A

• A/N :Arrival Notice - an import document send to the notify party and/or importer's broker containing all necessary arrival info for Customs clearance; normally with freight charges.
• A/S :Alongside
• AA :Always Afloat
• AAAA :Always Accessible Always Afloat
• AAOSA :Always Afloat or Safe Aground. Condition for a vessel whilst in port
• AARA :Amsterdam-Antwerp-Rotterdam Area
• AB :Able Bodied Seaman
• ABAFT :Toward the rear (stern) of the ship. Behind.
• ABOARD :On or within the ship
• ABOVE DECK :On the deck (not over it - see ALOFT)
• ABT :About
• ADCOM :Address Commission
• ADDENDUM :Additional chartering terms at the end of a charter party
• AFF :Advanced Fire Fighting
• AFFREIGHTMENT :The hiring of a ship in whole or part
• AFSPS :Arrival First Sea Pilot Station (Norway)
• AFT :At or towards the stern or rear of a ship
• AGROUND :Touching or fast to the bottom
• AGW :All Going Well
• AHL :Australian Hold Ladders
• AHT :Ancor handling Tug, special shiptype for handling ancors
• AHTS :Ancor handling tug & supply ship
• AIDS TO NAVIGATION :Artificial objects to supplement natural landmarks indicating safe and unsafe waters
• 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
• ANF :Arrival Notification Form
• ANTHAM :Antwerp-Hamburg Range
• APS :Arrival Pilot Station
• ARAG :Amsterdam-Rotterdam--Antwerp-Gent Range
• ARBITRATION :Method of settling disputes which is usually binding on parties. A clause usually in a charter party
• ARPA :Automatic Radar Plotting Aids
• ASBA :American Shipbrokers Association
• ASN :Advance Shipment Notice
• ASPW :Any Safe Port in the World
• ASTERN :In the back of the ship, opposite of ahead
• ATA :Actual time of arrival
• ATA Caarnet :Admission Temporaire (Temporary Admission)
• ATD :Actual time of departure
• ATDNSHINC :Any Time Day/Night Sundays and Holidays Included
• ATFI :ATFI
• ATHWARTSHIPS :At right angles to the centreline of the ship
• ATS :Alternative Training Scheme For Marine Engineers
• ATUTC :Actual Times Used to Count
• AWB :Air waybill

B

• B.P.B :Bank Post Bill
• B/E :Bill of Exchange
• B/L :Bill of Lading
• B/L Ton :Bill of Lading Ton
• B/P :Bill Payable
• B/R :Bills Receivable
• 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
• 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
• BALLAST BONUS :Compensation for relatively long ballast voyage
• BAREBOAT CHTR. :Bareboat Charter - Owners lease a specific ship and control its technical management and commercial operations only. Charterers take over all responsibility for the operation of the vessel and expenses for the duration.
• 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)
• BI :Both Inclusive
• BIMCO :Baltic and International Maritime Council
• Bkg :Banking
• Bkge :Brokerage
• Bl :Bale, Barrel
• BL :Bale
• BM :Beam
• BN :Booking Note
• BOB :Bunker on Board
• BOFFER :Best Offer
• BOW :The forward part of a ship
• BROB :Bunkers Remaining on Board
• BROKERAGE :Percentage of freight payable to broker (by owners in c/p's) or applicable to sale or purchase
• BSS :Basis
• BSS 1/1 :Basis 1 Port to 1 Port
• BT :Berth Terms
• BTM :Bridge Team Management
• BULKHEAD :A vertical partition separating compartments
• BUNDLING :This is the assembly of pieces of cargo, secured into one manageable unit. This is relevant to items such as Structural Steel, Handrails, Stairways etc. Whilst this is a very flexible description, a rule of thumb is to present cargo at a size easily handled by a large (20 tonne) fork lift.
• BUNKERS :Name given for vessels Fuel and Diesel Oil supplies (Originates from coal bunkers)
• 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

