Chartering

Abbrerviations

Chartering Abbreviations
The most frequently used chartering abbreviations and their meanings.

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)
ABT About
ADCOM Address Commission
ADDENDUM Additional chartering terms at the end of a charter party
AFSPS Arrival First Sea Pilot Station (Norway)
AFFREIGHTMENT The hiring of a ship in whole or part
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 Artificial objects to supplement natural landmarks indicating safe and
NAVIGATION unsafe waters
ALOFT Above the deck of the ship
AMIDSHIPS In or toward the centre of the ship
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.
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
A/S Alongside
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
AWB Air waybill
B
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

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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
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)
BI Both Inclusive
BIMCO The Baltic and International Maritime Council
BL Bale
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.
BM Beam
BN Booking Note
BOB Bunker on Board
BOFFER Best Offer
BOW The forward part of a ship
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
BWAD Brackish Water Arrival Draft
C
CAF Currency Adjustment Factor. A fee applied to the shipping costs to
compensate for exchange rate fluctuations.
CBM Cubic Metres
CBFT (or CFT) Cubic Feet
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.

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CKD Completely knocked down

COA Contract of Affreightment - Owners agree to accept a cost per revenue
tonne for cargo carried on a specific number of voyages.
CIP Carriage and Insurance paid to...
C.O. Certificate of Origin - a signed statement from a semiofficial
organization certifying the origin of an export item, required by certain
nations.
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
CNEE CONSIGNEE. Name of agent, company or person receiving consignment
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
CROB Cargo Remaining on Board
CRN Crane
CRT Cargo Retention Clauses, introduced by charterers based on shortage of
delivered cargo because of increased oil prices
CST Centistoke
CTR Container Fitted
D
DA Disbursement Account
DAF Deliver At Frontier
DAPS Days all Purposes (Total days for loading & discharging)
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.
DDU Delivered Duty unpaid.
DDP Delivered Duty Paid.
DECK A permanent covering over a compartment, hull or any part thereof
DEM Demurrage (Quay Rent). Money paid by the shipper for the occupying
port space beyond a specified "Free Time" period.
DEQ Delivered Ex Quay
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
DISCH Discharge
DK Deck
DLOSP Dropping Last Outwards Sea Pilot (Norway)
DO Diesel Oil

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DOLSP Dropping Off Last Sea Pilot (Norway)

DOP Dropping Outward Pilot
DOT Department of Transport
DNRCAOSLONL Discountless and Non-Returnable Cargo and/or Ship Lost or Not Lost
DRAUGHT (or Depth to which a ship is immersed in water. The depth varies according
DRAFT) 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.
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 (or DWT) Deadweight. Weight of cargo, stores and water, i.e. the difference
between lightship and loaded displacement.
E
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
F
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
FDESP Free Despatch
FDEDANRSAOCLONL Freight Deemed Earned, Discountless And Non-Returnable (Refundable)
Ship And Or Cargo Lost Or Not Lost
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

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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 For Orders
FO (IFO) Fuel Oil/Intermediate FO
FO Free Out
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
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
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.
FRUSTRATION Charterers when cancelling agreement sometimes quote 'doctrine of
frustration' i.e. vessel is lost, extensive delays.
FWAD Fresh Water Arrival Draft
FWDD Fresh Water Departure Draft
FYG For Your Guidance
FYI For Your Information
G
GA General Average

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GEAR A general term for ropes, blocks, tackle and other equipment
GLS (GLESS) Gearless
GNCN Gencon (GENERAL CONDITIONS)
GN (or GR) Grain (Capacity)
GO Gas Oil
GP Grain Capacity. Cubic capacity in 'grain'
GR Geographical Rotation. Ports in order of calling
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
2H Second Half
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
H
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
HOLD A compartment below deck in a large vessel, used solely for carrying
cargo
HULL The main body of a ship
HW High Water
I
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
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
INTERMODAL Carriage of a commodity by different modes of transport, i.e. sea, road,
rail and air within a single journey
ITF International Transport Workers Federation (Trade Unions). Complies
on crewing
ISPS International Ships and Port Security System
ITINERARY Route.Schedule
IU If Used
IUHTAUTC If Used, Half Time Actually To Count
IWL Institute Warranty Limits
K

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Abbrerviations

KEEL The centreline of a ship running fore and aft; the backbone of a vessel
KNOT A measurement of speed equal to one nautical mile (6,076 feet) per
hour
L
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
L/C Letter of Credit
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
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 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
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
MANIFEST Inventory of cargo on board
MB Merchant Broker
MDO (DO) Marine Diesel Oil
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
MT Mertic Tonne (i.e. 1,000 kilos)
M/V Motor Vessel / Merchant Vessel

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N
NAABSA Not Always Afloat But Safely Aground
NM Nautical Mile. One minute of latitude; approximately 6,076 feet - about
1/8 longer than the statute mile of 5,280 feet
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
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 Restricted Tonnage
NYPE New York Produce Exchange
O
OO Owners Option
OBO Ore/Bulk/Oil Vessel
OSH Open Shelter Deck
OVERBOARD Over the side or out of the ship
OWS Owners
P
P&I Protection and Indemnity Insurance
PASTUS Past Us
PC Period of Charter
PCGO Part Cargo
PCT Percent
PDPR Per Day Pro Rata
PERDIEM By the Day
PER SE By Itself
PHPD Per Hatch Per Day
PLIMSOLL MARK An internationally recognised line painted on the side of merchant ships.
alt. When a ship is loaded, the water level is not supposed to go above the
PLIMSOLL LINE line. Water can reach different parts of the line as its temperature and
alt. saltiness varies with the season and location. From where Plimsoll
LOAD LINE Shipping derived its name.
PORT The left side of a ship looking forward. A harbour.
PRATIQUE Licence or permission to use a port
PREAMBLE Introduction to a charter party
PROFORMA Estimated Account
PUS Plus Us
PWWD Per Weather Working Day
R
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
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.

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S+
SATPM Saturday P.M.
SB Safe Berth
SD (or SID) Single Decker
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
SHINC Sundays/Holidays Included
SHEX Sundays/Holidays Excluded
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.
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
SRBL Signing and Releasing Bill of Lading
SSHEX Saturdays, Sundays, Holidays Excluded
SSHINC (or Saturdays, Sundays, Holidays Included
SATSHINC)
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
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
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

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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
TEU Standard 20' Container, twenty-foot equivalent unit, a standard size
intermodal container.
TOPSIDES The sides of a ship between the waterline and the deck; sometimes
referring to onto or above the deck
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
TRIM Fore and aft balance of a ship
TTL Total
TW Tween Decker
U
USC Unless Sooner Commenced
UU Unless Used
UUIWCTAUTC Unless Used In Which Case Time Actually Used To Count
V
VPD Vessel Pays Dues
W
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
WWD Weather Working Day
WRIC Wire Rods In Collis
WWR When, Where Ready
WWWW Wibon, Wccon, Wifpon, Wipon
Y
YAR York Antwerp Rules
YAW To swing or steer off course, as when running with a quartering sea
Z
Z UTC = GMT

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