AA

Always Afloat (In some ports the ship aground when approaching, or at berth.)

AAR

Abbreviation for:

- Against All Risks (insurance clause).

- Association of American Railroads.

Abaft

A point beyond the midpoint of a ships length, towards the rear or stern.

Abandon

A proceeding wherein a shipper/consignee seeks authority to abandon all or parts of their cargo.

Abatement

A discount allowed for damage or overcharge in the payment of a bill.

ABI

U.S. Customs' "Automated Broker Interface," by which brokers file importers' entries electronically.

Aboard

Referring to cargo being put, or laden, onto a means of conveyance.

Absorption

One carrier assumes the charges of another without any increase in charges to the shipper.

Acceptance

- A time draft (or bill of exchange) that the drawee (payer) has accepted and is unconditionally obligated to pay at maturity.

- Broadly speaking, any agreement to purchase goods under specified terms.

Accessorial Charges

Charges that are applied to the base tariff rate or base contract rate, e.g., bunkers, container, currency, destination/delivery.

Acquiescence

When a bill of lading is accepted or signed by a shipper or shipper's agent without protest, the shipper is said to acquiesce to the terms, giving a silent form of consent.

Acquittance

A written receipt in full, in discharge from all claims.

ACS (A.C.S.)

U.S. Customs' master computer system, "Automated Commercial Systems."

Act of God

An act beyond human control, such as lightning, flood or earthquake.

Ad Valorem

A term from Latin meaning, "according to value."

Administrative Law Judge

A representative of a government commission or agency vested with power to administer oaths, examine witnesses, take testimony, and conduct hearings of cases submitted to, or initiated by, that agency. Also called Hearing Examiner.

Admiralty (Adm.)

Refers to marine matters such as an Admiralty Court.

Advance

To move cargo up line to a vessel leaving sooner than the one booked. (See "Roll.")

Advanced Charge

Transportation charge advanced by one carrier to another to be collected by the later carrier from the consignor or consignee.

Adventure

Shipment of goods on shipper's own account. A bill of adventure is a document signed by the master of the ship that carries goods at owner' risk.

Advice of Shipment

A notice sent to a local or foreign buyer advising that shipment has gone forward and containing details of packing, routing, etc. A copy of the invoice is often enclosed and, if desired, a copy of the bill of lading.

Advising Bank

A bank operating in the seller's country, that handles letters of credit in behalf of a foreign bank.

Affreightment, Contract of

An agreement by an ocean carrier to provide cargo space on a vessel at a specified time and for a specified price to accommodate an exporter or importer.

Aft

Movement toward the stern (back end) of a ship.

Agency Tariff

A tariff published by an agent on behalf of several carriers.

Agent (Agt.)

A person authorized to transact business for and in the name of another person or company. Types of agent are:

(1) brokers,

(2) commission merchants,

(3) resident buyers,

(4) sales agents,

5) manufacturer's representatives.

Aggregate Shipment

Numerous shipments from different shippers to one consignee that are consolidated and treated as a single consignment.

Agreed valuation

The value of a shipment agreed upon in order to secure a specific freight rate.

Agreed Weight

The weight prescribed by agreement between carrier and shipper for goods shipped in certain packages or in a certain number.

A.I.D.

Agency for International Development.

Air Waybill

The forwarding agreement or carrying agreement between shipper and air carrier and is issued only in nonnegotiable form.

All In

The total price to move cargo from origin to destination, inclusive of all charges.

Alongside

A phrase referring to the side of a ship. Goods delivered "alongside" are to be placed on the dock or barge within reach of the transport ship's tackle so that they can be loaded.

Alternative Rates

Privilege to use the rate producing the lowest charge.

Ambient Temperature

The temperature of a surrounding body. The ambient temperature of a container is the atmospheric temperature to which it is exposed.

American Bureau of Shippin g

U.S. classification society which certifies seagoing vessels for compliance to standardized rules regarding construction and maintenance.

