SHIPPING GLOSSARY:

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Accreditation	Certification by duly recognized body of the facilities, capability, objectivity, competence, and integrity of an agency, service, or operational group or individual to provide the specific service or operation needed. For example, the Registrar Accreditation Board accredits those organizations that register companies to the ISO 9000 series standards.
Ad Valorem	In proportion to the value.
Agent (Agt.)	A person authorized to transact business for, and in the name of, another person or company.
AMS	Automated Manifest System. An application that expedites the clearance of cargo for the subsequent release of containers when imported to the U.S. through electronic submission of cargo manifests in lieu of bulk paper manifests.
Arrival notice	An advice that the carrier sends to the consignee advising of goods coming forward for delivery. Pertinent information such as BL number, container number and total charges due from consignee etc, are included and sent to consignee prior to vessel arrival. This is done gratuitously by the carrier to ensure smooth delivery but there is no obligation by the carrier to do so. The responsibility to monitor the transit and present himself to take timely delivery still rests with the consignee.
Awkward cargo	Cargo of irregular size that can either be containerized (packed in container) or non-containerized (without equipment associated with) during transportation. It requires prior approval on a case by case basis before confirmation of booking.
Axle load	Maximum load permitted to be carried on each axle of a motor vehicle.
Bill of lading (B/L)	Official legal document representing ownership of cargo, a negotiable document to receive cargo, and the contract for cargo between the shipper and the carrier.
Block train	Railcars grouped in a train by destination so that segments (blocks) can be uncoupled and routed to different destinations as the train moves through various junctions. Eliminates the need to break up a train and sort individual railcars at each junction.
Blocking or bracing	Wood or metal supports to keep shipments in place or on railcars.
Bls.	Bales. A kind of customary packing unit.
Bobtail	Movement of a tractor, without trailer, over the highway.
Bona fide	In good faith.
Booking number	A reference number for bookings registered. It should be unique without duplication for a three-year period.
Bow	The front of a vessel.
Box	Common term for an ocean going freight container.
Boxcar	A closed freight car.
BPS	Business Process and Systems - section within ISD responsible for implementation of IRIS-2 and user support in system and business processes.
Break-bulk cargo	Goods shipped loose in the vessel抯 hold and not in a container.
British Thermal Unit (BTU)	The amount of heat required to produce a temperature change of one degree Fahrenheit in one pound of water.
Bulk carriers	A vessel carrying dry, liquid, grain, not packaged, bundled or bottled cargo, and is loaded without marks & number or count.
Bull rings	Cargo-securing devices mounted in the floor of containers; allow lashing and securing of cargo.
Bunker surcharge (BAF, BSC)	Bunker Adjustment factor (BAF), or Bunker Surcharge (BSC) are surcharges assessed by the carrier to freight rates to reflect current cost of bunker.
Bunkers	Heavy oil used as fuel for ocean vessels.
C.A.F.	Currency Adjustment Factor. Surcharge percentage applied to freight rates to reflect currency fluctuations.
C.B.M. (C.M.)	Cubic meter.
C.K.D.	Abbreviation for Cars Knocked Down. Automobile parts and subassemblies manufactured abroad and transported to a designated assembly plant. A classification of Third Party International shippers. See Knocked Down.
C.O.D.	Collect (cash) on Delivery; Carried on Docket (pricing); Change of Destination.
Cargo manifest	A manifest that lists only cargo, without freight and charges.
Carrier	Any individual, company or corporation engaged in transporting goods.
Cells	The construction system employed in container vessels; permits below ship containers to be stowed in a vertical line with each container supporting the one above it.
Cellular vessel	A vessel designed with internal ribbing to permit the support of stacked containers.
Certificate of origin	Document certifying the country of origin of goods which is normally issued or signed by a Chamber of Commerce or Embassy.
CFC's (Chlorofluorocarbons)	Chemical compounds containing mixtures of carbon, chlorine and fluorine molecules. Because of their stability, lack of flammability and ability to absorb and give up heat readily, CFC's have in the past been popular refrigerants. However, CFC's have been found to contribute to the deterioration of the ozone layer of the upper atmosphere, which is a condition believed to be hazardous to global health. These compounds should not be released into the atmosphere, but should be carefully collected for recycling. Production of CFC's is being phased out by an international convention, the Montreal Protocol.
