A

Always Afloat
Abbreviation : AA
In some ports the ship aground when approaching, or at berth.

Against All Risks
Abbreviation : AAR
Insurance clause
See All Risks

Ab Initio
From the beginning.

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

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

Abandonment:
The right a marine assured has to abandon property in order to establish a constructive total loss. An underwriter is not obliged to accept abandonment, but if he does he accepts responsibility for the property and liabilities attaching thereto, in addition to being liable for the full sum insured.

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

Abeam
1). Alongside, near amidships.
2). For navigational purposes in the direction of a right angle to the ship's heading.

Able Bodied Seamen
A member of the deck crew who is able to perform all the duties of an experienced seamen; certified by examination; must have three years sea service. Also called Able Seamen and A.B.

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

ABS
See American Bureau of Shipping

Absorption
Acceptance by the carrier of a portion of a joint rate or charge which is less than the amount which it would receive for the service in the absence of such joint rate or charge.

Acceptance
1). A time draft (or bill of exchange) that the drawee (payer) has accepted and is unconditionally obligated to pay at maturity.
2). Broadly speaking, any agreement to purchase goods under specified terms.

Acceptance Credit:
A documentary credit which requires, amongst the documents stipulated, provision of a term bill of exchange. The bill is then generally accepted by the bank on which it is drawn or discounted.

Acceptance of Goods
The process of receiving a consignment from a consignor, usually against the issue of a receipt. As from this moment and on this place the carrier's responsibility for the consignment begins.

Acceptor:
The person who accepts a bill of exchange drawn on him/her. Until he accepts it, he is called the drawee. By accepting the bill, the acceptor undertakes to pay the person presenting the bill, the face value of the bill.

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

Accommodation ladder
Movable steps arranged temporary alongside e.g. a quay to allow access on board for officials, crew or passengers.

Accompanied Transport
The transport of complete road vehicles by another means of transport (e.g. train, ferry accompanied by the driver).

Acknowledgement of Receipt
A notification relating to the receipt of e.g. goods, messages and documents.

Act of God
Accidents of a nature beyond human control such as flood, lightning or hurricane usually quoted as 'force majeure'.

Actual Container Gross Weight:
Total weight of a container, i.e. the weight of the payload plus empty container weight, together with any loose internal fittings.

Actual Demand
Customer orders and often also the allocation of items, ingredients and/or raw materials to production or distribution.

Actual Pay Load:
The difference between the actual gross weight and the gross tare weight of a container.

Actual Total Loss:
This relates to an insurance policy and can occur in any of four ways:
1) The property is completely destroyed:
2) The owner is irretrievably deprived of the property:
3) Goods change their character to such a degree that they can be said to be no longer the thing insured by the policy:
4) The subject matter of the insurance, be it ship or goods on board the ship, is recorded as missing at Lloyd’s.

Actual Voyage Number
A code for identification purposes of the voyage and vessel which actually transports the container/cargo.

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.

Ad Valorem (Lat.):
According to the value. An ad valorum stamp on deeds or documents is one fixed in proportion to the amount of rent reserved or other element of value expressed in the deed.

Ad Valorum Duty:
A duty assessed as a percentage rate of the value of the imported merchandise.

Added Value
The value attributed to products, and services as the result of a particular process (e.g. production process, storage, transport).

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
Refers to marine matters such as an Admiralty Court.

Ad-measurement
The official dimensions of a ship.

Advance
A move cargo up line to a vessel leaving sooner than the one booked.
See ‘Roll."

Advance Arrangement
An agreement between the shipper and the carrier concerning contacts between those parties prior to tendering the consignment.

Advance Clause Credit:
These documentary credits incorporate a clause which authorises the advising bank to make an immediate payment to the beneficiary (exporter) of an amount up to the total of the credit, or some lesser nominated amount. [The Advance Clause facility thus authorises the beneficiary to draw up to the amount specified prior to producing the relative export shipping documents. In effect, it enable the beneficiary toobtain a loan from the advising bank, guaranteed by the buyer's bank, and to repay the loan with the proceeds of the drawing(s) made in terms of the credit.]

Advance Note:
A draft on a shipowner for wages, given to a seaman on signing Articles of Agreement and redeemable after the ship has sailed with the seaman on board.

Advance Payment Guarantee/Bond:
A guarantee that advance payments will be returned if the party having received such payments does not perform the contract.

Advanced Amount
Quantity of cash or cash equivalents expressed in a monetary amount given to a driver to cover expenses during a trip.

