and/or obligations between both contracting parties, which, for some reason cannot be included in the original contract. This expression is sometimes used for letters of indemnity which are drawn up if the condition of the goods loaded gives rise to remarks and, nevertheless, the shipper insists upon receiving clean Bills of Lading. Letters of indemnity are only allowed in very exceptional circumstances.

Back Order
A customer order or commitment, which is unfilled due to insufficient stock.

Back Scheduling
A method of obtaining a production schedule by working backwards from the required due date in order to predict the latest start date consistent with meeting that due date.

Backlog
1. The quantity of goods still to be delivered, received, produced, issued, etc., for which the planned or agreed date has expired.
2. The total number of customer orders which have been received but not yet been shipped.
Synonym: Open Order.

BAF
See Bunker Adjustment Factor.

Balespace
The balespace of a vessel is the capacity of cargo spaces under deck (including hatchways but excluding void spaces behind cargo battens and beams) expressed in cubic meters or cubic feet.

Ballast
Materials, solely carried to improve the trim and the stability of the vessel. In vessels usually water is carried as ballast in tanks, specially designed for that purpose.

Bank Guarantee
An undertaking by a bank to be answerable for payment of a sum of money in the event of non performance by the party on whose behalf the guarantee is issued.

Banking System
For marine purposes the practice of always keeping more than one piece of cargo on the quay or in the vessel ready for loading or discharging in order to avoid delays and to obtain optimal use of the loading gear.

Bar Coding
A method of encoding data for fast and accurate electronic readability. Bar codes are a series of alternating bars and spaces printed or stamped on products, labels, or other media, representing encoded information which can be read by electronic readers, used to facilitate timely and accurate input of data to a computer system. Bar codes represent letters and/or numbers and special characters like +, /, -, ., etc.

Bare Boat Charter
A charter whereby the charterer leases the bare ship and appoints the master and crew himself.

Barge
Flat bottomed inland cargo vessel for canals and rivers with or without own propulsion for the purpose of transporting goods.
Synonym: Lighter.

Bars
Special devices mounted on container doors to provide a watertight locking.
Synonym: Door lock bars.

Base
Home depot of container or trailer.

Basic Stock
Items of an inventory intended for issue against demand during the resupply lead-time.

Batch
A collection of products or data which is treated as one entity with respect to certain operations e.g. processing and production.

Batch Lot
A definite quantity of some product manufactured or produced under conditions which are presumed uniform and for production control purposes passing as a unit through the same series of operations.

Batch Production
The production process where products/components are produced in batches and where each separate batch consists of a number of the same products/components.

Battens
Members protruding from the inside walls of a vessel's hold or a (thermal) container to keep away the cargo from the walls to provide an air passage. They may be integral with the walls, fastened to the walls or added during cargo handling.

Bay
A vertical division of a vessel from stem to stern, used as a part of the indication of a stowage place for containers. The numbers run from stem to stern; odd numbers indicate a 20 foot position, even numbers indicate a 40 foot position.

Bay Plan
A stowage plan which shows the locations of all the containers on the vessel.

BC Code
Safe working practice code for solid bulk cargo.

Bending-moment
Is the result of vertical forces acting on a ship as a result of local differences between weight and buoyancy. The total of these forces should be zero, otherwise change of draft will occur. At sea the bending moment will change as a result of wave impact which than periodically changes the buoyancy distribution.
Note: The maximum allowed bending moment of a vessel is restricted by the class bureau to certain limits which are different under port and sea conditions.

Beneficiary
The seller of goods in a letter of credit transaction. If all L/C terms are met, the bank transfers funds to this person.

Berth
A location in a port where a vessel can be moored, often indicated by a code or name.

Bilateral Transport Agreement
Agreement between two nations concerning their transport relations.

Bill of Health
The Bill of Health is the certificate issued by local medical authorities indicating the general health conditions in the port of departure or in the ports of call. The Bill of Health must have been visaed before departure by the Consul of the country of destination. When a vessel has free pratique, this means that the vessel has a clean Bill of Health certifying that there is no question of contagious disease and that all quarantine regulations have been complied with, so that people may embark and disembark.

Bill of Lading
Abbreviation: B/L, plural Bs/L.
A document which evidences a contract of carriage by sea.
The document has the following functions:
1. A receipt for goods, signed by a duly authorized person on behalf of the carriers.
2. A document of title to the goods described therein.
3. Evidence of the terms and conditions of carriage agreed upon between the two parties.

Bill of Material
A list of all parts, sub-assemblies and raw materials that constitute a particular assembly, showing the quantity of each required item.

Bimodal Trailer
1. A road semi-trailer with retractable running gear to allow mounting on a pair of rail boogies.
Synonym: Road-Rail trailer
2. A trailer which is able to carry different types of standardized unit loads, (e.g. a chassis which is appropriate for the carriage of one FEU or two TEU's).

B/L
See Bill of Lading.

Block Train
A number of railway wagons (loaded with containers), departing from a certain place and running straight to a place of destination, without marshalling, transshipping or any coupling or decoupling of wagons.

Boatman
Person who attends to the mooring and unmooring of vessels.

Bollard
Post, fixed to a quay or a vessel, for securing mooring ropes.

Bolster
See Container Bolster.

Bona Fide
In good faith; without dishonesty, fraud or deceit.

