Charter Terms & Abbreviations

Charter Terms & Abbreviations

WORLD TIME

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
 AA              Always Afloat
 AAAA            Always Accessible Always Afloat
 AARA            Amsterdam-Antwerp-Rotterdam Area
 ABT             About
 ADCOM           Address Commission
 AFSPS           Arrival First Sea Piolt Station (Norway)
 AFFREIGHTMENT   The hiring of a ship in whole or part
 AFT             At or towards the stern or rear of a ship
 AGW             All Going Well
 AHL             Australian Hold Ladders
 ANTHAM          Antwerp-Hamburg Range
 APS             Arrival Pilot Station
 ARAG            Amsterdam-Rotterdam--Antwerp-Gent Range
 A/S             Alongside
 ATDNSHINC       Any Time Day/Night Sundays and Holidays UIncluded
 ATUTC           Actual Times Used to Count
B
                 Bunker Adjustment Factor. A Fuel Surcharge expressed as a
 BAF             percentage added or subtracted from the freight amount,
                 reflecting the movement in the market place price for
                 bunkers.
                 Heavy weight, often sea water, necessary for the
 BALLAST         stability and safety of a ship which is not carrying
                 cargo.
                 Bareboat Charter - Owners lease a specific ship and
 BAREBOAT CHTR.  control its technical management and commercial
                 operations only.
 BBB             Before Breaking Bulk
 BDI             Both Dates Inclusive
 BENDS           Both Ends (Load & Discharge Ports)
 BI              Both Inclusive
 BIMCO           The Baltic and International Council
 BL1             Bale

                 (Bill of Lading) A document signed by the carrier which
 BL2             acts as a Contract of Affreightment, a receipt and
                 evidence of title to the cargo.
 BM              Beam
 BEAM            The maximum breadth of a ship
 BOB             Bunker on Board
 BOFFER          Best Offer
 BROB            Bunkers Remaining on Board
 BSS             Basis
 BSS 1/1         Basis 1 Port to 1 Port
 BT              Berth Terms
                 This is the assembly of pieces of cargo, secured into one
                 manageable unit. This is relevant to items such as
 BUNDLING        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 truck.

 BUNKERS         Name given for vessels Fuel and Diesel Oil supplies
                 (Originates from coal bunkers)
 BWAD            Brackish Water Arrival Draft
C
 CBM             Cubic Meter
 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.
 CKD             Completely knocked down
                 Contract of Affreightment - Owners agree to accept a cost
 COA             per revenue tonne for cargo carried on a specific number
                 of voyages.
 COACP           Contract of Affreightment Charter Party
 COB             Closing of Business
 COD             Cas On Delivery
 COGSA           Carriage of Goods by Sea Act
 CONS            Consumption
 COP             Custom Of Port
 CP (or C/P)     Charter Party
 CPD             Charterers Pay Dues
 CPT             Carriage Paid To
 CQD             Customary Quick Despatch
 CR              Current Rate
 CROB            Cargo Remaining on Board
 CRN             Crane
 CST             Centistoke
 CTR             Container Fitted
D
 DAPS            Days all Purposes (Total days for loading & discharging)
                 Damages for Detention. Penalty if cargo is not ready when
 DAMFORDET       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.
 DDU             Delivered Duty unpaid.
 DDP             Delivered Duty Paid.
                 Demurrage (Quay Rent). Money paid by the shipper for the
 DEM             occupying port space beyond a specified _Free Time_
                 period.
 DESP            Despatch
 DET             Detention (See DAMFORDET)
 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)
 DO              Diesel Oil
 DOLSP           Dropping Off Last Sea Pilot (Norway)
 DOP             Dropping Outward Pilot
 DOT             Department of Transport