C

• C & F :Cost and Freight : The seller pays cost and freight for the goods at the destination. The buyer assumes the risk from the port of shipment.
• C&D :Collect and Delivery
• C&E :Custom & Excise
• C&F :Cost and Freight
• C&I :Cost and Insurance
• C.A.D :Cash Against Delivery
• C.B.D :Cash Before Delivery
• C.H :Custom House
• C.I.A :Cash In Advance
• C.I.F :Cost Insurance & Freight
• C.I.F & C :Cost, Insurance, Freight & Commission
• C.I.F & E :Cost, Insurance, Freight & Exchange
• C.I.F.C & I :Cost, Insurance, Freight, Commission & Interest
• C.O. :Certificate of Origin - a signed statement from a semiofficial organization certifying the origin of an export item, required by certain nations.
• C.O.D :Cash on Delivery
• C.O.S :Cash on Shipment
• c.p.d. :Charters Pay Dues
• C.R :Companies Risk
• C.W.O :Cash with Order
• C/A :Capital Account
• C/B :Container Base
• c/i :Certificate of Insurance
• C/P :Charter Party, Custom of Ports
• CABAF :Currency and Bunker Adjustment Factor
• CAF :Currency Adjustment Factor
• CAP :Condition Assessment Programme ? a quality rating program for tankers.
• Capt :Captain
• Cat :Catalogue
• CBFT (or CFT) :Cubic Feet
• CBM :Cubic Metres
• Cert. :Certificate
• CFR :Cost & Freight
• CFS :Container Freight Station
• Cge :Carriage
• Ch. Fwd. :Charges Forward
• Ch.ppd :Charges Prepaid
• CHART :A map used by navigators
• CHIEF :Customs Handling of Import and Exports Freight
• CHOPT :Charterers Option
• CHTRS :Charterers
• CI :Certificate of Insurance
• CIF :Cost Insurance Freight
• CIP :Carriage and Insurance paid to...
• CKD :Completely Knocked Down
• CKD :Completely knocked down
• CMI :Committee Maritime International
• CNEE :CONSIGNEE. Name of agent, company or person receiving consignment
• CNG :Compressed natural gas
• COA :Contract of Affreightment - Owners agree to accept a cost per revenue tonne for cargo carried on a specific number of voyages.
• COACP :Contract of Affreightment Charter Party
• COB :Closing of Business
• COBLDN :Closing of Business London
• COD :Cash On Delivery
• COGSA :Carriage of Goods by Sea Act
• COGSA :Carriage of Goods by Sea Act
• Collr :Collector
• Com :Commercial, Commission
• COMP :Competency
• CONGESTION :Port/berth delays
• CONS :Consumption
• Cont :Contract
• COP :Custom Of Port
• COT :Customers Own Transport
• COU :Clip on Unit
• CP (or C/P) :Charter Party
• CPD :Charterers Pay Dues
• CPT :Carriage Paid To
• CQD :Customary Quick Despatch
• CR :Current Rate
• Cr. :Credit, Creditor
• CRN :Custom Register Number
• CRN :Crane
• CROB :Cargo Remaining on Board
• CRT :Cargo Retention Clauses, introduced by charterers based on shortage of delivered cargo because of increased oil prices
• CSC :Container Safety Convention
• CST :Centistoke
• CT :Combined Transport
• CTD :Combined Transport Document
• CTF :Tanker Familiarization (Chemical Tankers)
• Ctge. :Cartage
• CTO :Combined Transport Operator
• CTR :Container Fitted
• Cub :Cubic
• CY :Container Yard