CFS/CFS	A kind of cargo movement by container. Delivered loose at origin point with vanning by carrier, devanned by carrier at destination, and picked up loose at destination.
Chassis	A wheeled flat bed or a trailer constructed to accommodate containers moved over the road.
Closing date	Last day on which export cargo can be accepted for a nominated sailing.
Consolidated cargo	Cargo containing shipments of two or more shippers, usually shipped by a firm called a consolidator. The consolidator takes advantage of lower F.C.L. rates, and savings are passed on to shippers.
Consolidation	The combination of many small shipments into one container.
Consolidator	A person or firm performing a consolidation service for others.
Consortium	Group of carriers pooling resources in a trade lane to maximize their resources efficiently.
Container	A receptacle designed to transport cargo of many types in continuous transportation.
Container freight station (CFS, C.F.S.)	Consolidation depots where parcels of cargo are grouped and loaded into containers.
Container gross weight	Please refer to Gross Weight.
Container load plan (CLP)	A document prepared to show all details of cargo loaded in a container, e.g. weight (individual and total), measurement, markings, shippers, consignees, the origin & destination of goods, and location of cargo within the container.
Container number	The unique identification of a container.
Container seal number	The number of high security seals provided by OOCL.
Container size	The length of a container i.e. 20'', 40'' and 45'' (feet).
Container terminal	Also refered to as a Container Yard (CY). A facility that receives full export containers from one shipper to loading the vessel and delivers full import containers to the consignee after; it is the same location where ocean vessels are loaded & unloaded.
Container type	The purpose of a container of which the code is to be adhered to ISO standard.
Containership	An ocean vessel specifically designed to carry ocean cargo containers. It is fitted with vertical cells for maximum capacity.
Controlled atmosphere (CA)	An atmosphere in which oxygen, carbon dioxide and nitrogen concentrations are regulated, as well as temperature and humidity.
Cu.	Cubic. A unit of volume measurement.
Cubic foot	1,728 cubic inches.
Custom house	A country Treasury Department office where duties, etc., on foreign shipments are handled.
Customs bonded warehouse	a public or privately owned warehouse where dutiable goods are stored pending payment of duty or removal under bond. The storage or delivery of goods are under the supervision of customs officers and if the warehouse is privately owned the keeper has to enter into a bond as indemnity in respect of the goods deposited, which may not be delivered without a release from the customs.
Cut-off time	Lastest possible time the cargo may be delivered to the vessel or designated point.
Cwt.	Hundredweight (U.S.A., 100 pounds; United Kingdom, 112 pounds).
CY	Container Yard. See "Container Terminal".
CY/CFS	Cargo loaded in a full container by a shipper at origin, delivered to pier facility at destination, and then devanned by the carrier for loose pick up.
CY/CY	Cargo loaded by the shipper in a full container at origin and delivered to the carrier's terminal at destination for pick up intact by consignee.
D & H	Dangerous and Hazardous. (Also see "Dangerous Goods")
D.W.	Dead Weight. The number of tons a ship can transport of cargo, stores and bunker fuel. (Also see "Deadweight Tonnage")
Dangerous Goods	The term used by I.M.C.O. for hazardous materials which are capable of posing a significant risk to health, safety or property while being transported.
DDC	Destination Delivery Charges. A charge assessed by the carrier for handling positioning of a full container.
Dead Space	Space in a car, truck, vessel, etc., that is not utilized.
Deadweight Tonnage (D/W)	The number of total weight tons that a vessel can transport of cargo, stores and bunker fuel. It is the difference between the number of tons of water a vessel displaces "light" and the number of tons it displaces when submerged to the "load line."
Dedicated Unit Train	An unit train operated by various railroads for exclusive usage.
Delivery Order	A document authorizing delivery to a nominated party of goods in the care of a third party. Can be issued by a carrier on surrender of a bill of lading and then used by the merchant to transfer title by endorsement.
Depot Container	Container freight station or a designated area where empty containers can be picked up or dropped off.
Destination	The place where the carrier actually turns over the cargo to consignee or his agent.
Detention	Charges raised for detaining container/trailer at customer抯 premises for longer period than provided in Tariff.