AMS

The U.S. Customs' "Automated Manifest System."

Anti-Dumping Duty

A tariff imposed to discourage sale of foreign goods, subsidized to sell at low prices detrimental to local manufacturers.

Any Quantity (A.Q.)

Usually refers to a rating that applies to an article regardless of size or quantity.

Apparent Good Order

When freight appears to be free of damage so far as a general survey can determine.

Appraisement

Determination of the dutiable value of imported merchandise by a Customs official who follows procedures outlined in their country's tariff, such as the U.S. Tariff Act of 1930.

Appraiser's Stores

The warehouse or public stores to which samples of imported goods are taken to be inspected, analyzed, weighed, etc. by examiners or appraisers.

Arbitrary

A stated amount over a fixed rate to one point to make a rate to another point.

Average

See insurance.

Arrival Notice

A notification by carrier of ship's arrival to the consignee, the "Notify Party," and - when applicable - the "Also Notify Party." These parties in interest are listed in blocks 3, 4 and 10, respectively, of the Bill of Lading.

ASC X12

American Standards Committee X12 responsible for developing EDI standards for the United States.

Assignment

A term commonly used in connection with a bill of lading. It involves the transfer of rights, title and interest in order to assign goods by endorsing the bill of lading.

Astern

- Behind a vessel

- Move in a reverse direction.

A.T.A.

American Trucking Association.

ATDNSHINC

Any time Day or Night Sundays & Holidays Included.

Athwartships

A direction across the width of a vessel.

Avoirdupois Pound

Same as 0.4535924277 kilograms.

AWWL

Always within Institute Warranties Limits (Insurance purpose).

BB

Ballast Bonus (Special payment above the Chartering price when the ship has to sail a long way on ballast to reach the loading port.)

BB

Bareboat (Method of chartering of the ship leaving the charterer with almost all the responsibilities of the owner.)

B/L

Abbreviation for "Bill of Lading."

Backhaul

To haul a shipment back over part of a route it has traveled.

BAF

Abbreviation for "Bunker Adjustment Factor." Used to compensate steamship lines for fluctuating fuel costs. Sometimes called "Fuel Adjustment Factor" or FAF.

Balloon Freight

Light, bulky articles.

Bank Guarantee

Guarantee issued by a bank to a carrier to be used in lieu of lost or misplaced original negotiable bill of lading.

Barrel (BBL)

A term of measure referring to 42 gallons of liquid at 60o F.

Base Rate

A tariff term referring to ocean rate less accessorial charges, or simply the base tariff rate.

BCO

Abbreviation for "Beneficial Cargo Owner." Refers to the importer of record, who physically takes possession of cargo at destination and does not act as a third party in the movement of such goods.

Beam

The width of a ship.

Belt Line

A switching railroad operating within a commercial area.

Beneficiary

- Entity to whom money is payable.

- The entity for whom a letter of credit is issued.

- The seller and the drawer of a draft.

Berth Terms

Shipped under rate that includes cost from end of ship's tackle at load port to end of ship's tackle at discharge port.

Beyond

Used with reference to charges assessed for cargo movement past a line-haul terminating point.

Bilateral

A contract term meaning both parties agree to provide something for the other.

Bill of Exchange

In the United States, commonly known as a "Draft." However, bill of exchange is the correct term.

Bill of Lading (B/L)

A document that establishes the terms of a contract between a shipper and a transportation company. It serves as a document of title, a contract of carriage and a receipt for goods.

- Amended B/L: B/L requiring updates that do not change financial status; this is slightly different from corrected B/L.

- B/L Terms & Conditions: the fine print on B/L; defines what the carrier can and cannot do, including the carrier's liabilities and contractual agreements.

- B/L's Status: represents whether the bill of lading has been input, rated, reconciled, printed, or released to the customer.