Bonded
The storage of certain goods under charge of customs viz. customs seal until the import duties are paid or until the goods are taken out of the country.
1. Bonded warehouse (place where goods can be placed under bond).
2. Bonded store (place on a vessel where goods are placed behind seal until the time that the vessel leaves the port or country again).
3. Bonded goods (dutiable goods upon which duties have not been paid i.e. goods in transit or warehoused pending customs clearance).

Booking
The offering by a shipper of cargo for transport and the acceptance of the offering by the carrier or his agent.

Booking confirmation
Provided to shipper as confirmation of booking.

Booking Reference Number
The number assigned to a certain booking by the carrier or his agent.

Bordereau
Document used in road transport, listing the cargo carried on a road vehicle, often referring to appended copies of the road consignment note.

Bottleneck
A stage in a process which limits performance.
Note: Generally this is interpreted as a facility, function, department etc. that impedes performance, for example a warehouse or distribution centre where goods arrive at a faster rate than they can be transported or stored, thus causing stock-piling at improper moments or in unwanted areas.

Bottom Fittings
Special conical shaped devices inserted between a container and the permanent floor on the deck of a vessel in order to avoid shifting of the container during the voyage of this vessel.

Bottom Lift
Handling of containers with equipment attached to the four bottom corner fittings (castings).

Box Pallet
Pallet with at least three fixed, removable or collapsible, vertical sides.

Branch Warehouse
See Distribution Center.

Break Bulk
To commence discharge.

Break Bulk Cargo
General cargo conventionally stowed as opposed to unitized, containerized and Roll On-Roll Off cargo.
Synonym: Conventional Cargo.

Broken Stowage
The cargo space which is unavoidably lost when stowing cargo. The percentage of wasted space depends upon e.g. the kind of cargo, the packing and the used spaces.

Broker
Person who acts as an agent or intermediary in negotiating contracts.

Brussels Tariff Nomenclature
Abbreviation: BTN
The old Customs Cooperation Council Nomenclature for the classification of goods. Now replaced by the Harmonized System.

BSI Specification
British Standards Institution Specification for freight containers.

BTN
See Brussels Tariff Nomenclature.

Buffer Stock
A quantity of goods or articles kept in store to safeguard against unforeseen shortages or demands.

Bulk Bags
A large polythene liner that can be fitted to a 20'GP as an alternative to bulk containers.

Bulk Cargo
Unpacked homogeneous cargo poured loose in a certain space of a vessel or container e.g. oil and grain.

Bulk Carrier
Single deck vessel designed to carry homogeneous unpacked dry cargoes such as grain, iron ore and coal.

Bulk Container
Shipping container designed for the carriage of free-flowing dry cargoes, which are loaded through hatchways in the roof of the container and discharged through hatchways at one end of the container.

Bulkhead
1. Upright partition dividing compartments on board a vessel. The functions of bulkheads are

• To increase the safety of a vessel by dividing it into watertight compartments.
• To separate the engine room from the cargo holds.
• To increase the transverse strength of a vessel.
• To reduce the risk of spreading fire to other compartments.

2. A vertically mounted board to provide front wall protection against shifting cargo and commonly seen on platform trailers (road cargo).
3. Synonym: Header Board.
4. A partition in a container, providing a plenum chamber and/or air passage for either return or supply air. It may be an integral part of the appliance or a separate construction.

Bull rings
Rings for lashing the cargo in containers.

Bunker
(Tank) spaces on board a vessel to store fuel.

Bunker Adjustment Factor
Abbreviation: BAF
Adjustment applied by shipping lines or liner conferences to offset the effect of fluctuations in the cost of bunkers.

Bunkers
Quantity of fuel on board a vessel.

Business Logistics
1. Logistics within a business system.
2. The coordinating function of material management and physical distribution, which executes the integral control of the goods flow.

Buyer's Market
A 'buyer's market' is considered to exist when goods can easily be secured and when the economic forces of business tend to cause goods to be priced at the purchaser's estimate of value. In other words, a state of trade favorable to the buyer, with relatively large supply and low prices.

C

C&F
Cost and freight; a term of sale (see CFR). The seller is responsible for cost incurred in transporting freight to destination port, but is not responsible for marine insurance, foreign clearance, or transport to final destination. The buyer is responsible for these items.

Cabotage
1. Transport of goods between two ports or places located in the same country.
2. Transport of cargo in a country other than the country where the vehicle is registered (roadcargo).
3. The carriage of a container from a surplus area to an area specified by the owner of that container, in exchange of which and during which the operator can use this container.

CAD
See Cash Against Documents.

CAF
See Currency Adjustment Factor.

Call
The visit of a vessel to a port.

Camber
Slightly arched form of container-floors to strengthen the construction.

Capacity
The ability, in a given time, of a resource measured in quality and quantity. The quantity of goods which can be stored in or loaded into a warehouse, store and/or loaded into a means of transport at a particular time.

Capacity Control
Process of registering and steering of capacity.

Cargo
1. Goods transported or to be transported, all goods carried on a ship covered by a B/L.
2. Any goods, wares, merchandise, and articles of every kind whatsoever carried on a ship, other than mail, ship's stores, ship's spare parts, ship's equipment, stowage material, crew's effects and passengers' accompanied baggage (IMO).

Cargo Handling
All procedures necessary to enable the physical handling of goods.

Cargo IMP
See Cargo Interchange Message Procedures.

Cargo Receipt/Dock Receipt
Issued by freight station as receipt for cargo

Cargo Restriction Code
A code indicating that the use of a certain container is restricted to particular cargo.

