Shipping terms, plainly defined.
The words an NVOCC, liner agency or forwarding desk uses every day, each with a short definition, how it works in practice, and how Sailix handles it.
NVOCC
Non-vessel operating common carrier
An NVOCC is a carrier that sells ocean freight under its own bills of lading without operating ships. It buys space from vessel operators instead.
Bill of lading
B/L
A bill of lading is a carrier's receipt for cargo and evidence of the contract of carriage. It is issued by the carrier and, when negotiable, is also a document of title.
House bill of lading
HBL
A house bill of lading is the bill a freight forwarder or NVOCC issues to the actual shipper. It covers cargo that moves under a carrier's master bill.
Master bill of lading
MBL
A master bill of lading is the bill an ocean carrier issues to a freight forwarder or NVOCC. It covers a shipment that may contain several house bills.
Air waybill
AWB
An air waybill is the non-negotiable transport document for air cargo. It serves as a receipt for the goods and evidence of the contract of carriage.
Detention
Container detention
Detention is a charge for keeping a carrier's container outside the port or terminal beyond the free time. It runs until the empty is returned or the full is gated in.
Demurrage
Container demurrage
Demurrage is a charge for a container or cargo left inside the port or terminal beyond free time. It applies before pickup on import or loading on export.
Free days
Free time
Free days are the period a container may be used or held without detention or demurrage charges. The carrier's tariff or a contract sets the allowance.
Arrival notice
Cargo arrival notice
An arrival notice is a document telling the consignee and notify party that a shipment is due. The carrier or its agent sends it, with the charges payable for release.
Delivery order
D/O
A delivery order is the carrier's or agent's instruction to release cargo or containers to the consignee. It is addressed to the terminal, depot or CFS and names the consignee or its agent.
Sea cargo manifest
SCM
A sea cargo manifest is the carrier's list of all cargo on a vessel for a voyage. It is set out by bill of lading and used by customs, ports and agents.
IGM and EGM
Import General Manifest and Export General Manifest
IGM and EGM are the import and export cargo manifests filed with Indian customs for a vessel. The IGM covers an arriving vessel and the EGM a departing one.
Cargo Summary Notification
CSN
A Cargo Summary Notification is a message filed with Indian customs summarizing cargo by master and house consignment. It is filed under the Sea Cargo Manifest and Transhipment Regulations.
Inland container depot
ICD
An inland container depot is a customs-notified facility away from the seaport. Containers are handled, stored and cleared there for import or export.
Container freight station
CFS
A container freight station is a facility where cargo is stuffed into or stripped from containers. Cargo is held there under customs control pending clearance.
TEU
Twenty-foot equivalent unit
A TEU is a twenty-foot equivalent unit, the standard measure of container volume. One 20-foot container counts as one TEU and a 40-foot as two.
Terminal handling charge
THC
A terminal handling charge is a fee the carrier collects from the shipper or consignee. It recovers the cost of handling a container at the port terminal.
Liner agency
Shipping line agent
A liner agency is a company that represents a shipping line in a port or country. It handles bookings, documents, collections and equipment on the line's behalf.
Freight forwarder
Forwarding agent
A freight forwarder is a company that arranges the transport of goods for shippers. It books carriers and handles documents, customs and related services.
Telex release
Express release
A telex release is a carrier's instruction to deliver cargo without an original bill of lading. It goes to the destination office after the originals are surrendered at origin.
Shipper-owned container
SOC
A shipper-owned container is a container supplied by the shipper or its forwarder rather than by the carrier. The carrier only provides the slot on the vessel.
GST e-invoice
IRN
A GST e-invoice is an Indian business-to-business invoice reported to the Invoice Registration Portal. The portal returns a unique Invoice Reference Number and a signed QR code.
UAE VAT and TRN
Tax Registration Number
UAE VAT is the value added tax charged on most goods and services in the United Arab Emirates. A TRN is the number that identifies a VAT-registered business.
EDI in shipping
Electronic data interchange
EDI in shipping is the exchange of structured electronic messages between carriers, agents, terminals and customs. The messages include manifests, bookings and container moves.
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