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Contents
Abb. used in vessel's descriptions
Bill of Lading Clauses
Examples of ship’s certificates
Charters parties & B/L forms
RMRS symbols
Maritime organizations links
Below documents are in
RUSSIAN language only:
Common abbreviations
SI measurement units
Miscellaneous units
Ship's characteristics
Navigation
Communication
Power and propulsion systems:
  - internal combustion engines
  - steam boilers
  - electrical equipment
  - repair
  - refrigeration plants
  - auxiliary engines
  - fuel and lubes
  - materials science
Ship's theory
Security
Classification of cargoes
Information on containers
Incoterms

Common English abbreviation and terms used in descriptions of vessels

Abbreviation Explanation
2H Second Half
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
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)
ABS American Bureau of Shipping
ABT About
ADCOM Address Commission
ADDENDUM Additional chartering terms at the end of a charter party
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
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
AS Annual survey
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
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
ATUTC Actual Times Used to Count
AUX Auxiliary engine
AWB Air waybill
B.P. Between perpendiculars
B/L (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.
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
BC Bulk Carrier
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)
BHP Brake horse power
BI Both Inclusive
BIMCO The Baltic and International Maritime Council
BL Bale
BLT Built
BM Beam
BN Booking Note
BOB Bunker on Board
BOFFER Best Offer
BOW The forward part of a ship
BOWTHR Bowthruster
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
BV Bureau Veritas
BWAD Brackish Water Arrival Draft
C.O.  Certificate of Origin - a signed statement from a semiofficial organization certifying the origin of an export item, required by certain nations.
CAF Currency Adjustment Factor. A fee applied to the shipping costs to compensate for exchange rate fluctuations.
CAP Capacity
CBFT (or CFT) Cubic Feet
CBM Cubic Metres
CBM (CUM) Cubic metre
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.
CIP Carriage and Insurance paid to...
CKD Completely knocked down
CNEE CONSIGNEE. Name of agent, company or person receiving consignment
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
CONGESTION Port/berth delays
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, Crane
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
CST Centistoke
CTR Container Fitted
D 1. Due 2. Derrick
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)
DBDS (Double/Double) Double bottom / double sides
DD Drydocking
DDP Delivered Duty Paid.
DDU Delivered Duty unpaid.
DECK A permanent covering over a compartment, hull or any part thereof
DELY Delivery
DEM Demurrage (Quay Rent). Money paid by the shipper for the occupying port space beyond a specified "Free Time" period.
DEQ Delivered Ex Quay
DERR Derrick
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
DIMS Dimensions
DISCH Discharge
DISPL Displacement
DK Deck
DLOSP Dropping Last Outwards Sea Pilot (Norway)
DNRCAOSLONL Discountless and Non-Returnable Cargo and/or Ship Lost or Not Lost
DNV Det Norske Veritas
DO Diesel Oil
DOLSP Dropping Off Last Sea Pilot (Norway)
DOP Dropping Outward Pilot
DOT Department of Transport
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.
DRFT Draft
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 Deadweight all told
DWAT (or DWT) Deadweight. Weight of cargo, stores and water, i.e. the difference between lightship and loaded displacement.
DWCC Deadweight cargo capacity
DWT  Deadweight
EBB A receeding current
EC East Coast
EIU Even If Used
ELVENT Electric Ventilation
ETA Estimated Time of Arrival - the projected date and time a shipment is scheduled to arrive at its destination.
ETC Estimated Time of Completion
ETD Estimated Time of Departure - the projected date and time a shipment is scheduled to depart from the port/airport of origin.
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.
FCL  Full Container Load - a container that is fully loaded by cargo, occupying all space, or loaded to the maximum permissable weight. It can contain cargo from multiple shippers, but normally is consigned to the same consignee. The shipment is expected to be delivered to the consignee with the shipper's seal intact.
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 Standard 40’ Container, forty-foot equivalent unit, a standard size intermodal 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
FO 1 - For Orders, 2 - Free Out
FO (IFO) Fuel Oil/Intermediate FO
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
FOW First Open Water
FOW Free On Wharf
FP Free Pratique. Clearance by the Health Authorities
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. Money payable on delivery of cargo in a mercantile condition
FRUSTRATION Charterers when cancelling agreement sometimes quote 'doctrine of frustration' i.e. vessel is lost, extensive delays.
