ABBREVIATION
MEANING
AA
Always Afloat
AAAA
Always Accessible Always Afloat
AAOSA
Always Afloat or Safe Aground. Condition for a vessel whilst in port
ABT
About
ADCOM
Address Commission
AFFREIGHTMENT
The hiring of a ship in whole or part
AFT
At or towards the stern or rear of a ship
AGROUND
Touching or fast to the bottom
AGW
All Going Well
ALOFT
Above the deck of the ship
AMIDSHIPS
In or toward the centre of the ship
ANCHORAGE
A place suitable for anchorage in relation to the wind, seas and bottom
APS
Arrival Pilot Station
ARBITRATION
Method of settling disputes which is usually binding on parties. A clause usually in a charter party
A/S
Alongside
ASPW
Any Safe Port in the World
ASTERN
In the back of the ship, opposite of ahead
ATDNSHINC
Any Time Day/Night Sundays and Holidays Included
ATUTC
Actual Times Used to Count
BACKLETTER
Where a seller/shipper issues a 'letter of indemnity' in favour of the carrier in exchange for a clean bill of lading
BAF
Bunker Adjustment Factor. A Fuel Surcharge expressed as a percentage added or subtracted from the freight amount, reflecting the movement in the market place price for bunkers.
BALE CAP.
Cubic capacity of a vessels holds to carry packaged dry cargo such as bales/pallets
BALLAST
Heavy weight, often sea water, necessary for the stability and safety of a ship which is not carrying cargo
BBB
Before Breaking Bulk. Refers to freight payments that must be received before discharge of a vessel commences
BDI
Both Dates Inclusive
BEAM
The maximum breadth or the greatest width of a ship
BELOW
Beneath the deck
BENDS
Both Ends (Load & Discharge Ports)
BIMCO
The Baltic and International Maritime Council
BL2
(Bill of Lading) A document signed by the carrier which acts as a Contract of Affreightment, a receipt and evidence of title to the cargo.
BM
Beam
BN
Booking Note
BOFFER
Best Offer
BOW
The forward part of a ship
BSS
Basis
BSS 1/1
Basis 1 Port to 1 Port
BT
Berth Terms
BULKHEAD
A vertical partition separating compartments
BUOY
An anchored float used for marking a position on the water or a hazard or a shoal and for mooring
BWAD
Brackish Water Arrival Draft
CAF
Currency Adjustment Factor
CBM
Cubic Metres
CBFT (or CFT)
Cubic Feet
CFR (or C&F)
Cost and Freight
CHOPT
Charterers Option
CHTRS
Charterers
CIF
Cost, Insurance & Freight. Seller pays all these costs to a nominated port or place of discharge.
COA
Contract of Affreightment - Owners agree to accept a cost per revenue tonne for cargo carried on a specific number of voyages.
CIP
Carriage and Insurance paid to...
COACP
Contract of Affreightment Charter Party
COB
Closing of Business
COD
Cash On Delivery
COGSA
Carriage of Goods by Sea Act
CONGESTION
Port/berth delays
C/SNEE
CONSIGNEE. Name of agent, company or person receiving consignment
COP
Custom Of Port
CP (or C/P)
Charter Party
CQD
Customary Quick Despatch
CR
Current Rate
CROB
Cargo Remaining on Board
CRN
Crane
CTR
Container Fitted
DA
Disbursement Account
DAPS
Days all Purposes (Total days for loading & discharging)
DDP
Delivered Duty Paid.
DECK
A permanent covering over a compartment, hull or any part thereof
DEM
Demurrage (Quay Rent). Money paid by the shipper for the occupying port space beyond a specified "Free Time" period.
DEQ
Delivered Ex Quay
DES
Delivered Ex Ship
DESP
Despatch. Time saved, reward for quick turnaround- in dry cargo only
DFRT
Deadfreight. Space booked by shipper or charterer on a vessel but not used
DHDATSBE
Despatch Half Demurrage on All Time Saved Both Ends
DHDWTSBE
Despatch Half Demurrage on Working Time Saved Both Ends
DISCH
Discharge
DK
Deck
DO
Diesel Oil
DOLSP
Dropping Off Last Sea Pilot (Norway)
DOT
Department of Transport
DNRCAOSLONL
Discountless and Non-Returnable Cargo and/or Ship Lost or Not Lost
DRAUGHT (or DRAFT)
Depth to which a ship is immersed in water. The depth varies according to the design of the ship and will be greater or lesser depending not only on the weight of the ship and everything on board, but also on the density of the water in which the ship is lying.
DRK
Derrick
DUNNAGE
Materials of various types, often timber or matting, placed among the cargo for separation, and hence protection from damage, for ventilation and, in the case of certain cargoes, to provide space in which the tynes of a fork lift truck may be inserted.
