| Accreditation |
Certification
by duly recognized body of the facilities,
capability, objectivity, competence, and integrity
of an agency, service, or operational group
or individual to provide the specific service
or operation needed. For example, the Registrar
Accreditation Board accredits those organizations
that register companies to the ISO 9000 series
standards. |
| Ad Valorem |
In
proportion to the value. |
| Agent (Agt.) |
A
person authorized to transact business for,
and in the name of, another person or company. |
| Air WayBill |
An
AWB is a bill of lading which covers both
domestic and international flights transporting
goods to a specified destination. Technically,
it is a non-negotiable instrument of air transport
which serves as a receipt for the shipper,
indicating that the carrier has accepted the
goods listed therein and obligates itself
to carry the consignment to the airport of
destination according to specified conditions.
Normally AWB refers to the Air Waybill issued
by carrying airlines and also called Master
Air Waybill (MAWB) which comes with three
digits of numeric airline identification codes
issued by IATA to non-U.S. based airlines
and Air Transport Association of America to
U.S. based airlines. |
| Air WayBill |
An
AWB is a bill of lading which covers both
domestic and international flights transporting
goods to a specified destination. Technically,
it is a non-negotiable instrument of air transport
which serves as a receipt for the shipper,
indicating that the carrier has accepted the
goods listed therein and obligates itself
to carry the consignment to the airport of
destination according to specified conditions.
Normally AWB refers to the Air Waybill issued
by carrying airlines and also called Master
Air Waybill (MAWB) which comes with three
digits of numeric airline identification codes
issued by IATA to non-U.S. based airlines
and Air Transport Association of America to
U.S. based airlines. |
| Aircraft Container |
A
unit load device (ULD) which links directly
with the airplane cargo handling and restraint
system. |
| Aircraft Container |
A
unit load device (ULD) which links directly
with the airplane cargo handling and restraint
system. |
| AMS |
Automated
Manifest System. An application that
expedites the clearance of cargo for the subsequent
release of containers when imported to the
U.S. through electronic submission of cargo
manifests in lieu of bulk paper manifests.
|
| Arrival notice |
An
advice that the carrier sends to the consignee
advising of goods coming forward for delivery.
Pertinent information such as BL number, container
number and total charges due from consignee
etc, are included and sent to consignee prior
to vessel arrival. This is done gratuitously
by the carrier to ensure smooth delivery but
there is no obligation by the carrier to do
so. The responsibility to monitor the transit
and present himself to take timely delivery
still rests with the consignee. |
| ASEAN |
The
Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)
agreed in January 1992 to create a free trade
area (ASEAN Free Trade Area, or AFTA) with
use of a common effective preferential tariff.
Under the agreement ASEAN members will cut
tariff rates within 15 years of its start
date of January 1994. Manufactured goods from
15 sectors designated as "fast track"
are subject to tariff reduction to 0-5 percent
within 10 years, and seven years if the starting
rates were already below 20 percent. "Fast
track" sectors include vegetable oils,
cement, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, fertilizer,
plastics, rubber products, leather products,
pulp, textiles, ceramic and glass products,
gems and jewelry, copper cathodes, electronics,
and wooden and ratan furniture |
| Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) |
APEC,
established in November 1989, is an informal
grouping of Asia Pacific countries that provides
a forum for Ministerial level discussion of
a broad range of economic issues. APEC includes
the six ASEAN countries (Brunei, Indonesia,
Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, and Thailand),
plus: Australia, Canada, China, Hong Kong,
Japan, New Zealand, South Korea, Taiwan, and
the United States. |
| ATA |
Actual
Time of Arrival |
| ATD |
Actual
Time of Departure |
| Automated Broker Interface (ABI) |
ABI,
a part of Customs' Automated Commercial System,
permits transmission of data pertaining to
merchandise being imported into the United
States. Qualified participants include brokers,
importers, carriers, port authorities, and
independent data processing companies referred
to as service centers. |
| Automated Clearinghouse
|
The
Automated Clearinghouse (ACH) is a feature
of the Automated Broker Interface which is
a part of Customs' Automated Commercial System.