Detention Charge	See "Detention".
Devanning	The removal of cargo from a container. Also known as unstuffing, unloading or stripping.
DFG	Dynamic Flow Guidelines -- which is used to control the on-land stock level of each region taking into account of the traffic pattern and local vanning/devanning dwell time. The shortest the dwell time, the lowest the DFG and the more efficient the equipment utilization will be.
Differential Rate	An amount added or deducted from base rate to make a rate to or from some other point or via another route.
Diversion	A change made in the route of a shipment in transit.
Divert	The route of a shipment changed in transit from that shown on the original billing. Used interchangeably with reconsign.
Dock	(a) The water alongside a pier or wharf. (b) Loading or unloading platform at an industrial location or carrier terminal.
Dock Receipt	A form used to acknowledge receipt of cargo at a steamship pier. When delivery of a foreign shipment is completed, the dock receipt is surrendered to the vessel operator or the operator's agent and serves as basis for preparation of the ocean bill of lading.
Door-to-Door	Through transportation of a container and its contents from consignor's premises to consignee's premises.
Double-Deck Load	A second tier of cargo placed on top of the first tier.
Dray	A truck or other equipment designed to haul heavy loads.
Drayage	Charge made for local hauling by dray or truck.
Dry Cargo	Cargo that does not require temperature control.
Dry Dock	An enclosed basin into which a ship is taken for underwater cleaning and repairing. It is fitted with watertight entrance gates which when closed permit the dock to be pumped dry.
Dry-Bulk Container	A container constructed to carry grain, powder and other free flowing solids in bulk.
DST	Double Stack Train. Rail or train capable of carrying two 40' containers, one on top of the other.
Dunnage (Dge.)	Lumber or other material used to brace material in carrier's equipment.
Dwell Time	It is expressed in term of no. of day that a container changed from one status to another e.g. from under inbound load (UIL) to empty available (MTA) to under outbound load (UOL). The shorter the dwell time, the more efficient the container utilization will be.
ECU	European Currency Units. A financial unit used for EC accounting.
En route	Along the route of movement.
ETA	Estimated time of arrival.
ETD	Estimated time of departure.
Ex Work	An INCOTERMS term of sale applicable to all modes of transport.
Export	Shipment of goods to another country.
Export Declaration	A government document permitting designated goods to be shipped out of the country.
F.A.K.	Freight All Kind. System whereby freight is charged per container, irrespective of the nature of the goods, and not according to a Tariff.
F.A.S.	Free Alongside Ship.
F.C.L.	Full Containerload. Arrangement whereby shipper utilizes all the space in a container which he packs himself.
F.I.O.	Free In and Out.
F.O.B.	Stands for Free On Board which is a mercantile expression used in sale contracts denoting that goods have to be delivered by the shippers on board the vessel at a particular place, free of charge.
FCL/FCL	See CY/CY.
FCL/LCL	See CY/CFS.
Feeder Vessel	Vessel employed in normally short sea routes to fetch or carry goods and containers to and from ocean going vessels.
FEU	Forty-foot Equivalent Unit (40'' or 2 TEUs)
Final Destination (FND)	End of carrier抯 liability where carrier delivers the cargo to consignee.
Flash Point	A temperature that when certain inflammable cargo reaches will trigger spontaneous ignition. It is an IMCO standard information requirement for dangerous goods.
FMC	Federal Maritime Commission. US Government Agency responsible for regulatory aspects of all maritime activities.
Freight	(a) The price paid to the carrier for the transportation of goods or merchandise by sea from one place to another. (b) Freight is also used to denote goods which are in the process of being transported from one place to another.
Fresh Air Exchange (FAE)	The fresh air exchange system on a reefer removes harmful gases from reefers carrying sensitive perishable commodities. The fresh air vent is located on the reefer machinery end of the container. The fresh air vent is adjustable to accommodate a variety of cargo and chilled load operating conditions. The fresh air vent should be tightly closed when carrying frozen cargo.
Full Cellular Ship	A ship fitted for container carriage in all available space. The ship is fitted with vertical cells for container placement both below and above deck. No provisions are available for cargo other than containers.
Fumigation	Treatment with a pesticide active ingredient that is a gas under treatment conditions.
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ACI - Documentation - Container INFO - Glossary