D

• D.A. :Document Against Acceptance
• D.A.D :Document Against Deposition
• D.D. and Shpg :Sock Dues and Shipping
• D.F :Dead Freight
• d.l.o : Dispatch loading only
• D.N :Debit Note
• D.O :Delivery Order
• D.P :Documents Against Payment Dock Warrant
• d.p. :Direct Port
• D.W :Dock Warrant
• D/D :Demand Draft
• D/P :Documents Against Payment
• D/R :Deposit Receipt
• D/W :Dock Warrant
• DA :Disbursement Account
• DAF :Deliver At Frontier
• DAMFORDET :Damages for Detention. Penalty if cargo is not ready when ship arrives for working (1st day of Laycan). This is not detention which is charged for ships time on delay. If the cargo is ready there is no DAMFORDET.
• DAPS :Days all Purposes (Total days for loading & discharging)
• Dbk :Drawback
• Dd :Delivered
• DDP :Delivered Duty Paid.
• DDU :Delivered Duty unpaid.
• 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.
• DEPS :Departmental Entry Processing System
• Dept :Department
• DEQ :Delivered Ex Quay
• DES :Delivered Ex Ship
• DESP :Despatch. Time saved, reward for quick turnaround- in dry cargo only
• DET :Detention (See DAMFORDET)
• DEV :Deviation. Vessel departure from specified voyage course
• DFRT :Deadfreight. Space booked by shipper or charterer on a vessel but not used
• Dft. :Draft
• DGN :Dangerous Goods Note
• DGS :Directorate General Of Shipping
• DHDATSBE :Despatch Half Demurrage on All Time Saved Both Ends
• DHDWTSBE :Despatch Half Demurrage on Working Time Saved Both Ends
• DISCH :Discharge
• DK :Deck
• DLOSP :Dropping Last Outwards Sea Pilot (Norway)
• DNRCAOSLONL :Discountless and Non-Returnable Cargo and/or Ship Lost or Not Lost
• DO :Diesel Oil
• Dols :Dollars
• DOLSP :Dropping Off Last Sea Pilot (Norway)
• DOP :Dropping Outward Pilot
• DOT :Department of Transport
• Doz :Dozen
• Dr. :Debtor
• 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.
• DWT :Dead Weight Tonnes is a measure of the cargo carrying capacity of a ship and refers to the total weight of the cargo that a ship can carry when loaded down to its marks, including the weight of the fuel, stores, water ballast, fresh water, crew passenger and other baggage.

E

• E& O.E :Errors and Omissions Expected
• E.O.M :End of Month
• EBB :A receeding current
• EC :East Coast
• ECE :Economic Commission of Europe
• EDI :Electronic Data Interchange
• EDIFACT :EDI Administration Commerce and Transport
• EEC :European Economic Community
• EFA :Elementary First Aid
• EFTA :European Free Trade Association
• EHA :Equipment Handover Agreement
• EIU :Even If Used
• ELVENT :Electric Ventilation
• ERR :Engine Room Rating
• ESC :European National Shippers Councils
• ETA :Estimated Time of Arrival
• ETC :Electronic Data Credit / Estimated Time of Completion
• ETD :Estimated Time of Departure
• ETO :Electro Technical Officer
• ETS :Estimated Time of Sailing
• Ex Ship :Buyers responsible for charges after delivery at ship
• EXW :Ex Works