The ACH combines elements of bank lock box
arrangements with electronic funds transfer
services to replace cash or check for payment
of estimated duties, taxes, and fees on imported
merchandise. |
| Awkward cargo |
Cargo
of irregular size that can either be containerized
(packed in container) or non-containerized
(without equipment associated with) during
transportation. It requires prior approval
on a case by case basis before confirmation
of booking. |
| Axle load |
Maximum
load permitted to be carried on each axle
of a motor vehicle. |
| Bank Release |
Negotiable
time draft drawn on and accepted by a bank
which adds its credit to that of an importer
of merchandise |
| Banker's Acceptance
|
A
banker's acceptance is a draft drawn on and
accepted by a bank. Depending on the bank's
creditworthiness, the acceptance becomes a
financial instrument which can be discounted.
|
| Banker's Draft |
Draft
payable on demand and drawn by or on behalf
of the bank itself; it is regarded as cash
and cannot be returned unpaid. |
| Banker's Guarantee |
An
assurance, obtained from a bank by a foreign
purchaser; that the bank will pay an exporter
up to a given amount for goods shipped if
the foreign purchaser defaults. |
| Bill of lading (B/L) |
Official
legal document representing ownership of cargo,
a negotiable document to receive cargo, and
the contract for cargo between the shipper
and the carrier. |
| Block train |
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. |
| Bls. |
Bales.
A kind of customary packing unit. |
| Bobtail |
Movement
of a tractor, without trailer, over the highway. |
| Bona fide |
In
good faith. |
| Booking number |
A
reference number for bookings registered.
It should be unique without duplication for
a three-year period. |
| Bow |
The
front of a vessel. |
| Box |
Common
term for an ocean going freight container. |
| Boxcar |
A
closed freight car. |
| BPS |
Business
Process and Systems - section within ISD responsible
for implementation of IRIS-2 and user support
in system and business processes. |
| Break Bulk (B/B) |
For
consolidated air freight, it is moved under
one MAWB and each consignment designated to
specific consignee or receipant is under one
HAWB. When freight forwarder receives the
consolidated cargo from carrier, they will
break the consolidation apart per HAWB then
proceed customs clearance along with associated
shipping and import documents. Such Break-Bulk
is normally handled by airlines or their contracted
ground handling agent. |
| Break-bulk cargo |
Goods
shipped loose in the vessel’s hold and not
in a container. |
| British Thermal Unit (BTU) |
The
amount of heat required to produce a temperature
change of one degree Fahrenheit in one pound
of water. |
| Bulk carriers |
A
vessel carrying dry, liquid, grain, not packaged,
bundled or bottled cargo, and is loaded without
marks & number or count. |
| Bull rings |
Cargo-securing
devices mounted in the floor of containers;
allow lashing and securing of cargo. |
| Bunker surcharge (BAF, BSC) |
Bunker
Adjustment factor (BAF), or Bunker Surcharge
(BSC) are surcharges assessed by the carrier
to freight rates to reflect current cost of
bunker. |
| Bunkers |
Heavy
oil used as fuel for ocean vessels. |
| C.A.F. |
Currency
Adjustment Factor. Surcharge percentage applied
to freight rates to reflect currency fluctuations. |
| C.B.M. (C.M.) |
Cubic
meter. |
| C.K.D. |
Abbreviation
for Cars Knocked Down. Automobile parts
and subassemblies manufactured abroad and
transported to a designated assembly plant.