Cargo Tracer
A document sent by the agent to all relevant parties, stating that certain cargo is either missing or overlanded.

Cargo Unit
A vehicle, container, pallet, flat, portable tank or any other entity or any part thereof which belongs to the ship but is not permanently attached to that ship.

Carriage
The process of transporting (conveying) cargo, from one point to another.
Synonym: Transport.

Carriage and Insurance Paid To (...named place of destination)
"Carriage and insurance paid to..." means that the seller has the same obligations as under CPT but with the addition that the seller has to procure cargo insurance against the buyer's risk of loss of or damage to the goods during the carriage. The seller contracts for insurance and pays the insurance premium. The buyer should note that under the CIP term the seller is only required to obtain insurance on minimum coverage. The CIP term requires the seller to clear the goods for export. This term may be used for any mode of transport including multimodal transport.

Carriage Paid To (...named place of destination)
"Carriage paid to... " means that the seller pays the freight for the carriage of the goods to the named destination. The risk of loss of or damage to the goods, as well as any additional costs due to events occurring after the time the goods have been delivered to the carrier, is transferred from the seller to the buyer when the goods have been delivered into the custody of the carrier. "Carrier" means any person who, in a contract of carriage, undertakes to perform or to procure the performance of' carriage, by rail, road, sea, air, inland waterway or by a combination of such modes. If subsequent carriers are used for the carriage to the agreed destination, the risk passes when the goods have been delivered to the first carrier. The CPT term requires the seller to clear the goods for export. This term may be used for any mode of transport including multimodal transport.

Carrier
The party undertaking transport of goods from one point to another.

Carrier/Carrier Contract form
Contract between co-loading NVO's.

Carrier Haulage
The inland transport service which is performed by the sea-carrier under the terms and conditions of the tariff and of the relevant transport document.

Carriers Bill of Lading Ports
Terminal, Pre-terminal port or Post-terminal Port as per tariff, indicated on the Bill of Lading and which is not the port physically called at by Carriers' ocean vessels.

Carriers' Lien
When the shipper ships goods 'collect', the carrier has a possessory claim on these goods, which means that the carrier can retain possession of the goods as security for the charges due.

Carrying Temperature
Required cargo temperature during transport and storage.

Cartage
See Haulage.

Cash in Advance
A method of making payment for goods. Buyer must pay for goods before they are shipped. Most frequently used for customized items.

Cash Against Documents
Abbreviation: CAD
Terms of payment: if the buyer of goods pays for the goods against transfer of the documents, entitling him to obtain delivery of the goods from the carrier.

Cell
Location on board of a container vessel where one container can be stowed.

Cell-guide
Steel bars and rails used to steer containers during loading and discharging whilst sliding in the ship.

Cell Position
The location of a cell on board of a container vessel identified by a code for successively the bay, the row and the tier, indicating the position of a container on that vessel.

Cellular Vessel
A vessel, specially designed and equipped for the carriage of containers.

Central Warehouse
A warehouse which performs central functions for a number of warehouses. (e.g. keeping capacity stock).

Centre of Gravity
Point at which the entire weight of a body may be considered as concentrated so that if supported at this point the body would remain in equilibrium in any position.

Certificate
A document by which a fact is formally or officially attested and in which special requirements and conditions can be stated.

Certificate of Analysis
A document, often required by an importer or governmental authorities, attesting to the quality or purity of commodities. The origin of the certification may be a chemist or any other authorized body such as an inspection firm retained by the exporter or importer. In some cases the document may be drawn up by the manufacturer certifying that the merchandise shipped has been tested in his facility and found conform to the specifications.

Certificate of Classification
A certificate, issued by the classification society and stating the class under which a vessel is registered.

Certificate of Delivery
A certificate, indicating the condition of a vessel upon delivery for a charter including ballast, available bunkers and fresh water.

Certificate of Free Sale
A certificate, required by some countries as evidence that the goods, is normally sold on the open market and approved by the regulatory authorities in the country of origin.

Certificate of Insurance
Document that indicates freight has been insured.

Certificate of Origin
A certificate, showing the country of original production of goods. Frequently used by customs in ascertaining duties under preferential tariff programs or in connection with regulating imports from specific sources.

Certificate of Redelivery
A certificate, indicating the condition of a vessel upon redelivery from a charter including ballast, available bunkers and fresh water.

CES
Customs Examination Station. U.S. Customs agents are on duty full-time. If required, freight is taken to a CES to be inspected.

CFR
See Cost and Freight (...named port of destination). (see C&F)

CFS
See Container Freight Station.

Chain Conveyor
A conveyor consisting of two or more strands of chain running in parallel tracks with the loads carried directly on the chains.

Charge
An amount to be paid for carriage of goods based on the applicable rate of such carriage, or an amount to be paid for a special or incidental service in connection with the carriage of goods.

Charge Type
A separate, identifiable element of charges to be used in the pricing/rating of common services rendered to customers.

Charter Contract
See Charter Party.

Charter Party
A contract in which the ship-owner agrees to place his vessel or a part of it at the disposal of a third party, the charterer, for the carriage of goods for which he receives a freight per ton cargo, or to let his vessel for a definite period or trip for which a hire is paid.

Charterer
The legal person who has signed a charter party with the owner of a vessel and thus hires or leases a vessel or an aircraft or a part of the capacity thereof.

Chassis
1. A wheeled carriage onto which an ocean container is mounted for inland conveyance.
2. The part of a motor vehicle that includes the engine, the frame, suspension system, wheels, steering mechanism etc., but not the body.