F

• F& D :Freight and Demurrage
• F.B.H :Free on Board at Harbour
• F.I.O :Free in and out
• F.O.B :Free on Board
• F.O.C :Free of Change
• F.O.D :Free of Damage
• F.O.R :Free on Rail
• F.o.r :Free on rail
• F.O.S :Free on Ship
• F.o.s :Free on steamer
• F.O.T :Free on Truck
• F.T.W :Free Trade Wharf
• FAC :Fast as can
• Fac. :Facsimile
• FAK :Freight All Kind
• FAS :Free Alongside Ship
• FAS :Free Alongside Ship. Seller delivers goods to appropriate dock or terminal at port of embarkation and buyer covers costs and risks of loading
• FCA :Free to Carrier. A modern equivalent of FAS used in intermodal transport where goods are transferred at a nominated forwarders premises, depot or terminal but not actually on board vessel.
• FCL :Full Container Load
• FD (FDIS) :Free Discharge
• FDD :Freight Demurrage Deadfreight
• FDEDANRSAOCLONL :Freight Deemed Earned, Discountless And Non-Returnable (Refundable) Ship And Or Cargo Lost Or Not Lost
• FDESP :Free Despatch
• FENDER :A cushion, placed between ships, or between a ship and a pier, to prevent damage
• FEU :Forty Foot Equivalent Unit
• FFI :For Further Instruction
• FHEX :Fridays/Holidays Excluded
• FHINC :Fridays/Holidays Included
• FILO :Free in Liner Out
• FIO :Free in and Out
• FIOS :The load freely in and out and stowed.
• FIOST :Free In/Out and Trimmed. Charterer pays for cost of loading/discharging cargo, including stowage and trimming.
• FIOT :The load supplied by the shipper / charterer free on board the ship and pull it in off the port free from the vessel during fiot charterer pays all the required trimming.
• FIT :Free In Trimmed
• FIW :Free In Wagon
• 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
• FMS :Fathoms
• FO :For Orders / Free Out
• FO (IFO) :Fuel Oil/Intermediate FO
• FOB :Free on Board
• FOFFER :Firm Offer
• FOG :For Our Guidance
• FOQ :Free On Quay
• FOR :Free On Rail
• 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
• FOW :First Open Water / Free On Wharf
• FP :Free Pratique. Clearance by the Health Authorities
• FP & FF :Fire Prevention & Fire Fighting
• FPSO :Floating production storage and offloading, a ship designed to drill, process, store & and offload oil from wells at sea.
• FR :First Refusal. First attempt at best offer that can be matched
• FREE DESPATCH :If loading/discharging achieved sooner than agreed, there will be no freight money returned.
• FREE EXINS :Free of any Extra Insurance (Owners)
• FREE OUT :Free of discharge costs to owners. Includes seafreight only.
• FREEBOARD :The minimum vertical distance from the surface of the water to the gunwale
• FRT :Freight
• Frt Fwd :Freight Forward
• Frt PP :Freight Prepaid
• FRUSTRATION :Charterers when cancelling agreement sometimes quote 'doctrine of frustration' i.e. vessel is lost, extensive delays.
• FWAD :Fresh Water Arrival Draft
• FWDD :Fresh Water Departure Draft
• FYG :For Your Guidance
• FYI :For Your Information

G

• GA :General Average
• Gall :Gallon
• GATT :General Agreement on Tariffs
• GCA :Gold Close Agreement
• GDP :The total value of goods and services produced in a country over a year.
• GEAR :A general term for ropes, blocks, tackle and other equipment
• GLS (GLESS) :Gearless
• GMDSS :Global Maritime Distress & Safety System
• GME :Graduate Marine Engineer
• GN (or GR) :Grain (Capacity)
• GNCN :Gencon (GENERAL CONDITIONS)
• GNP :Gross national income. GDP plus factor income (wages, capital and entrepreneurial income) from abroad minus factor income abroad.
• GO :Gas Oil
• GP :Grain Capacity. Cubic capacity in 'grain'
• GR :Geographical Rotation. Ports in order of calling
• GRD :Geared
• GRI :General Rate Increase. Used to describe an across-the-board tariff rate increase implemented by conference members and applied to base rates.
• GRT :Gross Registered Tonnage
• GSB :Good, Safe Berth
• GSP :Good, Safe Port
• GTEE :Guarantee
• GUNWALE :The upper edge of a ship's sides

H

• H/L :Heavy Lift
• HA :Hatch
• HAGUE RULES :Code of minimum conditions for the carriage of cargo under a Bill of Lading
• HATCH :An opening in a ship's deck fitted with a watertight cover
• HBF :Harmless Bulk Fertilizer
• HDLTSBENDS :Half Despatch Lay Time Saved Both Ends
• HDWTS :Half Despatch Working (or Weather) Time Saved
• HHDW :Handy Heavy d.w. (Scrap)
• HIRE :T/C Remuneration
• HMS :Heavy Metal Scraps
• HO :Hold
• HOLD :A compartment below deck in a large vessel, used solely for carrying cargo
• HSS (High Speed Sea Service) :Ferry Concept with large catamarans with a capacity of 1500 passengers and 375 cars or 50 trucks and 100 cars.
• HULL :The main body of a ship
• HW :High Water