A classification of Third Party International
shippers. See Knocked Down. |
| C.O.D. |
Collect
(cash) on Delivery; Carried on Docket (pricing);
Change of Destination. |
| Cargo manifest |
A
manifest that lists only cargo, without freight
and charges. |
| Carriage Paid To |
Carriage
paid to (CPT) and carriage and insurance paid
to (CIP) a named place of destination. Used
in place of CFR and CIF, respectively for
shipment by modes other than water. |
| Carrier |
Any
individual, company or corporation engaged
in transporting goods. |
| Cash Against Document |
A
term denoting that payment is made when the
bill of lading is presented. |
| Cash Against Document |
A
term denoting that payment is made when the
bill of lading is presented. |
| Cash On Delivery |
COD
means payment to be made upon the delivery
of goods. |
| Cash With Order |
CWO
is a means of payment in which the buyer pays
cash when ordering; the order is binding on
both seller and buyer. |
| Cells |
The
construction system employed in container
vessels; permits below ship containers to
be stowed in a vertical line with each container
supporting the one above it. |
| Cellular vessel |
A
vessel designed with internal ribbing to permit
the support of stacked containers. |
| Certificate of Inspection |
A
document certifying that merchandise (such
as perishable goods) was in good condition
immediately prior to shipment. Pre-shipment
inspection is a requirement for importation
of goods into many developing countries. |
| Certificate of Inspection |
A
document certifying that merchandise (such
as perishable goods) was in good condition
immediately prior to shipment. Pre-shipment
inspection is a requirement for importation
of goods into many developing countries. |
| Certificate of Manufacture |
A
document (often notarized) in which a producer
of goods certifies that the manufacturing
has been completed and the goods are now at
the disposal of the buyer. |
| Certificate of origin |
Document
certifying the country of origin of goods
which is normally issued or signed by a Chamber
of Commerce or Embassy. |
| Certificate of Origin |
Certain
nations require a signed statement as to the
origin of the export item. Such certificates
are usually obtained through a semiofficial
organization such as a local chamber of commerce.
A certificate may be required even though
the commercial invoice contains the information. |
| CFC's (Chlorofluorocarbons) |
Chemical
compounds containing mixtures of carbon, chlorine
and fluorine molecules. Because of their stability,
lack of flammability and ability to absorb
and give up heat readily, CFC's have in the
past been popular refrigerants. However, CFC's
have been found to contribute to the deterioration
of the ozone layer of the upper atmosphere,
which is a condition believed to be hazardous
to global health. These compounds should not
be released into the atmosphere, but should
be carefully collected for recycling. Production
of CFC's is being phased out by an international
convention, the Montreal Protocol. |
| CFS/CFS |
A
kind of cargo movement by container. Delivered
loose at origin point with vanning by carrier,
devanned by carrier at destination, and picked
up loose at destination. |
| Chassis |
A
wheeled flat bed or a trailer constructed
to accommodate containers moved over the road. |
| CIF |
A
price term commonly used in International
Trade practise, meaning price quoted including
cost of goods, cost of insurance covering
the risk of goods during its transportation
and associated transportation fee. Normally
it comes with destination and means of transportation
ie. air or sea. (Example: CIF Osaka Airport) |
| Closing date |
Last
day on which export cargo can be accepted
for a nominated sailing. |
| Commercial Invoice |
The
commercial invoice is a bill for the goods
from the seller to the buyer. These invoices
are often used by governments to determine
the true value of goods for the assessment
of customs duties and are also used to prepare
consular documentation. Governments using
the commercial invoice to control imports
often specify its form, content, number of
copies, language to be used, and other characteristics. |
| Commercial Invoice |
The
commercial invoice is a bill for the goods
from the seller to the buyer. These invoices
are often used by governments to determine
the true value of goods for the assessment
of customs duties and are also used to prepare
consular documentation. Governments using
the commercial invoice to control imports
often specify its form, content, number of
copies, language to be used, and other characteristics. |
| Confirmed Letter of Credit |
A
letter of credit, issued by a foreign bank,
whose validity has been confirmed by an American
bank. An exporter whose payment terms are
a confirmed letter of credit is assured of
payment even if the foreign buyer or the foreign
bank defaults. |
| Consignee |
The
person or firm named in a freight contract
to whom goods have been consigned or turned
over. For export control purposes, the documentation
differentiates between an "intermediate"
consignee and an "ultimate" consignee. |
| Consignment |
Delivery
of merchandise from an exporter (the consignor)
to an agent (the consignee) under agreement
that the agent sell the merchandise for the
account of the exporter. The consignor retains
title to the goods until sold. The consignee
sells the goods for commission and remits
the net proceeds to the consignor. |
| Consolidated cargo |
Cargo
containing shipments of two or more shippers,
usually shipped by a firm called a consolidator.