CIF
"Cost, Insurance and Freight" means that the seller has the same obligations as under CFR but with the addition that he has to procure marine insurance against the buyer's risk of loss of or damage to the goods during the carriage. The seller contracts for insurance and pays the insurance premium. The buyer should note that under the CIF term the seller is only required to obtain insurance on minimum coverage. The CIF term requires the seller to clear the goods for export. This term can only be used for sea and inland waterway transport.

CIP
See Carriage and Insurance Paid To (...named place of destination).

Claim
A charge made against a carrier for loss, damage or delay.

Classification
Arrangement according to a systematic division of a number of objects into groups, based on some likenesses or some common traits.

Classification Society
An organization, whose main function is to carry out surveys of vessels, its purpose being to set and maintain standards of construction and upkeep for vessels, their engines and their safety equipment. A classification society also inspects and approves the construction of shipping containers.

Clean Bill of Lading
A Bill of Lading which does not contain any qualification about the apparent order and condition of the goods to be transported (it bears no stamped clauses on the front of the B/L). It bears no superimposed clauses expressly declaring a defective condition of the goods or packaging (resolution of the ICS 1951).

Clean on Board
When goods are loaded on board and the document issued in respect to these goods is clean.

Clearance Terminal
Terminal where Customs facilities for the clearance of goods are available.

Cleared Without Examination
Abbreviation: CWE
Cleared by customs without inspection.

Client
A party with which a company has a commercial relationship concerning the transport of e.g. cargo or concerning certain services of the company concerned, either directly or through an agent.
Synonym: Customer.

CLP
See Container Load Plan

Collapsible Container
Container, which can be easily folded, disassembled and reassembled.

Co-loading
The loading, on the way, of cargo from another shipper, having the same final destination as the cargo loaded earlier.

Co-makership
The long-term relationship between e.g. a supplier or a carrier and a customer, on the basis of mutual confidence.
Synonym: Co-shippership.

Combination Charge
An amount which is obtained by combining two or more charges.

Combination Chassis
A chassis which can carry either one forty foot or thirty foot container or a combination of shorter containers e.g. 2 x 20 foot.

Combined Transport
Intermodal transport where the major part of the journey is by one mode such as rail, inland waterway or sea and any initial and/or final leg carried out by another mode such as road.
Synonym: Multimodal Transport

Combined Transport Document
Abbreviation: CTD
Negotiable or non-negotiable document evidencing a contract for the performance and/or procurement of performance of combined transport of goods.
Synonym: Multi modal transport document.

Combined Transport Operator
Abbreviation: CTO
A party who undertakes to carry goods with different modes of transport.
Synonym: Multimodal Transport Operator.

Commercial Invoice
A document showing commercial values of the transaction between the buyer and seller. It is used to clear customs in the destination country.

Commodity
Indication of the type of goods. Commodities are coded according to the harmonized system.

Commodity Box Rate
A rate classified by commodity and quoted per container.

Commodity Code
Code used in the Harmonized System for the classification of goods which are most commonly produced and traded.

Common Access Reference
A key to relate all subsequent transfers of data to the same business case or file.

Component
A uniquely identifiable product that is considered indivisible for a particular planning or control purpose, and/or which cannot be decomposed without destroying it.
Note: A component for one organizational group may be the final assembly of another group (e.g. electric motor).

Compradore
A local advisor or agent employed by a foreign party or company who acts as an intermediary in transactions with local inhabitants.

Computer Virus
A program that can infect other programs by modifying them to include a possibly evolved copy of itself.

Conditions
1. Anything called for as requirements before the performance or completion of something else.
2. Contractual stipulations which are printed on a document or provided separately.

Cones
Devices for facilitating the loading, positioning and lashing of containers. The cones insert into the bottom castings of the container.
Synonym: Locating pin.

Confirming/Advising Bank
Party to a L/C. This bank provides extra "insurance" for the seller of goods. If the issuing (buyer's) bank can't or won't pay for the transaction, the confirming bank will.

Congestion
Accumulation of vessels at a port to the extent that vessels arriving to load or discharge are obliged to wait for a vacant berth.

Connecting Road Haulage
See Drayage.

Consignee
The party such as mentioned in the transport document by whom the goods, cargo or containers are to be received.

Consignment
A separate identifiable number of goods (available to be) transported from one consignor to one consignee via one or more than one modes of transport and specified in one single transport document.
Synonym for the USA: Shipment.

Consignment Instructions
Instructions from either the seller/consignor or the buyer/consignee to a freight forwarder, carrier or his agent, or other provider of a service, enabling the movement of goods and associated activities. The following functions can be covered:

• Movement and handling of goods (shipping, forwarding and stowage)
• Customs formalities
• Distribution of documents
• Allocation of documents (freight and charges for the connected operations)
• Special instructions (insurance, dangerous goods, goods release, additional documents required)

Consignment Note
A document prepared by the shipper and comprising a transport contract. It contains details of the consignment to be carried to the port of loading and it is signed by the inland carrier as proof of receipt.

Consignment Stock
The stock of goods with an external party (customer) which is still the property of the supplier. Payment for these goods is made to the supplier at the moment when they are sold (used) by this party.

Consignor
See Shipper.

Consolidate
To group and stuff several shipments together in one container.

Consolidated Container
Container stuffed with several shipments (consignments) from different shippers for delivery to one or more consignees.

Consolidation
The grouping together of smaller consignments of goods into a large consignment for carriage as a larger unit in order to obtain a reduced rate.