 DNRCAOSLONL     Discountless and Non-Returnable Cargo and/or Ship Lost or
                 Not Lost
                 Depth to which a ship is immersed in water. The depth
 DRAUGHT (or     varies according to the design of the ship and will be
 DRAFT)          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
                 Materials of various types, often timber or matting,
                 placed among the cargo for separation, and hence
 DUNNAGE         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.
E
 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
F
                 Free Alongside Ship. Seller delivers goods to appropriate
 FAS             dock or terminal at port of embarkation and buyer covers
                 costs and risks of loading.
                 Free to Carrier. A modern equivalent of FAS used in
 FCA             intermodal transport where goods are transferred at a
                 nominated forwarder premises, depot or terminal but not
                 actually put on board vessel.
 FDESP           Free Despatch
 FDD             Freight Demurrage Deadfreight
 FDIS            Free Discharge
 FEU             Standard 40_ Container
 FHEX            Fridays/Holidays Excluded
 FHINC           Fridays/Holidays Included

 FILO            Free In/Liner Out. Seafreight with which the shipper pays
                 load costs and the carrier pays for discharge costs.
                 Free In/Out. Freight booked FIO includes the seafreight,
 FIO             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 includes stowage
                 costs.
                 Free In/Out and Trimmed. Charterer pays for cost of
 FIOST           loading/discharging cargo, including stowage and
                 trimming.
                 Free In/Out and Trimmed. As per FIOS but includes
 FIOT            trimming, e.g. the levelling of bulk cargoes. FIOS
                 includes seafreight, but excludes loading/discharging and
                 stowage costs.
 FIT             Free In Trimmed
 FIW             Free In Wagon
 FIXING          Chartering a Vessel

 FLATPACKING     Cargo to be presented stacked and secured as an integral
                 unit.
 FMC             Federal Maritime Commission
 FMS             Fathoms
 FO (IFO)        Fuel Oil/Intermediate FO
                 Free on Board. Seller sees the goods _over the ship_s
 FOB             rail_ on to the ship which is arranged and paid for by
                 the buyer
 FOFFER          Firm Offer
 FOG             For Our Guidance
 FOQ             Free On Quay
 FOR             Free On Rail

 FORCE MAJEUR    Clause limiting responsibilities of the charterers,
                 shippers and receivers of cargo.
 FOT             Free On Truck
 FOW1            First Open Water

 FOW2            Free On Wharf

 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.
 FWAD            Fresh Water Arrival Draft
 FWDD            Fresh Water Departure Draft
 FYG             For Your Guidance
 FYI             For Your Information
G
 GA              General Average
 GLS             Gearless
 GNCN            Gencon (General Conditions)
 GN (or GR)      Grain (capacity)
 GO              Gas Oil
 GRD             Geared
 GRT             Gross Restricted Tonnage
 GSB             Good Safe Berth
 GSP             Good Safe Port
 GTEE            Guarantee
H
 2H              Second Half
 HA              Hatch
 HDWTS           Half Despatch Working (or Weather) Time Saved
 HHDW            Handy Heavy d.w. (scrap)
 HMS             Heavy Metal Scraps
 HO              Hold
 HW              High Water
I
 IMDG            International Maritime Dangerous Goods Code
 IMO             International Maritime Organisation
 IN&/OR OVER     Goods carried below or on deck
 IND             Indication