The consolidator takes advantage of lower
F.C.L. rates, and savings are passed on to
shippers. |
| Consolidation |
The
combination of many small shipments into one
container. |
| Consolidator |
A
person or firm performing a consolidation
service for others. |
| Consortium |
Group
of carriers pooling resources in a trade lane
to maximize their resources efficiently. |
| Container |
A
receptacle designed to transport cargo of
many types in continuous transportation. |
| Container freight station (CFS, C.F.S.) |
Consolidation
depots where parcels of cargo are grouped
and loaded into containers. |
| Container gross weight |
Please
refer to Gross Weight. |
| Container load plan (CLP) |
A
document prepared to show all details of cargo
loaded in a container, e.g. weight (individual
and total), measurement, markings, shippers,
consignees, the origin & destination of
goods, and location of cargo within the container. |
| Container number |
The
unique identification of a container. |
| Container seal number |
The
number of high security seals provided by
OOCL. |
| Container size |
The
length of a container i.e. 20'', 40'' and
45'' (feet). |
| Container terminal |
Also
refered to as a Container Yard (CY). A facility
that receives full export containers from
one shipper to loading the vessel and delivers
full import containers to the consignee after;
it is the same location where ocean vessels
are loaded & unloaded. |
| Container type |
The
purpose of a container of which the code is
to be adhered to ISO standard. |
| Containership |
An
ocean vessel specifically designed to carry
ocean cargo containers. It is fitted with
vertical cells for maximum capacity. |
| Controlled atmosphere (CA) |
An
atmosphere in which oxygen, carbon dioxide
and nitrogen concentrations are regulated,
as well as temperature and humidity. |
| Cost and Freight (C&F) |
Cost
and Freight (CFR) to a named overseas port
of import. Under this term, the seller quotes
a price for the goods that includes the cost
of transportation to the named point of debarkation.
The cost of insurance is left to the buyer's
account. (Typically used for ocean shipments
only. CPT, or carriage paid to, is a term
used for shipment by modes other than water.)
Also, a method of import valuation that includes
insurance and freight charges with the merchandise
values. |
| Cost, Insurance and Freight (CIF)
|
Cost,
insurance, and freight (CIF) to a named overseas
port of import. Under this term, the seller
quotes a price for the goods (including insurance),
all transportation, and miscellaneous charges
to the point of debarkation for the vessel.
(Typically used for ocean shipments only.
CIP, or carriage and insurance paid to, is
a term used for shipment by modes other than
water.) |
| Country of Origin
|
The
U.S. Customs Service defines country of origin
as the country where an article was wholly
grown, manufactured or produced, or, if not
wholly grown, cultivated or produced in one
country, the last country in which the article
underwent a substantial transformation. Duty
rates vary according to the country of origin.
|
| Cu. |
Cubic.