I

• I.B :In Board
• I.T :Immediate Transport
• I/L :Import License
• ICD :Inland Clearance Depot / Inland Container Depot
• ICS :Institute of Chartered Shipbrokers
• 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
• IMDG :International Maritime Dangerous Goods Code
• IMDG Code :International Maritime Dangerous Goods Code
• IMO :International Maritime Organization
• IN &/OR OVER :Goods carried below and/or on deck
• INCOTERMS :(Refer to comments in covering statement on front page A-F)
• IND :Indication
• Int. :Interests
• INTERMODAL :Carriage of a commodity by different modes of transport, i.e. sea, road, rail and air within a single journey
• ISM :International Safety Management
• ISO :International Organization for Standardization
• ISPS :International Ships and Port Security System
• ITF :International Transport Workers Federation (Trade Unions). Complies on crewing
• ITINERARY :Route.Schedule
• IU :If Used
• IUHTAUTC :If Used, Half Time Actually To Count
• IWL :Institute Warranty Limits

K

• 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

L

• L&D :Loss and Damage
• L/C :Letter of Credit
• L/I :Letter of Indemnity
• LANE METER :A method of measuring the space capacity of Ro/Ro ships whereby each unit of space (Linear Meter) is represented by an area of deck 1.0 meter in length x 2.0 meters in width.
• 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
• LCHS :Liquid Cargo Handling Simulator
• LCL :Less Than Container Load
• LCR :Lowest Current Rate
• LEE :The side sheltered from the wind
• LEEWARD :The direction away from the wind. Opposite of windward
• LEEWAY :The sideways movement of the ship caused by either wind or current
• LF :Load Factor. Percentage of cargo or passengers carries e.g. 4,000 tons carried on a vessel of 10,000 capacity has a load factor of 40%%
• LGTF :Tanker Familiarization (Liquefied Gas Tankers)
• LIBOR :London Inter Bank Offered Rate.
• LIEN :Retention of property until outstanding debt is paid
• LIFO :Liner in Free Out
• LNG :Liquefied Natural Gas
• LNG (Liquefied Natural Gas) :Liquid natural gas transported cooled to -163 ? C.
• LO-LO :Lift On Lift Off
• LOA :Length Overall of the vessel
• LOF :Lloyds Open Form
• LOF, Lloyd?s Open Form :Standardized salvage contract. The latest version called LOF-95 takes into account the provisions of the International Convention of Salvage.
• LOG :A record of courses or operation. Also, a device to measure speed
• LOI :Letter of Indemnity
• LONGITUDE :The distance in degrees east or west of the meridian at Greenwich, England
• LOW :Last Open Water
• LPG (Liquefied Petroleum Gas) :Liquid petroleum gas is transported under pressure and / or cooled.
• 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
• LT :Long Ton = 1,016.05 kilogram (2,240 lbs)
• LTHH :Liner Terms Hook/Hook
• LW :Low Water
• LYCN :Laycan (Layday Cancelling Date)

M

• M / S :Motor Ship.
• M / T :Motor Tanker.
• M / V :Motor Vessel.
• M.D :Months Date
• M.I.P :Marine Insurance Policy
• M.S. :Motor Ship
• M.S.A :Merchant Shipping Act.
• M.S.C :Manchester Ship Canal
• M.T. :Motor Tanker
• M.V. :Motor Vessel
• M/P :Months After Payment
• M/R :Mate's Receipt
• M/V :Motor Vessel \ Merchant Vessel
• MANIFEST :Inventory of cargo on board
• MARPOL :International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships. IMO Convention on emission limits from ships.
• MB :Merchant Broker
• MCC :Marine Communication Course
• MDO (DO) :Marine Diesel Oil
• MEO :Marine Engineer Officer
• MFA :Medical First Aid
• MGMT :Management
• MIDSHIP :Approximately in the location equally distant from the bow and stern
• MIN/MAX :Minimum/Maximum (cargo quantity)
• MMO :Multi Model Operator
• MOA :Memorandum of Agreement
• 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
• MPCC (Mulit Purpose Container Carrier) :Container freighter that has the capablility to carry other goods as well.
• MS :Manuscript mail steamer
• MT :Mertic Tonne (i.e. 1,000 kilos)