Consolidation Point
Location where consolidation of consignments takes place.

Consolidator
A firm or company which consolidates cargo.

Consortium
Consortium is a form of cooperation between two or more carriers to operate in a particular trade.

Consular Invoice
An invoice covering shipment of goods certified by a consular official of the destination country, and used normally by customs or officials concerned with foreign exchange availability to ascertain the correctness of commercial invoice values.

Consumption Entry
Entry filed for goods imported for use in the U.S.

Container
An item of equipment as defined by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) for transport purposes. It must be of:
a)a permanent character and accordingly strong enough to be suitable for repeated use.
b)specially designed to facilitate the carriage of goods, by one or more modes of transport without intermediate reloading.
c)fitted with devices permitting its ready handling, particularly from one mode of transport to another.
d)so designed as to be easy to fill and empty.
e)having an internal volume of 1 m3 or more.
The term container includes neither vehicles nor conventional packing.
Synonym: Freight Container.

Container Bolster
A container floor without sides or end walls which does not have the ISO corner fittings and is generally used for Ro/Ro operations.
Synonym: Bolster.
Note: A bolster cannot be handled either full or empty by a container spreader without special gear.

Container Chassis
A vehicle specially built for the purpose of transporting a container so that, when container and chassis are assembled, the produced unit serves as a road trailer.

Container Check Digit
The 7th digit of the serial number of a container used to check whether prefix and serial number are correct.

Container Depot
Storage area for empty containers.

Container Freight Station
Abbreviation: CFS
A facility at which (export) LCL cargo is received for loading (stuffing) into containers or at which (import) LCL cargo is unloaded (stripped) from containers for delivery. Located at Meridian IQ Global port cities of Charleston, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami and New York.

Container Lease
The contract by which the owner of containers (lessor) gives the use of containers to a lessee for a specified period of time and for fixed payments.

Container Load Plan
A list of items loaded in a specific container and where appropriate their sequence of loading.

Container Logistics
The controlling and positioning of containers and other equipment.

Container Manifest
The document specifying the contents of particular freight containers or other transport units, prepared by the party responsible for their loading into the container or unit.
Synonym: Unit packing list, Container Load Plan.

Container Moves
The number of actions performed by one container crane during a certain period.

Container Number
Identification number of a container consisting of prefix and serial number and check digit.

Container Platform
A container floor without sides or end walls, which can be loaded by spreader.

Container Pool
A certain stock of containers which is jointly used by several container carriers and/or leasing companies.

Container Prefix
A four letter code that forms the first part of a container identification number indicating the owner of a container.
Synonym: Owner's Container Code.

Container Safety Convention
Abbreviation: CSC
International convention for safe containers.

Container Serial Number
A seven digit serial number (6 plus 1 Check Digit) that forms the second part of a container identification number.

Container Service Charges
Charges to be paid by cargo interests as per tariff.

Container Size Code
An indication of 2 digits of the nominal length and nominal height. See also Size/Type ISO6346.

Container Size/Type
Description of the size and type of a freight container or similar unit load device as specified in ISO6346.

Container Stack
Two or more containers, one placed above the other, forming a vertical column; also see Stack.

Container Sublease
Contract by which a carrier gives the use of containers to another carrier for a specified period of time and for fixed payments.

Container Terminal
Place where loaded and/or empty containers are loaded or discharged into or from a means of transport.

Container Type Code
Two digits, the first of which indicates the category and the second of which indicates certain physical characteristics or other attributes. See also container Size/Type ISO6346.

Containerized
Indication that goods have been stowed in a container.

Contraband
Goods forbidden by national law to be imported or exported.

Contract
An agreement enforceable by law between two or more parties stipulating their rights and obligations which are required by one or both parties to acts or forbearance by the other or both.

Contract Logistics
The contracting out of all the warehousing, transport and distribution activities or a part thereof by manufacturing companies.

Contractual Port of Loading
A port at which an ocean vessel does not call, but which is equalized with the actual port of call and upon which inland haulage services and inland tariffs are based.
Synonym: Commercial POL/POD.
Note: Generally speaking it is seen as the port to be mentioned on the B/L from which cargo is accepted (e.g delivered by the consignee for sea transport).

Control
The registration and check on data and activities as well as determining supervising procedures and changes related to procedures.

Conventional Cargo
See Break Bulk Cargo.

Converter Dolly
An auxiliary undercarriage assembly consisting of a chassis, fifth wheel and towbar used to convert a semitrailer or a container chassis to a full trailer.

Conveyance
Transport of goods from one place to another.

Conveyor
A mechanical device in the form of a continuous belt for transporting cargo.

Core Competence
The combination of individual skills and use of technologies that underlay the various products and or services of a business.

Corner Fittings
Fittings located at the corners of containers providing means of supporting, stacking, handling and securing the container.
Synonym: corner casting.

Corner Post
Vertical structural member at either side of an 'end frame' of a container joining a top and a bottom corner fitting (and thereby forming a 'corner structure').

Correction Message
A substitution for what has been wrong in a prior data interchange between computers in accordance with interchange agreements.

Co-shippership
See Co-makership.

Cost and Freight (...named port of destination)
"Cost and Freight" means that the seller must pay the costs and freight necessary to bring the goods to the named port of destination but the risk of loss of or damage to the goods, as well as any additional costs due to events occurring after the time the goods have been delivered on board the vessel, is transferred from the seller to the buyer when the goods pass the ship's rail in the port of shipment. The CFR term requires the seller to clear the goods for export. This term can only be used for sea and inland waterway transport. When the ship's rail serves no practical purpose, such as in the case of roll-on/roll-off or container traffic, the CPT term is more appropriate to use.