A unit of volume measurement. |
| Cubic foot |
1,728
cubic inches. |
| Custom house |
A
country Treasury Department office where duties,
etc., on foreign shipments are handled. |
| Customs bonded warehouse |
a
public or privately owned warehouse where
dutiable goods are stored pending payment
of duty or removal under bond. The storage
or delivery of goods are under the supervision
of customs officers and if the warehouse is
privately owned the keeper has to enter into
a bond as indemnity in respect of the goods
deposited, which may not be delivered without
a release from the customs. |
| Customs Clearance |
The
procedures involved in getting cargo released
by Customs through designated formalities
such as presenting import license/permit,
payment of import duties and other required
documentations by the nature of the cargo
such as FCC or FDA approval. |
| Cut-off time |
Lastest
possible time the cargo may be delivered to
the vessel or designated point. |
| Cwt. |
Hundredweight
(U.S.A., 100 pounds; United Kingdom, 112 pounds). |
| CY |
Container
Yard. See "Container Terminal". |
| CY/CFS |
Cargo
loaded in a full container by a shipper at
origin, delivered to pier facility at destination,
and then devanned by the carrier for loose
pick up. |
| CY/CY |
Cargo
loaded by the shipper in a full container
at origin and delivered to the carrier's terminal
at destination for pick up intact by consignee. |
| D & H |
Dangerous
and Hazardous. (Also see "Dangerous Goods") |
| D.W. |
Dead
Weight. The number of tons a ship can transport
of cargo, stores and bunker fuel. (Also
see "Deadweight Tonnage") |
| Dangerous Goods |
The
term used by I.M.C.O. for hazardous materials
which are capable of posing a significant
risk to health, safety or property while being
transported. |
| DDC |
Destination
Delivery Charges. A charge assessed by the
carrier for handling positioning of a full
container. |
| DDP |
Delivery
Duty Paid |
| DDU |
Delivery
Duty Unpaid |
| Dead Space |
Space
in a car, truck, vessel, etc., that is not
utilized. |
| Deadweight Tonnage (D/W) |
The
number of total weight tons that a vessel
can transport of cargo, stores and bunker
fuel. It is the difference between the number
of tons of water a vessel displaces "light"
and the number of tons it displaces when submerged
to the "load line." |
| Dedicated Unit Train |
An
unit train operated by various railroads for
exclusive usage. |
| Delivered/Duty Paid
|
While
the term "Ex Works" signifies the
seller's minimum obligation, the term "Delivered
Duty Paid", when followed by words naming
the buyer's premises, denotes the other extreme
-- the seller's maximum obligation. The term
"Delivered Duty Paid" may be used
irrespective of the mode of transport. If
the parties wish that the seller should clear
the goods for import but that some of the
cost payable upon the import of the goods
should be excluded -- such as value added
tax (VAT) and/or other similar taxes -- this
should be made clear by adding words to this
effect (e.g., "exclusive of VAT and/or
taxes"). |
| Delivery Instructions |
Provides
specific information to the inland carrier
concerning the arrangement made by the forwarder
to deliver the merchandise to the particular
pier or steamship line. Not to be confused
with Delivery Order which is used for import
cargo. |
| Delivery Order |
A
document authorizing delivery to a nominated
party of goods in the care of a third party.
Can be issued by a carrier on surrender of
a bill of lading and then used by the merchant
to transfer title by endorsement. |
| Depot Container |
Container
freight station or a designated area where
empty containers can be picked up or dropped
off. |
| Destination |
The
place where the carrier actually turns over
the cargo to consignee or his agent. |
| Detention |
Charges
raised for detaining container/trailer at
customer’s premises for longer period than
provided in Tariff. |
| Detention Charge |
See
"Detention". |
| Devanning |
The
removal of cargo from a container. Also known
as unstuffing, unloading or stripping. |
| DFG |
Dynamic
Flow Guidelines -- which is used to control
the on-land stock level of each region taking
into account of the traffic pattern and local
vanning/devanning dwell time. The shortest
the dwell time, the lowest the DFG and the
more efficient the equipment utilization will
be. |
| Differential Rate |
An
amount added or deducted from base rate to
make a rate to or from some other point or
via another route. |
| Diversion |
A
change made in the route of a shipment in
transit. |
| Divert |
The
route of a shipment changed in transit from
that shown on the original billing. Used interchangeably
with reconsign. |
| Dock |
(a)
The water alongside a pier or wharf. (b) Loading
or unloading platform at an industrial location
or carrier terminal. |
| Dock Receipt |
A
form used to acknowledge receipt of cargo
at a steamship pier. When delivery of a foreign
shipment is completed, the dock receipt is
surrendered to the vessel operator or the
operator's agent and serves as basis for preparation
of the ocean bill of lading. |
| Documents Against Acceptance (D/A) |
Instructions
given by a shipper to a bank indicating that
documents transferring title to goods should
be delivered to the buyer (or drawee) only
upon the buyer's acceptance (signature on)
of the attached draft. |
| Documents Against Payment (D/P)
|
Stipulate
that the exporter ships goods to the importer
without a letter of credit or another form
of guaranteed payment. The importer must sign
a sight draft before receiving the necessary
documents to pick up the goods. Documents
Against Acceptance (D/A) are instructions
given by a shipper to a bank stating that
the documents transferring title to goods
should be delivered to the buyer only upon
the signing of a time draft. In this manner
an exporter extends credit to the importer
and agrees to accept payment at a readily
determined future date.
