| ABBREVIATION | MEANING / SIGNIFICATION | ||||||||||||
| 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 | ||||||||||||
| 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 | ||||||||||||
| AFSPS | Arrival First Sea Pilot Station (Norway) | ||||||||||||
| 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 | ||||||||||||
| AHL | Australian Hold Ladders | ||||||||||||
| 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 | ||||||||||||
| 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 | ||||||||||||
| A/S | Alongside | ||||||||||||
| ASBA | American Shipbrokers Association | ||||||||||||
| 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 | ||||||||||||
| ATHWARTSHIPS | At right angles to the centreline of the ship | ||||||||||||
| 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 | ||||||||||||
| 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 | The Baltic and International Maritime Council | ||||||||||||
| BL1 | Bale | ||||||||||||
| 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 | ||||||||||||
| 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 | ||||||||||||
| 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 | ||||||||||||
| CAF | Currency Adjustment Factor | ||||||||||||
| CBM | Cubic Metres | ||||||||||||
| CBFT (or CFT) | Cubic Feet | ||||||||||||
| CFR (or C&F) | Cost and Freight | ||||||||||||
| CHART | A map used by navigators | ||||||||||||
| 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 | ||||||||||||
| 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 | ||||||||||||
| COBLDN | Closing of Business London | ||||||||||||
| COD | Cash On Delivery | ||||||||||||
| COGSA | Carriage of Goods by Sea Act | ||||||||||||
| CONGESTION | Port/berth delays | ||||||||||||
| CONS | Consumption | ||||||||||||
| C/SNEE | CONSIGNEE. Name of agent, company or person receiving consignment | ||||||||||||
| 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 | ||||||||||||
| CRT | Cargo Retention Clauses, introduced by charterers based on shortage of delivered cargo because of increased oil prices | ||||||||||||
| CST | Centistoke | ||||||||||||
| CTR | Container Fitted | ||||||||||||
| DA | Disbursement Account | ||||||||||||
| DAF | Deliver At Frontier | ||||||||||||
| DAPS | Days all Purposes (Total days for loading & discharging) | ||||||||||||
| 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. | ||||||||||||
| DDU | Delivered Duty unpaid. | ||||||||||||
| 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 | ||||||||||||
| 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 | ||||||||||||
| 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 | ||||||||||||
| 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. | ||||||||||||
| EBB | A receeding current | ||||||||||||
| 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 | ||||||||||||
| FAC | Fast as can | ||||||||||||
| 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. | ||||||||||||
| 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 | ||||||||||||
| 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. | ||||||||||||
| 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 | ||||||||||||
| 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 | ||||||||||||
| FO1 | For Orders | ||||||||||||
| FO2 (IFO) | Fuel Oil/Intermediate FO | ||||||||||||
| FO3 | Free Out | ||||||||||||
| 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 | ||||||||||||
| 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 | ||||||||||||
| FOW1 | First Open Water | ||||||||||||
| FOW2 | Free On Wharf | ||||||||||||
| FP | Free Pratique. Clearance by the Health Authorities | ||||||||||||
| FR | First Refusal. First attempt at best offer that can be matched | ||||||||||||
| 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 EXINS | Free of any Extra Insurance (Owners) | ||||||||||||
| FREE OUT | Free of discharge costs to owners. Includes seafreight only. | ||||||||||||
| 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 |
Dry Bulk Shipping News - Shipbroker Notes