TERM

MEANING

Manifest

Document that lists in detail all the bills of lading issued by a vessel or its agent or master, i.e., a detailed summary of the total cargo of a vessel.  Used principally for customs purposes. It is also called summary of Bills of lading.

Marine Insurance

Broadly, insurance covering loss or damage of goods at sea. Marine insurance typically compensates the owner of merchandise for losses sustained from fire, shipwreck, piracy and various other causes but excludes losses that can be legally recovered.

Maritime

Business pertaining to commerce or navigation transacted upon the sea or in seaports in such matters as the court of admiralty has jurisdiction over.

Marks & Nos.

Marks & Numbers placed on packages for export for identification purposes; generally a triangle, square, circle, diamond, or cross with letters and/or numbers and port discharge.

Master Lease

Master lease is one form of a short-term lease, which refers to the leasing of the container from those leasing companies who have master lease agreement with OOCLL. At present, Triton, ICS, Xtra, Cronons and Genstar has such a contract with OOCLL.

Master Lease Leasing Cost

Master lease leasing cost includes container rental, depot lieft on/lift off charge, on/off hire drayage, Drop off charge and Offhire repair cost. Due to off-hire quota limitation, the average on-hire period is around 73 days for 20' gp/40'gp and 102 days for 40'hq. On average basis, the leasing cost is US$500/20'gp, US$700/40'gp and US$800/40'hq.

Mate's Receipt

A receipt signed by a mate of the vessel, acknowledging receipt of cargo by the vessel. The individual in possession of the mate's receipt is entitled to the bill of lading, which in due course is issued in exchange for that receipt.

Maximum Payload

Maximum cargo that can be loaded into a container either by weight or volume.

Maximum Rate

The highest freight rate permitted by a regulatory body to apply between points.

Measurement Ton

1 cubic meter. One of the alternative bases of Freight Tariff.

Microbridge

A landbridge movement in which cargo originating/destined to an inland point is railed or trucked to/from the water port for a shipment to/from a foreign country. The carrier is responsible for cargo and costs from origin to destination. Also known as I.P.I. and Through Service.

Mileage

Distance in miles.

Mini Landbridge (MLB)

An intermodal system for transporting containers from/to a foreign country by water to/from a U.S. ocean port other than the arrival port by rail at through rates and documents.

Mini-Bridge

Cargo moving from/to an inland destination on one bill of lading from/to a foreign port through two U.S. ports.

Minimum Charge

The lowest charge that can be assessed to transport a shipment.

MT

(a) Metric Ton or Cubic meter.   (b) Empty container.  (c) Multimodal Transport.

TERM

MEANING

Negotiable B/L

Original bill of lading endorsed by shipper that is used for negotiating with banks.

Negotiating Bank

A bank named in the credit; examines the documents and certifies to the issuing bank that the terms are complied with.

Net Tonnage

A vessel's gross tonnage minus deductions of space occupied by accommodation for crew, by machinery, for navigation, by the engine room and fuel. A vessel's net tonnage expresses the space available for passengers and cargo.

Net Weight

Weight of the goods alone without any immediate wrappings, e.g., the weight of the contents of a tin can without the weight of the can.  Also called actual net weight.

Non-negotiable B/L

Copy of original bill of lading which cannot be negotiated with the bank.

Non-vessel Owning / Operating Common Carrier (N.V.O.C.C.)

(a) A cargo consolidator of small shipments in ocean trade, generally soliciting business and arranging for or performing containerization functions at the port.
(b) A carrier issuing Bs/L for carriage of goods on vessel which he neither owns nor operates.

TERM

MEANING

O.C.P. rate

Overland Common Point rates which are generally lower than local tariff rates, were established by the U.S. West Coast steamship companies in conjunction with railroads serving the western U.S. so that cargo originating or destined to the American Midwest and East would be competitive with all-water rates via the U.S. Atlantic and Gulf ports. O.C.P. rates are also applicable to eastern Canada.

Ocean Bill of Lading (Ocean B/L)

Document indicating that the exporter will consign a shipment to an international carrier for transportation to a specified foreign market. Unlike an inland B/L, the ocean B/L also serves as a collection document. if it is a Straight B/L the foreign buyer can obtain the shipment from the carrier by simply showing proof of identity. If a negotiable B/L is used, the buyer must first pay for the goods, post a bond or meet other conditions agreeable to the seller.

Ocean Route

The all water transportation portion of a route.

On Board

Cargo has been loaded on board a combined transport mode of conveyance. Used to satisfy the requirements of a letter of credit, in the absence of an express requirement to the contrary.

On Board B/L

A B/L in which a carrier acknowledges that goods have been placed on board a certain vessel.

On Deck

A special stowage instruction to confine that the cargo stowage must be on deck rather than under deck.

One-Way lease

Lease that covers the outbound voyage only, after which the container is returned to the lease holder at or near destination.

Open-Top Container

A container fitted with a solid removable roof or with a tarpaulin roof that can be loaded or unloaded from the top.

Outbound

Outward bound. Direction of vessel or cargo going out from port of loading or point/place of receipt.

Overheight Cargo

Cargo stowed in an open-top container; projects above the uppermost level of the roof struts.

TERM

MEANING

P.O.D.

Port of Discharge where cargo is discharged from vessel. When transshipment is needed, there can be a number of PODs during the course of shipment until it reaches the final POD.

P.O.L.

Port of Loading where loading to vessel takes place.

P.O.R.