N

• N.WT :Net Weight
• N/T :New Terms
• NAABSA :Not Always Afloat But Safely Aground
• NAVIGATION :The art and science of conducting a ship safely from one point to another
• NCB :National Cargo Bureau
• NCV :Near Coastal Voyages
• NESTING :Implies that cargo is presented stacked in the contour of similarly shaped cargo, it may be likened to a stack of plates. This is particularly relevant in the presentation of tankage strakes for transport
• NM :Nautical Mile. One minute of latitude; approximately 6,076 feet - about 1/8 longer than the statute mile of 5,280 feet
• 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
• NVOCC :Non Vessel Operating Container Carrier
• NWKO :Navigation Watch Keeping Officer
• NYPE :New York Produce Exchange

O

• O.P :Open Policy(Insurance)
• O.R :Owner's Risk
• O.R.D :Owner's Risk of Damage
• O/H :Over Height Container
• O/T :Old Terms
• O/W : Over width
• OBL :Original Bill of Lading
• OBO :Ore/Bulk/Oil Vessel
• OO :Owners Option
• OOG :Out of Gauge
• OPA :Oil Pollution Act (USA 1990)
• OS :Ordinary Seaman
• OSH :Open Shelter Deck
• OSV :Offshore supply vessel
• OTF :Tanker Familiarization ( Oil Tankers)
• OVERBOARD :Over the side or out of the ship
• OWS :Owners

P

• P&I :Protection and Indemnity Insurance
• P&I Club :Protection and Indemnity Association
• P.L :Partial Loss
• P.O.D :Pay on Delivery
• P/N :Promissory Note
• PASTUS :Past Us
• PC :Period of Charter
• PCGO :Part Cargo
• PCT :Percent
• PDPR :Per Day Pro Rata
• PER SE :By Itself
• PERDIEM :By the Day
• PHPD :Per Hatch Per Day
• PLIMSOLL MARK / PLIMSOLL LINE / LOAD LINE :An internationally recognised line painted on the side of merchant ships. When a ship is loaded, the water level is not supposed to go above the line. Water can reach different parts of the line as its temperature and saltiness varies with the season and location. From where Plimsoll Shipping derived its name.
• PORT :The left side of a ship looking forward. A harbour.
• PPD :Prepaid
• PPT :Promptly
• PRATIQUE :Licence or permission to use a port
• PREAMBLE :Introduction to a charter party
• PROFORMA :Estimated Account
• PSC RB :Proficiency In Survival Craft & Rescue Boats
• PSSR :Personal Safety & Social Responsibility
• PST :Personal Survival Techniques
• PSV :Platfrom supply vessel
• PUS :Plus Us
• PWWD :Per Weather Working Day

R

• R.I :Reinsurance
• RCVR :Receiver
• RECAP :Recapitulation of the terms and conditions agreed
• REVAL :Revalidation
• REVERSIBLE :(Detention). If loading completed sooner than expected at load port, then days saved can be added to discharge operations.
• RN :Release Note
• ROB :Remaining On Board
• ROC :Radar Operators Course
• RP :Reply Paid
• 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.