 INTERMODAL      Carriage of a commodity by different modes of transport,
                 i.e. sea, road, rail and air within a single journey.
 INCOTERMS       (Refer comments in covering letter)
 ITF             Complies on Crewing
 IU              If Used
 IUHTAUTC        If Used, Half Time Actually To Count
 IWL             Institute Warranty Limits
J
K
L
                 A method of measuring the space capacity of Ro/Ro ships
 LANE METER      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
 LOA             Length Overall of the vessel
 LOW             Last Open Water
 LS (or LUMPS)   Lumpsum
 LSD             Lashed Secured Dunnaged
 LT              Liner Terms
 LW              Low Water
 LYCN            Laycan (Layday Cancelling Date)
M
 MB              Merchant Broker
 MDO (DO)        Marine Diesel Oil
 MIN/MAX         Minimum/Maximum (cargo quantity)
 MOLCHOPT        More or Less Charterers Option
 MOLOO           More or Less Owners Option
 MT              Metric Tonne (i.e. 1,000 kilos)
 M/V             Motor Vessel
N
 NAABSA          Not Always Afloat But Safely Aground
 NCB             National Cargo Bureau
                 Implies that cargo is presented stacked in the contour of
 NESTING         similarly shaped cargo, it may be likened to a stack of
                 plates. This is particularly relevant in the presentation
                 of tankage strakes for transport.
                 (Detention). If loading completed sooner than expected,
 NON-REVERSIBLE  then saved days will not be added to discharge time
                 allowed.
 NOR             Notice of Readiness
 NRT             Net Restricted Tonnage
 NYPE            New York Produce Exchange
O
 OO              Owners Option
 OSH             Open Shelter Deck
 OWS             Owners
P
 PASTUS          Past Us
 PC              Period of Charter
 PCGO            Part Cargo
 PCT             Percent
 PDPR            Per Day Pro Rata
 PERDIEM         By the Day
 PER SE          By Itself
 PHPD            Per Hatch Per Day
 PRATIQUE        Licence or permission to use a port
 RCVR            Receivers
                 (Detention). If loading completed sooner than expected at
 REVERSIBLE      load port, then days saved can be added to discharge
                 operations.
 ROB             Remaining On Board
                 Revenue Tonne (i.e. 1.0 metric Tonne or 1.0 cubic meter,
                 whichever greater). The overall RT is calculated on a
 RT              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.
Q
S
 SATPM           Saturday P.M.
 SB              Safe Berth
 SD (or SID)     Single Decker
                 Costs charged for transporting goods over the sea. This
 SEAFREIGHT      does not cover any haulage or loading/discharging costs
                 but the sea transport only.
 SELFD           Self Discharging
 SEMI-TRAILERS   Are usually 12.0 meter flatbed road trailers

 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
                 Are bearers (timber or steel) positioned under cargo to
 SKIDS           enable fork lift handling at port, and for ease of
                 rigging and lashing on board ship.
 SL              Bale (capacity)
 SOC             Shipper Owned Container
 SOF             Statement Of Facts
 SP              Safe Port
                 Is the internal strengthening of circular tanks for
 SPIDERING       transport, this prevents the tanks becoming warped. The
                 tanks are strengthened with steel or wood crossbeams
                 giving a _spider_ appearance.
 SRBL            Signing and Releasing Bill of Lading
 SSHEX (or
 SATSHEX)        Saturdays, Sundays, Holidays Excluded
 SSHINC (or
 SATSHINC)       Saturdays, Sundays, Holidays Included
                 It is paramount that a vessel is stable in all respects
                 at all times. When cargo is loaded/discharged, the
 STABILITY       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)
 STERN           The aformost part of a ship
 SUB             Subject (to)
                 Person employed by a ship owner, shipping company,
 SUPERCARGO      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
                 Time Charter - Owners agree to hire a particular ship for
T
 TC              a set length of time and provide technical management,
                 crewing etc.
 TEU             Standard 20_ Container
 TTL             Total
 TW              Tween Decker
U
 USC             Unless Sooner Commenced
 UU              Unless Used
 UUIWCTAUTC      Unless Used In Which Case Time Actually Used To Count
V
 VPD             Vessel Pays Dues
W
 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          (distance) Water Line-To-Hatch Coaming
 WOG             Without Guarantee
 WPD             Weather Permitting Day
 WWD             Weather Working Day
 WRIC            Wire Rods In Coils
 WWR             When, Where Ready
 WWWW            Wibon, Wccon, Wifpon, Wipon
X
Y
 YAR             York Antwerp Rules
Z
 Z               UTC = GMT

 

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