DWAT (or DWT)
Deadweight. Weight of cargo, stores and water, i.e. the difference between lightship and loaded displacement.
EC
East Coast
EIU
Even If Used
ELVENT
Electric Ventilation
ETA
Estimated Time of Arrival
ETC
Estimated Time of Completion
ETD
Estimated Time of Departure
ETS
Estimated Time of Sailing
EXW
Ex Works
FAS
Free Alongside Ship. Seller delivers goods to appropriate dock or terminal at port of embarkation and buyer covers costs and risks of loading
FD (FDIS)
Free Discharge
FDD
Freight Demurrage Deadfreight
FDESP
Free Despatch
FDEDANRSAOCLONL
Freight Deemed Earned, Discountless And Non-Returnable (Refundable) Ship And Or Cargo Lost Or Not Lost
FENDER
A cushion, placed between ships, or between a ship and a pier, to prevent damage
FILO
Free In/Liner Out. Seafreight with which the shipper pays load costs and the carrier pays for discharge costs.
FIO
Free In/Out. Freight booked FIO includes the seafreight, but no loading/discharging costs, i.e. the charterer pays for cost of loading/discharging cargo.
FIOS
Free In/Out Stowed. As per FIO, but excludes stowage costs.
FIOST
Free In/Out and Trimmed. Charterer pays for cost of loading/discharging cargo, including stowage and trimming.
FIOT
Free In/Out and Trimmed. As per FIOS but includes trimming, e.g. the levelling of bulk cargoes. FIOS includes seafreight, but excludes loading/discharging and stowage costs.
FIT
Free In Trimmed
FIXING
Chartering a Vessel
FIXTURE
Conclusion of shipbrokers negotiations to charter a ship - an agreement
FLATPACKING
Cargo to be presented stacked and secured as an integral unit.
FLT
Full Liner Terms
FMC
Federal Maritime Commission
FME
Force Majeure Excepted
FO1
For Orders
FOB
Free on Board. Seller sees the goods "over the ship’s rail" on to the ship which is arranged and paid for by the buyer
FORCE MAJEURE
Clause limiting responsibilities of the charterers, shippers and receivers of cargo.
FORE-AND-AFT
In a line parallel to the keel
FORWARD
Toward the bow of the ship
FOT
Free On Truck
FP
Free Pratique. Clearance by the Health Authorities
FREEBOARD
The minimum vertical distance from the surface of the water to the gunwale
FRT
Freight. Money payable on delivery of cargo in a mercantile condition
FREE DESPATCH
If loading/discharging achieved sooner than agreed, there will be no freight money returned.
FREE OUT
Free of discharge costs to owners. Includes seafreight only.
FYI
For Your Information
GEAR
A general term for ropes, blocks, tackle and other equipment
GNCN
Gencon (GENERAL CONDITIONS)
GN (or GR)
Grain (Capacity)
GSB
Good, Safe Berth
GSP
Good, Safe Port
GTEE
Guarantee
GUNWALE
The upper edge of a ship's sides
HA
Hatch
HATCH
An opening in a ship's deck fitted with a watertight cover
HDLTSBENDS
Half Despatch Lay Time Saved Both Ends
HDWTS
Half Despatch Working (or Weather) Time Saved
HMS
Heavy Metal Scraps
HOLD
A compartment below deck in a large vessel, used solely for carrying cargo
HULL
The main body of a ship
ICW
Intercoastal Waterway : bays, rivers, and canals along the coasts (such as the Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico coasts), connected so that vessels may travel without going into the sea
IMO
International Maritime Organisation
IND
Indication
INTERMODAL
Carriage of a commodity by different modes of transport, i.e. sea, road, rail and air within a single journey
IU
If Used
IUHTAUTC
If Used, Half Time Actually To Count
KEEL
The centreline of a ship running fore and aft; the backbone of a vessel
KNOT
A measurement of speed equal to one nautical mile (6,076 feet) per hour
LASH
To hold goods in position by use of Ropes, Wires, Chains or Straps etc.
LAT
Latitude. The distance north or south of the equator measured and expressed in degrees.