S

• S.D.B.L :Sight Draft and Bill of Lading included
• S.F.A :Shipping and Forwarding Agent
• S/N :Shipping Note
• S/S :Steamship
• SATPM :Saturday P.M.
• SB :Safe Berth
• SBT :Segregated Ballast, TanksTanks in the tankers that are only used for ballast.
• SD (or SID) :Single Decker
• SDR :Special Drawing Right
• SEAFREIGHT :Costs charged for transporting goods over the sea. This does not cover haulage or loading/discharging costs but the sea transport only
• SEAWORTHINESS :Statement of condition of the vessel (valid certificates, fully equipped and manned etc.)
• SELFD :Self Discharging
• SEMI-TRAILERS :Are usually 12.0 meter flat bed road trailers
• SF :Stowage Factor. Cubic space (measurement tonne) occupied by one tonne (2,240 lbs/1,000 kgs) of cargo
• SHEX :Sundays/Holidays Excluded
• SHINC :Sundays/Holidays Included
• SHMS :Ship Handling/ Marine Simulator
• SHPR :Shipper - the party in whose name a contract of carriage of goods has been concluded with at 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.
• SIM :Simulator
• 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.
• SN :Satellite Navigation - A form of position finding using radio transmissions from satellites with sophisticated on-board automatic equipment
• SOB :Shipped on Board
• SOC :Shipper Owned Container
• SOF :Statement of Facts
• SP :Safe Port
• SPIDERING :Is the strengthening of circular tanks for transport, this prevents the tanks from becoming warped. The tanks are strengthened with steel or wood crossbeams giving a "spider" appearance
• 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
• STPCT :Specialized Training Programme (Chemical Tankers)
• STPLGT :Specialized Training Programme (Liquefied Gas Tankers)
• STPOT :Specialized Training Programme (Oil Tankers)
• 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.
• SWAD :Salt Water Arrival Draft
• SWDD :Salt Water Departure Draft

T

• T / T :Turbine Tanker.
• T.L.O :Total Loss Only
• T.Q :Trade Quality
• T/A :Trade Acceptance
• T/S :Transhipment - a shipping arrangement in which a shipment is discharged of the vessel at an intermediate port enroute and subsequently reloaded to another vessel for carriage to its final destinationl
• 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 :Twenty Foot Equivalent Unit
• THC :Terminal Handling Charge
• THWARTSHIPS :At right angles to the centreline of the ship
• TIDE :The periodic rise and fall of water level in the oceans
• TIME BAR :Time after which legal claims will not be entered
• TIR : Transports Internationaux Routiers (International Road Transports)
• TOPSIDES :The sides of a ship between the waterline and the deck; sometimes referring to onto or above the deck
• TOTA :Training Of Trainers & Assessors
• TOVALOP :Tanker Owners? Voluntary Agreement Concerning Liability for Oil Pollution. The world tanker voluntary agreement on financial compensation for oil pollution.
• TRIM :Fore and aft balance of a ship
• TTL :Total
• TTO :Through transport Operator
• TW :Tween Decker

U

• U/W :Under Writer
• UC :Usual Conditions
• UCP :Uniform Customs Terms
• ULCC :?Ultra Large Crude Carrier? ? tankers of 350,000 tons.
• UNCITRAL :United Nations Commission of International Trade Law
• UNCTAD :United Nations Conference of Trade and Development
• UPGRAD :Up gradation
• USC :Unless Sooner Commenced
• UT :Usual Terms
• UU :Unless Used
• UUIWCTAUTC :Unless Used In Which Case Time Actually Used To Count

V

• VCN :Vessel Call Number
• VIA :Vessel Identification Advice
• VLCC :?Very Large Crude Carrier? ? tankers of 200,000 tons.
• VPD :Vessel Pays Dues
• VRM :Vessel Resource Management
• VSL :Vessel
• VTS :Vessel Traffic System. System for monitoring maritime traffic.

W

• W.B :Way Bill
• W.G :Weight Guaranteed
• W.R :War Risk
• W/M :Weight of Measurement
• W/R :Warehouse Receipt
• W/W :Warehouse Warrant
• WATERLINE :A line painted on a hull which shows the point to which a ship sinks when it is properly trimmed
• WAY :Movement of a ship through water such as headway, sternway or leeway
• WCCON :Whether Customs Cleared Or Not
• WIBON :Whether In Berth Or Not
• WIFPON :Whether In Free Pratique Or Not
• WINDWARD :Toward the direction from which the wind is coming
• 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
• WRIC :Wire Rods In Collis
• Wt. :Weight
• WTIV :Wind turbine installation vessel
• WWD :Weather Working Day
• WWR :When, Where Ready
• WWWW :Wibon, Wccon, Wifpon, Wipon

X

• Xcontr. :Container

Y

• YAR :York Antwerp Rules
• YAW :To swing or steer off course, as when running with a quartering sea

Z

• Z :UTC = GMT