Advanced Charge
A charge paid by a carrier to an agent or to another carrier, which the delivering carrier then collects from the consignee. Such charges are usually for agents' forwarding fees and incidental expenses paid out of pocket for account of the shipment by an agent or other carrier.

Advanced Interline
An interline carrier that picks up cargo from the shipper and delivers it to another carrier for shipment to the 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 Note
A written piece of information e.g. about the status of the goods.

Advice of Fate:
A request for advice of status of payment/non-payment (acceptance/ non-acceptance) of a bill of exchange.

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:
The bank that notifies the exporter of the opening of a documentary credit in their favour. The advising bank, usually located in the exporter's country, fully informs the exporter of the conditions of the documentary credit without obligation on its part.

Aeroquip System
Special accessories in a container consisting of among others the attachment rails on the inside walls to provide facilities for lashing and separation of the cargo.

Affidavit:
A written declaration on oath.

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
In, near, or toward the stern of the vessel.

Agency Fee
A fee charged to the ship by the ship's agent, representing payment for services while the ship was in port. Sometimes called attendance fee.

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

Agent
A person or organization authorized to act for or on behalf of another person or organization. The following functions and responsibilities may apply to the activities of an agent.
1). Sales
Marketing, acquisition of cargo, and issuing quotations.

2). Bookings
Booking of cargo in accordance with allotments assigned to the agent for a certain voyage.

3). Customs
Dealing with the national customs administration for cargo declarations, manifest alterations and cargo clearance .

4). Documentation
Responsible for timeliness and correctness of all documentation required, regarding the carriage of cargo.

5). Handling
Taking care of all procedures connected with physical handling of cargo.

6). Equipment control
Managing of all equipment stock in a particular area.

7). Issuing
Authorized to sign and issue Bills of Lading and other transport documents.

8). Collecting
Authorized to collect freight and charges.

9). Delivery
The agent those releases the cargo and is responsible for its delivery to the consignee.

10). Handling of cargo claims
Handling of cargo claims as per agency contract.

11). Husbanding
Handling non-cargo related operations of a vessel as instructed by the master, owner or charterer.

Aggregate Inventory
The inventory for any group of items or products, involving multiple stock-keeping units.

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.

AGVS
Automated guided vehicle system.

AID
Agency for International Development.

AIMS
American Institute of Merchant Shipping.

Air Container
Any unit load device, primarily intended for transport by air, having an internal volume of 1 m3 or more, incorporating restraint provisions compatible with an aircraft restraint system, and an entirely flush base bottom to allow handling on roller-bed cargo handling systems.

Air Waybill
Abbreviation: AWB
A document made out by or on behalf of the carrier(s) confirming receipt of the goods by the carrier and evidencing the contract between the shipper and the carrier(s) for the carriage of goods as described therein. Normally completed in triplicate with a copy each for the Consignor, Consignee and the Carrier. An Air Waybill is not a document of title to goods in the same manner as a bill of lading.
See Air Consignment Note:

All Containership:
Vessel designed to carry containers only and no other cargo.
See Cellular Vessel

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

All Risks:
An insurance term which means that the policy covers the insured property for loss caused by any fortuity. The policy does not cover inevitable loss.

Allision
The act if striking or collision of a moving vessel against a stationary object.

Allocation
The process of assigning activities, costs or facilities e.g. space to a certain organizational units.

Allotment
A share of the capacity of a means of transport assigned to a certain party, e.g. a carrier or an agent, for the purpose of the booking of cargo for a specific voyage.

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.

Always Afloat
Abbreviation : AA
Provision in a charter party, that the vessel must remain afloat at all times when unloading and discharging.

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

AMC
American Maritime Congress.

American Bureau of Shipping
Abbreviation: ABS
American classification society which has established rules and regulations for the classification of seagoing vessels or equipment.

Amidships
Generally speaking the word amidships means in the middle portion of a vessel.

Anchor
Device for temporary securing a ship or floating structure to the seabed by means of a chain or cable and a weight with movable extensions (arms)

And arrival:
A term relating to return of premiums on a hull policy. The ship must be safe at expiry of the policy: otherwise no return of premium will be paid.

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.

API
American Petroleum Institute.

Apparel
1. A vessel's outfit, such as rigging, anchor and lifeboats.
2. The term used in distribution/transport of clothing for a single piece of clothing, a garment.

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

Application to take on Board Ship's Stores:
A document presented to Customs to apply to take on board underbond goods (alcohol and tobacco products) as stores for a vessel.

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.

Approved Continuous Examination Program
Abbreviation: ACEP
An agreement between the owners of the equipment and the responsible governmental body to allow continuous examination of the equipment (e.g. containers).