- B/L's Type: refers to the type of B/L being issued. Some examples are: a Memo (ME), Original (OBL), Nonnegotiable, Corrected (CBL) or Amended (AM) B/L.

- Canceled B/L: B/L status; used to cancel a processed B/L; usually per shipper's request; different from voided B/L.

- Clean B/L: A B/L which bears no superimposed clause or notation which declares a defective condition of the goods and/or the packaging.

- Combined B/L: B/L that covers cargo moving over various transports.

- Consolidated B/L: B/L combined or consolidated from two or more B/L's.

- Corrected B/L: B/L requiring any update which results in money  or other financially related changes.

- Domestic B/L: Non-negotiable B/L primarily containing routing details; usually used by truckers and freight forwarders.

- Duplicate B/L: Another original Bill of Lading set if first set is lost. also known as reissued B/L.

- Express B/L: Non-negotiable B/L where there are no hard copies of originals printed.

- Freight B/L: A contract of carriage between a shipper and forwarder (who is usually a NVOCC); a non-negotiable document.

- Government B/L (GBL): A bill of lading issued by the U.S. government.

- Hitchment B/L: B/L covering parts of a shipment which are loaded at more than one location. Hitchment B/L usually consists of two parts, hitchment and hitchment memo. The hitchment portion usually covers the majority of a divided shipment and carries the entire revenue.

- House B/L: B/L issued by a freight forwarder or consolidator covering a single shipment containing the names, addresses and specific description of the goods shipped.

- Intermodal B/L: B/L covering cargo moving via multimodal means. Also known as Combined Transport B/L, or Multimodal B/L.

- Long Form B/L: B/L form with all Terms & Conditions written on it. Most B/L's are short form which incorporate the long form clauses by reference.

- Memo B/L: Unfreighted B/L with no charges listed.

- Military B/L: B/L issued by the U.S. military; also known as GBL, or Form DD1252.

- B/L Numbers: U.S. Customs' standardized B/L numbering format to facilitate electronic communications and to make each B/L number unique.

- Negotiable B/L: The B/L is a title document to the goods, issued "to the order of" a party, usually the shipper, whose endorsement is required to effect is negotiation. Thus, a shipper's order (negotiable) B/L can be bought, sold, or traded while goods are in transit and is commonly used for letter-of-credit transactions. The buyer must submit the original B/L to the carrier in order to take possession of the goods.

- Non-Negotiable B/L: See Straight B/L. Sometimes means a file copy of a B/L.

- "Onboard" B/L: B/L validated at the time of loading to transport. Onboard Air, Boxcar, Container, Rail, Truck and Vessel are the most common types.

- Optional Discharge B/L: B/L covering cargo with more than one discharge point option possibility.

- "Order" B/L: See Negotiable B/L.

- Original B/L: The part of the B/L set that has value, especially when negotiable; rest of set are only informational file copies. Abbreviated as OBL.

- Received for Shipment B/L: Validated at time cargo is received by ocean carrier to commence movement but before being validated as "Onboard".

- Reconciled B/L: B/L set which has completed a prescribed number of edits between the shippers instructions and the actual shipment received. This produces a very accurate B/L.

- Short Term B/L: Opposite of Long Form B/L, a B/L without the Terms & Conditions written on it. Also known as a Short Form B/L. The terms are incorporated by reference to the long form B/L.

- Split B/L: One of two or more B/L's which have been split from a single B/L.

- Stale B/L: A late B/L; in banking, a B/L which has passed the time deadline of the L/C and is void.

- Straight (Consignment) B/L: Indicates the shipper will deliver the goods to the consignee. It does not convey title (non-negotiable). Most often used when the goods have been pre-paid.

- "To Order" B/L: See Negotiable B/L.

- Unique B/L Identifier: U.S. Customs' standardization: four-alpha code unique to each carrier placed in front of nine digit B/L number; APL's unique B/L Identifier is "APLU". Sea-land uses "SEAU". These prefixes are also used as the container identification.

