1. Main Terms
- Bill of Lading (B/L): A document that indicates the transport of goods by a shipping company and outlines the terms of transport.
- Freight: The cost of transporting goods, also known as freight charges.
- Charter Party: A contract for hiring a ship, an agreement between the shipowner and the charterer for renting the vessel.
- Demurrage: The fee paid for delays in loading or unloading goods.
- Laytime: The amount of time allowed for loading or unloading cargo.
- Hatch: The loading and unloading openings on the deck of a ship.
- Deadweight Tonnage (DWT): The ship’s cargo-carrying capacity measured in tons.
- Draft: The depth of water needed for a ship to float, the distance between the bottom of the ship and the waterline.
- Ballast: Weight used to stabilize the ship.
- Cargo Manifest: A document listing all the goods loaded on a ship.
- Port of Call: Ports where a ship stops during its voyage.
- Starboard: The right side of the ship when facing forward.
- Port Side: The left side of the ship when facing forward.
- Bow: The front of the ship.
- Stern: The back of the ship.
- Berth: The location where a ship docks in a port.
- Stevedore: A dockworker responsible for loading and unloading cargo.
- Container: A standardized box used for transporting goods.
- Vessel: A ship or any type of floating craft.
- Shipowner: The owner of the ship.
2. Terms Related to Operations
- Loading Port: The port where goods are loaded.
- Discharge Port: The port where goods are unloaded.
- On-Deck Cargo: Cargo that is carried on the deck of the ship.
- Under Deck Cargo: Cargo that is carried below the deck of the ship.
- Ship’s Agent: A person or company providing services like customs clearance, obtaining supplies for the ship, and handling port-related activities.
- NVOCC (Non-Vessel Operating Common Carrier): Companies that do not own ships but arrange for the transportation of goods.
- Draft Survey: The process of measuring changes in a ship’s draft to assess the weight of the cargo.
- Stowage Plan: A plan showing how cargo is arranged in the ship.
3. Terms Related to Documents
- Shipper: The person or company sending the goods.
- Consignee: The person or company receiving the goods.
- Invoice: A document detailing the goods and their costs.
- Packing List: A document outlining the contents of each package.
- Certificate of Origin: A document certifying the country of origin of the goods.
- Insurance Certificate: A document specifying the insurance coverage for the goods.
4. Terms Related to Types of Ships
- Bulk Carrier: A ship designed to carry bulk cargo like grain, coal, or iron ore.
- Container Ship: A ship designed to carry standardized containers.
- Tanker: A ship designed to carry liquids like oil or chemicals.
- RORO (Roll-on/Roll-off): Ships designed to load and unload vehicles without the need for cranes.
- Feeder Ship: A smaller ship that transfers cargo between local ports and larger ships.
These terms are useful for understanding shipping operations and activities and facilitate communication within the maritime industry.