Apron
See Platform

Arbitration
The process of referring to an agreed person for judgement on issues of dispute, without requiring the use of courts.

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

Area Code
A code for the area where a container is situated.

Area Off Hire Lease
Geographical area where a leased container becomes off hire.

Area Off Hire Sublease
Geographical area where a sub-leased container becomes off hire.

Area On Hire Lease
Geographical area where a leased container becomes on hire.

Area On Hire Sublease
Geographical area where a sub-leased container becomes on hire.

Area of Repair
Geographical area where a container is under repair.

Arrest:
The detention of a vessel until the purpose of the arrest has been fulfilled.

Arrival Date
The date on which goods or a means of transport is due to arrive at the delivery site of the transport.

Arrival Notice
A notice sent by a carrier to a nominated notify party advising of the arrival of a certain shipment or consignment.

Articles Of Agreement
The document containing all particulars relating to the terms of agreement between the Master of the vessel and the crew. Sometimes called ship's articles, shipping articles.

Articles Dangereux de Route
Abbreviation: ADR
A European agreement concerning the international carriage of dangerous goods by road.

Assembly
The stage of production in which components are put together into an end product appropriate to the process concerned.

Assessor:
A person who officially estimates the value of goods for the purpose of apportioning the sum payable in the settlement of claims.

Assignment
The transfer of certain rights from one party to another.

Astern
A backward direction in the line of a vessel's fore and aft line; behind. If a vessel moves backwards it is said to move astern; opposite to ahead.

ATDNSHINC
Any time Day or Night Sundays & Holidays Included.

Athwartships
A direction across the width of a vessel.

At Sea
In marine insurance this phrase applies to a ship which is free from its moorings and ready to sail.

Audit
A methodical examination and review of a situation or condition (as within a business enterprise) concluding with a detailed report of findings.

Audit Trail
A record of events, such as system access, network load, unsuccessful log-on attempts, that might have some significance for an investigation.

Authentication
Proof by means of a signature or otherwise that a certain document or certain data is of undisputed origin and genuine.

Authorised Consignee / Consignor
A trader authorised by the European Commission (regulation 2454/93) to receive or despatch consignments under transit procedures without having to present goods and documents directly at the customs office.

Authorization
The commission to a certain person or body to act on behalf of another person or body. The person or body can be authorised e.g. to issue Bills of Lading or to collect freight.

Auto Container
Container equipped for the transportation of vehicles.

Automated Guided Vehicle System
Unmanned vehicles equipped with automatic guidance equipment which follow a prescribed path, stopping at each necessary station for automatic or manual loading or unloading.

Automatic Identification
A means of identifying an item e.g. a product, parcel or transport unit by a machine (device) entering the data automatically into a computer. The most widely used technology at present is bar code; others include radio frequency, magnetic stripes and optical character recognition.

Automatic Identification Manufacturers
Abbreviation: AIM
International Organisation of companies and/or associations involved or interested in automatic identification.

Automatic Pilot
An instrument designed to control automatically a vessel's steering gear so that she follows a pre-determined track through the water.

Average
1. In marine insurance: a loss or damage to or in respect of goods or equipment.
2. The numerical result obtained by dividing the sum of two or more quantities by the number of quantities.

Average Adjuster:
A person appointed by a shipowner to collect data, guarantees, etc., in relation to general average, and to calculate contributions due from the parties concerned to make good general average losses. The adjuster may also adjust claims on hull insurance policies on behalf of underwriters.

Average Bond:
An agreement signed by all interested parties acknowledging their liability to pay a share of the loss under General Average.(G.A.)

Average Disbursements:
Expenditure incurred by the shipowner in connection with a general average act or an act of salvage. Such expenditure, when properly incurred, is recoverable from the G.A. or salvage fund created by the average adjuster, not from hull underwriters

Avoidance:
The right of an underwriter to avoid a contract of marine insurance. This can occur in the event of a breach of good faith by the assured or by his broker or, in the case of a voyage policy, where the voyage does not commence within a reasonable time after acceptance of the risk by the underwriter.

Avoirdupois Pound
Same as 0.4535924277 kilograms.

Award:
In marine insurance, the decision given by an arbitrator, to whom a matter in dispute has been referred. An arbitrator states only the effect of his decision, without reasons thus differing from a judge, who usually states the grounds of his judgment.

Aweigh
Description of the situation when the anchor has just been lifted from the seabed

Awning
Light structure with canvas or wooden covering rigged above an open space to provide protection from sun or rain.