FT Foot / feet
FWAD Fresh Water Arrival Draft
FWDD Fresh Water Departure Draft
FYG For Your Guidance
FYI For Your Information
GA General Average
GEAR A general term for ropes, blocks, tackle and other equipment
GL Germanischer Lloyd
GLS (GLESS) Gearless
GMDSS Global Maritime Distress Safety System
GN (or GR) Grain (Capacity)
GNCN Gencon (GENERAL CONDITIONS)
GO Gas Oil
GP Grain Capacity. Cubic capacity in 'grain'
GR Geographical Rotation. Ports in order of calling
GR Grain
GRC Greek
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
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
HO/HA Holds/Hatches
HOLD A compartment below deck in a large vessel, used solely for carrying cargo
HR Hour
HRS Hellenic Register of Shipping
HULL The main body of a ship
HW High Water
ICE STR Ice strengthened
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
IGS Inert Gas System
IMDG International Maritime Dangerous Goods Code
IMO International Maritime Organisation
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 (P) Intermediate Survey (passed)
INTERMODAL Carriage of a commodity by different modes of transport, i.e. sea, road, rail and air within a single journey
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
KEEL The centreline of a ship running fore and aft; the backbone of a vessel
KN (K) Knots
KNOT A measurement of speed equal to one nautical mile (6,076 feet) per hour
KW Kilowatt
L/C Letter of Credit
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
LBP Length between perpendiculars
LCL  Less than Container Load - a shipment that takes up only a portion of a consolidated container. LCL shpts are to be picked up at a CFS only, whereas FCL are to be picked up at a container yard/terminal.
LCR Lowest Current Rate
LCT 1. Landing Craft 2. Locally controlled tonnage
LDT Light displacement tonnage
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%
LIEN Retention of property until outstanding debt is paid
LNG Liquefied Natural Gas
LOA Length over all
LOA Length Overall of the vessel
LOAD LINE See PLIMSOLL LINE
LOF Lloyds Open Form
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
LR (LRS) Lloyd’s Register of Shipping
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 Liner Terms
LT Long Ton = 1,016.05 kilogram (2,240 lbs)
LTHH Liner Terms Hook/Hook
LW Low Water
LYCN Laycan (Layday Cancelling Date)
M/E Main engine
M/V Motor Vessel / Merchant Vessel
MANIFEST Inventory of cargo on board
MB Merchant Broker
MDO (DO) Marine Diesel Oil
MGO Marine gasoil
MIDSHIP Approximately in the location equally distant from the bow and stern
MIN/MAX Minimum/Maximum (cargo quantity)
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
MRS (RS) Maritime Register of Shipping
MT Mertic Tonne (i.e. 1,000 kilos)
MT (MTS) Metric tons
MTA Malta
MTDW Metric tons deadweight
MTR Metre
MV (M/V) Motor vessel
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
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
NIS Norwegian International Register
NK Nippon Kaiji Kyokei
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 register tons
NRT Net Restricted Tonnage
NYPE New York Produce Exchange
O.A. Over all
OBO Ore/Bulk/Oil Vessel
OO Owners Option
OSH Open Shelter Deck
OVERBOARD Over the side or out of the ship
OWS Owners
P&I Protection and Indemnity Insurance
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 alt. PLIMSOLL LINE  alt.  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.
PPT Prompt
PRATIQUE Licence or permission to use a port
PREAMBLE Introduction to a charter party
PROFORMA Estimated Account
PRS Polski rejestr statkow
PUS Plus Us
PWWD Per Weather Working Day
RCVR Receiver
RECAP Recapitulation of the terms and conditions agreed
REVERSIBLE (Detention). If loading completed sooner than expected at load port, then days saved can be added to discharge operations.
ROB Remaining On Board
RS See MRS
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.
SATPM Saturday P.M.
SB Safe Berth
SBT Segregated ballast tanks
SD (or SID) Single Decker
SDBC Single deck bulk carrier
SDWT Summer deadweight
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
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.
SID или SINGLE Singledecker
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
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
SQMTR Square Metre
SRBL Signing and Releasing Bill of Lading
SS Special Survey
SS P Special Survey passed
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
StSt или SS Stainless Steel
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/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
TDW Tons of Deadweight
TEU Standard 20' Container, twenty-foot equivalent unit, a standard size intermodal container.
TEU Twenty-foot Equipment Unit
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
TKS Tanks
TOPSIDES The sides of a ship between the waterline and the deck; sometimes referring to onto or above the deck
TRIM Fore and aft balance of a ship
TTL Total
TW Tween Decker
TWEEN Tweendecker
TWPH Tonnes of water per hour
USC Unless Sooner Commenced
UU Unless Used
UUIWCTAUTC Unless Used In Which Case Time Actually Used To Count
VPD Vessel Pays Dues
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
WWD Weather Working Day
WWR When, Where Ready
WWWW Wibon, Wccon, Wifpon, Wipon
YAR York Antwerp Rules
YAW To swing or steer off course, as when running with a quartering sea
Z UTC = GMT