LAYCAN
Laycan (Layday Cancelling Date)
LAYTIME
Time at Charterers disposal for purpose of loading/discharging
L/C
Letter of Credit
LOA
Length Overall of the vessel
LOAD LINE
SEE PLIMSOLL LINE
LOI
Letter of Indemnity
LONGITUDE
The distance in degrees east or west of the meridian at Greenwich, England
LS (or LUMPS)
Lumpsum Freight. Money paid to Shipper for a charter of a ship (or portion) up to stated limit irrespective of quantity of cargo
LSD
Lashed Secured Dunnaged
LT1
Liner Terms
LT2
Long Ton = 1,016.05 kilogram (2,240 lbs)
LTHH
Liner Terms Hook/Hook
LYCN
Laycan (Layday Cancelling Date)
MANIFEST
Inventory of cargo on board
MDO (DO)
Marine Diesel Oil
MIDSHIP
Approximately in the location equally distant from the bow and stern
MIN/MAX
Minimum/Maximum (cargo quantity)
MOLCHOPT
More or Less Charterers Option
MOLOO
More or Less Owners Option
MOORING
An arrangement for securing a ship to a mooring buoy or pier
MT
Mertic Tonne (i.e. 1,000 kilos)
M/V
Motor Vessel / Merchant Vessel
NAABSA
Not Always Afloat But Safely Aground
NM
Nautical Mile. One minute of latitude; approximately 6,076 feet - about 1/8 longer than the statute mile of 5,280 feet
NCB
National Cargo Bureau
NON-REVERSIBLE
(Detention). If loading completed sooner than expected, then saved days will not be added to discharge time allowed.
NOR
Notice of Readiness
NRT
Net Restricted Tonnage
OO
Owners Option
OWS
Owners
P&I
Protection and Indemnity Insurance
PCGO
Part Cargo
PCT
Percent
PDPR
Per Day Pro Rata
PERDIEM
By the Day
PER SE
By Itself
PHPD
Per Hatch Per Day
PORT
The left side of a ship looking forward. A harbour.
PRATIQUE
Licence or permission to use a port
PROFORMA
Estimated Account
PWWD
Per Weather Working Day
RCVR
Receiver
RECAP
Recapitulation of the terms and conditions agreed
REVERSIBLE
(Detention). If loading completed sooner than expected at load port, then days saved can be added to discharge operations.
RT
Revenue Tonne (i.e. 1.0 metric tonne or 1.0 cubic meter, whichever greater). The overall RT is calculated on a line by line basis of the Packing List using the largest amount. The overall freight liability is calculated on the total RT amount, multiplied by the freight rate.
SB
Safe Berth
SD (or SID)
Single Decker
SEAFREIGHT
Costs charged for transporting goods over the sea. This does not cover haulage or loading/discharging costs but the sea transport only
SF
Stowage Factor. Cubic space (measurement tonne) occupied by one tonne (2,240 lbs/1,000 kgs) of cargo
SHINC
Sundays/Holidays Included
SHEX
Sundays/Holidays Excluded
SKIDS
Are bearers (timber or steel) positioned under the cargo to enable forklift handling at port, and for ease of rigging and lashing on board ship.
SOF
Statement of Facts
SP
Safe Port
SRBL
Signing and Releasing Bill of Lading
SSHEX
Saturdays, Sundays, Holidays Excluded
SSHINC (or SATSHINC)
Saturdays, Sundays, Holidays Included
STABILITY
It is paramount that a vessel is stable in all aspects at all times. When cargo is loaded/discharged, the stability is monitored by a computer, which takes into account the weight and position of cargo within the vessel.
STARBOARD
Right side of a ship when facing the front or forward end.
STEM
Subject to Enough Merchandise (Availability of cargo). Also, the forward most part of the bow.
STERN
The aformost or after part of a ship
SUB
Subject (to). Depending upon as a condition
SUPERCARGO
Person employed by a ship owner, shipping company, charterer of a ship or shipper of goods to supervise cargo handling operations. Often called a port captain.
TBN
To Be Named / To Be Nominated
TC
Time Charter - Owners agree to hire a particular ship for a set length of time and provide technical management, crewing etc.
TCP
Time Charter Party
TEU
Standard 20' Container
TOPSIDES
The sides of a ship between the waterline and the deck; sometimes referring to onto or above the deck
TRIM
Fore and aft balance of a ship
TTL
Total
TW
Tween Decker
UU
Unless Used
UUIWCTAUTC
Unless Used In Which Case Time Actually Used To Count
VPD
Vessel Pays Dues
WATERLINE
A line painted on a hull which shows the point to which a ship sinks when it is properly trimmed
WCCON
Whether Customs Cleared Or Not
WIBON
Whether In Berth Or Not
WIFPON
Whether In Free Pratique Or Not
WIPON
Whether In Port Or Not
WLTOHC
Water Line-To-Hatch Coaming
WOG
Without Guarantee
WP
Weather Permitting. That time during which weather prevents working shall not count as laytime
WPD
Weather Permitting Day
WWD
Weather Working Day
WWR
When, Where Ready
WWWW
Wibon, Wccon, Wifpon, Wipon
Answered By: RiverGirl - 3/5/2007 |