Cost, Insurance and Freight (...named port of destination)
Abbreviation: CIF

COT
The customer arranges his own transport of the container to and from the terminal or depot but aggrees to restitute the container back to the terminal or depot.

COU
See Clip On Unit.

Country of Departure
Country from which a certain means of transport is scheduled to depart or has departed.

Country of Dispatch
Country from which the goods are shipped.

Country of Origin
Country in which the goods have been produced or manufactured, according to criteria laid down for the purpose of application of the customs tariff, of quantitative restrictions, or of any other measure related to trade.

Country of Provenance
The country from which goods or cargo are sent to the importing country.

CPT
See Carriage Paid To (...named place of destination).

Crane
A machine designed for moving and lifting weight by means of a movable projecting arm or a horizontal beam that is able to travel over a certain distance.

Crew Member
Any person actually employed for duties on board during a voyage in the working or service of a ship and included in the crew list (IMO).

Critical Path Method
A network planning technique used for planning and controlling the activities in a project. By showing each of these activities and their associated times, the 'critical path' can be determined. The critical path is the series of successive activities which takes up most time and is therefore decisive for the total lead time of the project.

Cross Trades
Term used in shipping for the services of a vessel between nations other than the nation in which the vessel is registered (UNCTAD).

Cruise Ship
A ship on an international voyage carrying passengers participating in a group programme and accommodated on board, for the purpose of making scheduled temporary tourist visits at one or more different ports, and which during the voyage does not normally: (a) embark or disembark any other passengers; (b) load or discharge any cargo.

CSC
See Container Safety Convention.

CTD
See Combined Transport Document.

CTO
See Combined Transport Operator.

Currency
A medium of exchange of value, defined by reference to the geographical location of the authorities responsible for it ISO4217. In general, the monetary unit, involved in a transaction and represented by a name or a symbol.

Currency Adjustment Factor
Abbreviation: CAF
Adjustment applied by shipping lines or liner conferences on freight rates to offset losses or gains for carriers resulting from fluctuations in exchange rates of tariff currencies.

Customer
See Client.

Customer Pick Up
Cargo picked up by a customer at a warehouse.

Customer Service
1. The way in which during a commercial relationship the wishes and demands of the (prospective) client are catered for.
2. Supporting activities at the customer interface adding value to a product.

Customer Service Level
A performance measure of customer service.
Note: generally this is seen as the degree with which customer orders can be executed, in accordance with the terms which are generally accepted in the market.

Customhouse Broker
Person or firm, licensed by the U.S. Treasury Department, acting as the importer's agent to facilitate the entry of goods to the U.S. and pay duties

Customs
The department of the Civil Service that deals with the levying of duties and taxes on imported goods from foreign countries and the control over the export and import of goods e.g. allowed quota, prohibited goods.

Customs Broker
An authorized agent specialized in customs clearance procedures on account of importers/exporters.

Customs Invoice
Document required by the customs in an importing country in which an exporter states the invoice or other price (e.g. selling price, price of identical goods), and specifies costs for freight, insurance and packing etc., terms of delivery and payment, for the purpose of determining the customs value in the importing country of goods consigned to that country.

Customs Registration
Service provided by freight forwarders to register exporters with the U.S. government.

Customs Value
The worth of an item or group of items expressed in a monetary amount, within a consignment declared to Customs for duty and statistical reasons.

CWE
See Cleared Without Examination.

CY
See Container Yard.

CYC
Container Yard Charges - Charges at destination

Cybernetics
The study of control processes in mechanical, biological, electrical and information systems.

D

DAF
See Delivered At Frontier (...named place).

Damage Report
Form on which physical damage is recorded (e.g.containers).

Damaged Cargo Report
Written statement concerning established damages to cargo and/or equipment.

Dangerous Goods
Goods are to be considered dangerous if the transport of such goods might cause harm, risk, peril, or other evil to people, environment, equipment or any property whatsoever.

Dangerous Goods Declaration
Document issued by a consignor in accordance with applicable conventions or regulations, describing hazardous goods or materials for transport purposes, and stating that the latter have been packed and labelled in accordance with the provisions of the relevant conventions or regulations.

Dangerous Goods Packing Certificate
A document as part of the dangerous goods declaration in which the responsible party declares that the cargo has been stowed in accordance with the rules in a clean container in compliance with the IMDG regulations and properly secured.

Data Plate
A metal identification plate affixed to a container which displays among others the gross and tare weights and external dimensions.

DDC
Delivered Duty Clearance, term of sale. The seller is responsible for paying all transportation costs plus Customs Clearance charges. The buyer is responsible for paying any duties on the goods.

DDP
"Delivered duty paid" means that the seller fulfils his obligation to deliver when the goods have been made available at the named place in the country of importation. The seller has to bear the risks and costs, including duties, taxes and other charges of delivering the goods thereto, cleared for importation.

DDU
See Delivered Duty Unpaid (...named place of destination).

Deadload
The difference between the actual and calculated ship's draft.

Deadweight
Abbreviation: DWT
The total weight of cargo, cargo equipment, bunkers, provisions, water, stores and spare parts which a vessel can lift when loaded to her maximum draught as applicable under the circumstances. The deadweight is expressed in tons.