|
| Door-to-Door |
Through
transportation of a container and its contents
from consignor's premises to consignee's premises. |
| Double-Deck Load |
A
second tier of cargo placed on top of the
first tier. |
| Dray |
A
truck or other equipment designed to haul
heavy loads. |
| Drayage |
Charge
made for local hauling by dray or truck. |
| Dry Cargo |
Cargo
that does not require temperature control. |
| Dry Dock |
An
enclosed basin into which a ship is taken
for underwater cleaning and repairing. It
is fitted with watertight entrance gates which
when closed permit the dock to be pumped dry. |
| Dry-Bulk Container |
A
container constructed to carry grain, powder
and other free flowing solids in bulk. |
| DST |
Double
Stack Train. Rail or train capable of carrying
two 40' containers, one on top of the other. |
| Dunnage (Dge.) |
Lumber
or other material used to brace material in
carrier's equipment. |
| Dwell Time |
It
is expressed in term of no. of day that a
container changed from one status to another
e.g. from under inbound load (UIL) to empty
available (MTA) to under outbound load (UOL).
The shorter the dwell time, the more efficient
the container utilization will be. |
| ECU |
European
Currency Units. A financial unit used for
EC accounting. |
| En route |
Along
the route of movement. |
| ETA |
Expected
Time of Arrival |
| ETD |
Expected
Time of Departure |
| Ex Works |
Ex
Works (EXW) at a named point of origin (examples
are: ex factory, ex mill, ex warehouse). Under
this term, the price quoted applies only at
the point of origin and the seller agrees
to place the goods at the disposal of the
buyer at a specified place on the date or
within the period fixed. All other charges
are for the account of the buyer. |
| Export |
Shipment
of goods to another country. |
| Export Declaration |
A
government document permitting designated
goods to be shipped out of the country. |
| Export License |
A
government document (also known as an "Individual
Validated License") authorizing exports
of specific goods in specific quantities to
a particular destination. This document may
be required in some countries for most or
all exports and in other countries only under
special circumstances. |
| Export Processing Zones |
EPZs
are a form of free trade zone which provide
incentives for industrial or commercial export
activity. Export processing zones are located
in developing countries and are usually in
defined areas, industrial parks, or facilities
which provide free trade zone benefits and
usually offer additional incentives, such
as exemption from normal tax and business
regulations. The zones, which began appearing
around 1975, are sometimes referred to as
Special Economic Zones or Development Economic
Zones. |
| F.A.K. |
Freight
All Kind. System whereby freight is charged
per container, irrespective of the nature
of the goods, and not according to a Tariff.
|
| F.A.S. |
Free
Alongside Ship. |
| F.C.L. |
Full
Containerload. Arrangement whereby shipper
utilizes all the space in a container which
he packs himself. |
| F.I.O. |
Free
In and Out. |
| F.O.B. |
Stands
|