- Voided B/L: Related to Consolidated B/L; those B/L's absorbed in the combining process. Different from Canceled B/L.

Bill of Lading Port of Discharge

Port where cargo is discharged from means of transport.

Bill of Sale

Confirms the transfer of ownership of certain goods to another person in return for money paid or loaned.

Bill to Party

Customer designated as party paying for services.

Billed Weight

The weight shown in a waybill and freight bill, i.e, the invoiced weight.

Blanket Bond

A bond covering a group of persons, articles or properties.

Blanket Rate

- A rate applicable to or from a group of points.

- A special rate applicable to several different articles in a single shipment.

Blanket Waybill

A waybill covering two or more consignments of freight.

Blind Shipment

A B/L wherein the paying customer has contracted with the carrier that shipper or consignee information is not given.

Block Stowage

Stowing cargo destined for a specific location close together to avoid unnecessary cargo movement.

Blocked Trains

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 (Dunnage) to keep shipments in place to prevent cargo shifting.

Bls.

Abbreviation for "Bales."

Board

To gain access to a vessel.

Board Feet

The basic unit of measurement for lumber. One board foot is equal to a oneinch board, 12 inches wide and one foot long. Thus, a board ten feet long, 12 inches wide, and one inch thick contains ten board feet.

Bobtail

Movement of a tractor, without trailer, over the highway.

Bogie

A set of wheels built specifically as rear wheels under the container.

Bolster

A device fitted on a chassis or railcar to hold and secure the container.

Bond Port

Port of initial Customs entry of a vessel to any country. Also known as First Port of Call.

Bonded Freight

Freight moving under a bond to U.S. Customs or to the Internal Revenue Service, and to be delivered only under stated conditions.

Bonded Warehouse

A warehouse authorized by Customs authorities for storage of goods on which payment of duties is deferred until the goods are removed.

Booking

Arrangements with a carrier for the acceptance and carriage of freight; i.e., a space reservation.

Booking Number

Reservation number used to secure equipment and act as a control number prior to completion of a B/L.

Bottom Side Rails

Structural members on the longitudinal sides of the base of the container.

Bottom-Air Delivery

A type of air circulation in a temperature control container. Air is pulled by a fan from the top of the container, passed through the evaporator coil for cooling, and then forced through the space under the load and up through the cargo. This type of airflow provides even temperatures.

Bow

The front of a vessel.

Boxcar

A closed rail freight car.

Break Bulk

- To unload and distribute a portion or all of the contents of a rail car, container, or trailer.

- Loose, non-containerized cargo.

Broken Stowage

- The loss of space caused by irregularity in the shape of packages.

- Any void or empty space in a vessel or container not occupied by cargo.

Broker

A person who arranges for transportation of loads for a percentage of the revenue from the load.

Brokerage

Freight forwarder/broker compensation as specified by ocean tariff or contract.

Bulk Cargo

Not in packages or containers; shipped loose in the hold of a ship without mark and count." Grain, coal and sulfur are usually bulk freight.

Bulk-Freight Container

A container with a discharge hatch in the front wall; allows bulk commodities to be carried.

Bulkhead

- A partition separating one part of a ship, freight car, aircraft or truck from another part.

Bull Rings

Cargo-securing devices mounted in the floor of containers; allow lashing and securing of cargo.

Bunker Charge

An extra charge sometimes added to steamship freight rates; justified by higher fuel costs. (Also known as Fuel Adjustment Factor or FAF.)

Bunkers

A Maritime term referring to Fuel used aboard the ship. Coal stowage areas aboard a vessel in the past were in bins or bunkers.

Bridge Point

An inland location where cargo is received by the ocean carrier and then moved to a coastal port for loading.

Bridge Port

A port where cargo is received by the ocean carrier and stuffed into containers but then moved to another coastal port to be waded on a vessel.