Deck
Any extended horizontal structure in a vessel, serving as a floor and structural support, covering, partially or fully, a portion of the vessel.

Declaration of Origin
Appropriate statement as to the origin of the goods, made in connection with their exportation by the manufacturer, producer, supplier, exporter or other competent person on the commercial invoice or any document relating to goods.

Declared Value for Carriage
The value of the goods declared to the carrier by the shipper for the purpose of determining charges or of establishing the limit of the carrier's liability for loss, damage or delay. It is also the basis for possible applicable valuation charges (aircargo).

Decoupling Inventory
A stock retained to make the independent control of two successive operations possible.

Decoupling Point
The point in the supply chain which provides a buffer between differing input and output rates.

Default Charge
A (standard) charge applicable for a trade, stretch or location. In the absence of specifics (not otherwise specified/enumerated) a general amount has been set.

Degroupage
Splitting up shipments into small consignments.

Delivered At Frontier (...named place)
Abbreviation: DAF

Delivered Duty Paid (...named place of destination)
Abbreviation: DDP

Delivered Duty Unpaid (...named place of destination)
Abbreviation: DDU

Delivered Ex Quay (...named port of destination)
Abbreviation: DEQ

Delivered Ex Ship (...named port of destination)
Abbreviation: DES

Delivery
The process of delivering the consignment to the consignee at the agreed place.

Delivery Instruction
Document issued by a buyer giving instructions regarding the details of the delivery of goods ordered.

Delivery Note
A document recording the delivery of products to a consignee (customer).

Delivery Order
1. Written instructions issued by the owner of freight (or authorized agent) directing that the freight be released or shipped to a specified party.
2. A document issued by or on behalf of the carrier authorizing the release of import cargo identified thereon and manifested under a single Bill of Lading (shipping).

Delivery Party
The party to which goods are to be delivered.

Delivery Reliability
The proportion of total delivery occasions in which the time, place, quality and quantity of products delivered accords with the order.

Delivery Schedule
The required and/or agreed time of delivery of goods or services purchased for a future period.

Delivery Time
The time between order and delivery.

Demand
The quantity of goods required by the market to be delivered in a particular period or at a specific date.

Demurrage
Additional charge imposed for exceeding the free time that is included in the rate and allowed for the use of a certain equipment at the terminal.

Density of Commodity
The mass of a commodity to its volume.

Dependent Demand
A demand directly related to or derived from the demand for other items or end products. Dependent demands are therefore calculated, and need not and should not be forecast.

Depot
The place designated by the carrier where empty containers are kept in stock and received from or delivered to the container operators or merchants.

DEQ
See Delivered Ex Quay (...named port of destination).

Derrick
Lifting equipment on board a conventional vessel for loading and discharging cargo, consisting of a post attached to the deck and an inclined spar.

DES
See Delivered Ex Ship (...named port of destination).

Despatch
The process of sending goods.
Synonym: Dispatch.

Despatch Advice
Information send by shippers to the recipient of goods informing that specified goods are sent or ready to be sent advising the detailed contents of the consignment.
Synonym: Despatch note.

Despatch Days
The days gained if the free time included in the rate and allowed for the use of a certain equipment is not fully used.

Destination
Place for which goods or a vehicle is bound.

Detention
Keeping equipment beyond the time allowed.
See Demurrage.

Detention Charge
Charges levied on usage of equipment exceeding free time period as stipulated in the pertinent inland rules and conditions.

Deterioration
The downgrading of a product due to long storage, damage to packing or other external influences.

Devanning
See Stripping, Unpacking.

Deviation from a Route
A divergence from the agreed or customary route.

Dimensions
Measurements in length, width and height, regarding cargo.

Direct Delivery
The conveyance of goods directly from the vendor to the buyer. Frequently used if a third party acts as intermediary agent between vendor and buyer. Direct discharge from vessel onto railroad car, road vehicle or barge with the purpose of immediate transport from the port area (usually occurs when ports lack adequate storage space or when ports are not equipped to handle a specific cargo).

Direct Interchange
Transfer of leased equipment from one lessee to another (container).

Disbursement
Sums paid out by a ship's agent at a port and recovered from the carrier.

Discharge
1. The unloading of a vehicle, a vessel or an aircraft.
2. The landing of cargo.

Discrepancy
Difference between the particulars given and the particulars found.

Discrete Code
A bar code in which the spaces between characters (intercharacter gaps) are not part of the code as each character begins and ends with a bar. The spaces can therefore vary in width, specified tolerances.

Dispatch
See Despatch.

Displacement
The weight of the quantity of water displaced by the vessel. The displacement of the vessel on her light draft represents the weight of the vessel ready for use including stores etc.

Disposable Pallet
Pallet intended to be discarded after a single cycle of use.
Synonym: One-way pallet, Expendable pallet.

Disposal Chain
A sequence of events in a goods-flow which gets rid of a specific good. This may include removal, recycling, waste dumping etc.

Disposal of Goods
The act of getting rid of goods.

Dispositioning
All activities relating to the inland movement of empty and or full containers.

Distribution
The set of activities which ensure the availability of goods in the desired quality, quantity, place and time for the customer.
See also physical distribution.

Distribution Center
A warehouse for the receipt, the storage and the dispersal of goods among customers.

Distribution Channel
The route by which a company distributes goods.

Divider
A vertically mounted partition in a compartment on board of an aircraft (aircargo).
Synonym: Partition.