Point or Place of Receipt. Starting point of carrier’s liability where cargo is received from shipper and under carrier’s custody for transportation to final destination.

Pallet

A platform (usually two-deck), with or without sides, on which a number of packages or pieces may be loaded to facilitate handling by a lift truck.

Participating Carrier (Tariff)

A transportation line that is a party, under concurrence, to a tariff issued by another transportation line or by a tariff's publishing agent.

Per Diem

A charge made by one transportation line against another for the use of its equipment. The charge is based on a fixed rate per day.

Perishable Cargo

Cargo subject to decay or deterioration.

Pier

The structure to which a vessel is secured for the purpose of loading and unloading cargo.

Pier-to-House (P/H)

See  CFS/CY.

Pier-to-Pier (P/P)

See CFS/CFS.

Pilot

A person whose office or occupation is to steer ships, particularly along a coast or into and out of a harbor.

Place of Acceptance

See P.O.R.

Place of Delivery

See Final Destination.

Place of Receipt

Location where cargo enters the care and custody of the carrier.

Port

(a) Harbor with piers or docks; (b) Left side of a ship when facing the bow;  (c) Opening in a ship's side for handling freight.

Port of arrival

Location where imported merchandise is off loaded from the importing aircraft or vessel.

Port of Call

Port where a steamer discharges or receives traffic.

Port of Discharge

Port where cargo is unloaded from vessel.

Port of Entry

Port where cargo actually enters a country where the cargo is not part of its commerce.

Port of Loading (POL)

Port where cargo is loaded to vessel.

Prepaid (Ppd.)

One of the payment status where freight and charges are required to be paid by shipper before original bill of lading is released to them.

PSA

Port of Singapore Authority

TERM

MEANING

Quarantine

The period during which a vessel is detained in isolation until free from any contagious disease among the passengers or crew. The word is now applied to the sanitary regulations which are the modern substitute for quarantine. During the quarantine period, the Q flag is hoisted.

Quarantine buoy

One of the yellow buoys at the entrance of a harbor indicating the place where vessel must anchor for the exercise of quarantine regulations.

Quarantine declaration

A document signed by the captain and the ship’s doctor before the port health officer when a ship arrives at the quarantine station. It gives the name of the ship, tonnage, number of crew, first port of voyage and date of sailing, intermediate ports called at, number of passengers for the port at which the vessel is arriving, number of transit passengers, cases of infectious diseases during voyage, deaths, nature of cargo, name of agents. The port health officer then proceeds with the medical inspection of passengers and crew. Also called entry declaration.
 

Quarantine dues

A charge against all vessels entering a harbor to provide for the maintenance of medical control service. Also called quarantine fees.

Quarantine flag

A yellow flag used as a sanitary signal. It is displayed by all vessels entering a harbor; also when a contagious or infectious disease exists on board or when the vessel has been placed in quarantine.

Quarantine harbor

A place where vessels in quarantine are stationed when arriving from contaminated ports.

Quarantine signal

Signals flown by vessels required to show their state of health. By day "Q" of the international code signifies "Ship is healthy-free pratique requested". Flag "Q" over first substitutes signifies that the ship has had cases of infectious diseases or that there has been unusual mortality among rats on board. Flag "Q" over "L" signifies "Ship is infected". By night a vessel entering harbor exhibits a red light over a white light more than 6 feet apart which signifies that the ship is awaiting free pratique.

Quarantine station

A medical control center located in an isolated spot ashore where patients with contagious diseases from vessel in quarantine are taken. It is also used for passengers and crews of vessel arriving from suspected ports while fumigation or any other disinfection is carried out on board ship.

TERM

MEANING

Rail Onboard B/L

This is unique practice in NAT having the similar function as onboard vessel B/L. In the event of multimodal B/L is prepared, shipper can request a clause on the B/L to satisfy their commercial transaction as LADEN ONBOARD RAIL MMDDYY. The date on the B/L is on which containers are loaded onboard rail flat car. However, the word RAIL is not necessary.

Receipt for shipment B/L

A term used in contradistinction to shipped bill of lading, which is the standard document. Some bankers object to such bill of lading on the ground that the security they offer is imperfect. This kind of bill of lading is normally issued to acknowledge receipt of shipment before cargo loading or before official original bill of lading is issued. Nowadays, not many shippers ask for this kind of bill of lading.

Reefer

In the industry, it is the generic name for a temperature controlled container. The containers, which are insulated, are specially designed to allow temperature controlled air circulation within the container. A refrigeration plant is built into the rear of the container. For OOCL's reefers, power for this plant needs to be provided from an external source.
 

Relative Humidity

(%) The ratio of the actual amount of water vapor in the air to the maximum it can hold at a given temperature, multiplied by 100.

Relay

To transfer goods from one ship to another of the same ownership. More frequently used by OOCL as T/S (Transshipment).

Release note

Receipt signed by customer acknowledging delivery of goods.

Return air

Air warmed by the container cargo delivered to the evaporator. The temperature of return air often controls the operation of the refrigeration unit.

Revenue ton (R/T)

The greater weight or measurement of goods where 1 ton is either 1000 kilos or 1 cubic meter (for metric system). Also known as bill of lading ton or freight ton. It is used to calculate freight charge.

Roll-On/Roll-Off (Ro/Ro)

A feature designed in a specially constructed vessel in both the loading and discharging ports.

Route (Rte.)

The manner in which a shipment moves, i.e., the carriers handling it and the points via which they handle it.