Dock Bumpers
Cushioning devices (rubber, plastic, wood, etc.) mounted at the extreme rear of a chassis or trailer to take the impact when it backs into a loading dock or platform (road cargo).

Dock Receipt
Document issued by a shipping line acknowledging that goods are received for shipment.

Document
Anything printed, written, relied upon to record or prove something.

Document Holder
Usually fastened to the door on the front of a container. May contain e.g. a certificate of approval of the container.

Document of Title
A term to mean that possession of the specified document entitles the holder to control of the goods listed in that document.

Documentary Collections
Method of making payment for goods. A collecting bank, acting as intermediary, will exchange original documents representing ownership of the goods for payment (sight draft) or a promise to pay (time draft).

Documentary Credit
The basis of international trade by means of which payment is made against surrender of the specified documents.

Door Lock Bars
See Bars.

Door to Door Transport
The transport of cargo from the premises of the consignor to the premises of the consignee.

Double Banking
Two vessels moored alongside each other on a certain berth.

Double-deck Pallet
Flat pallet with a top and bottom deck.

Double Stack Train
A number of railway wagons, usually a block train, on which containers can be stacked two-high.

Down Time
The period of time when a machine is not available for production due to a functional failure or maintenance.

Draft
The draft of a vessel is the vertical distance between the waterline and the underside of the keel of the vessel. During the construction of a vessel the marks showing the draft are welded on each side of the vessel near the stem, the stern and amidships. Synonym: Draught.

Draught
See Draft.

Drawback
Repayment of any part of customs or excise duties previously collected on imported goods, when those goods are exported again.

Drayage
1. The hauling of a load by a cart with detachable sides. (dray)
2. Road transportation between the nearest railway terminal and the stuffing place.
Synonym: Connecting Road Haulage

Drilling Rig
A structure, which drills wells in the bottom in order to search for oil.

Drop off Charge
Charge made by container owner and/or terminal operators for delivery of a leased, or pool container into depot stock. The dropoff charge may be a combination of actual handling and storage charges with surcharges.

Dry Bulk Container
Container consisting of a cargo-carrying structure, firmly secured within a framework, for the carriage of dry solids in bulk without packaging.

Dry Cargo Container
Shipping container which is designed for the carriage of goods other than liquids.

Dunnage
Stowage material, mainly timber or board, used to prevent damage to cargo during carriage.

Duty Drawback
A U.S. manufacturer can recover 99% of the duties on imported goods that are used to manufacture American products for export. This provision also applies to goods that are imported and then exported without further processing, providing the merchandise was not used in the U.S., no value was added to the product, and the goods were exported within three years of original importation.

Duty Free Zone
An area where goods or cargo can be stored without paying import customs duties awaiting further transport or manufacturing.

DWT
See Deadweight.

E

Econometric Models
A system of simultaneous equations for forecasting, based on mutual dependency among the variables used.

Economic Speed
That speed of a means of transport which produces the best possible financial result for the owner. Such speed should not be in excess of the maximum or minimum output allowed for the engine(s).

Economy of Scale
A phenomenon which encourages the production of larger volumes of a commodity to reduce its unit cost by distributing fixed costs over a greater quantity.

ECSI - Export Cargo Shipping Instruction/Preadvise
Instructions from shipper with details of all parties involved and description of goods.

EDI
See Electronic Data Interchange.

EDIFACT
See Electronic Data Interchange For Administration, Commerce and Transport.

EDP
See Electronic Data Processing.

EDR
See Equipment Damage Report.

EIN
Employer's Identification Number. Number assigned to a firm for tax reporting purposes. If operating as an individual, that person's social security number takes the place of an EIN.

EIR
See Equipment Interchange Receipt.

Electronic Data Interchange
Abbreviation: EDI
The transfer of structured data, by agreed standards from applications on the computer of one party to the applications on the computer of another party by electronic means.

Electronic Data Interchange For Administration, Commerce and Transport
Abbreviation: EDIFACT
The ISO application level syntax rules for the structuring of user data and of the associated service data in the interchange of messages in an open environment.

Electronic Data Processing
Abbreviation: EDP
The computerized handling of information (e.g. business data).

Elevator
Equipment used to discharge some bulk cargoes such as grain which is removed from the hold by a continuous line of buckets or by suction and carried on a conveyor belt to store.

Embargo
A government order prohibiting the entry or departure of commercial vessels or goods at its ports.

Emergency Medical Service
Abbreviation: EMS
Medical procedures in case of emergencies on board of vessels.

EMS
See Emergency Medical Service.

Endorsement
The transfer of the right to obtain delivery of the goods of the carrier by means of the consignee's signature on the reverse side of a bill of lading. If the name of the new consignee (transferee) is not stated, the endorsement is an open one which means that every holder of the document is entitled to obtain delivery of the goods.

Enquiry
Document issued by a party interested in the purchase of goods specified therein and indicating particular, desirable conditions regarding delivery terms, etc., addressed to a prospective supplier with a view to obtaining an offer.

Enterprise
An organization created to provide products and/or services to customers.

Equipment
Material resources necessary to facilitate the transport and handling of cargo. Transport equipment does under the given circumstances not have the ability to move by its own propulsion (e.g. sea container, trailer, unit load device, pallet).

Equipment Damage Report
Abbreviation: EDR
Written statement concerning damage to equipment, based on a physical inspection.

Equipment Interchange Receipt
Abbreviation: EIR
Physical inspection and transfer receipt.

Estimated Time of Arrival
Abbreviation: ETA
The exp