ABBREVIATION MEANING

AA Always Afloat

Always Accessible Always Afloat

AAAA
Always Afloat or Safe Aground. Condition for a vessel whilst in port
AAOSA

Amsterdam-Antwerp-Rotterdam Area
AARA

Toward the rear (stern) of the ship. Behind.

ABAFT

On or within the ship

ABOARD

On the deck (not over it - see ALOFT)

ABOVE DECK

About
ABT

Address Commission
ADCOM

Additional chartering terms at the end of a charter party

ADDENDUM

Arrival First Sea Pilot Station (Norway)

AFSPS

The hiring of a ship in whole or part

AFFREIGHTMENT

At or towards the stern or rear of a ship

AFT

Touching or fast to the bottom

AGROUND

All Going Well

AGW

Australian Hold Ladders

AHL
Artificial objects to supplement natural landmarks indicating safe and unsafe
AIDS TO NAVIGATION waters

Above the deck of the ship

ALOFT

In or toward the centre of the ship

AMIDSHIPS

A place suitable for anchorage in relation to the wind, seas and bottom
ANCHORAGE
 Antwerp-Hamburg Range
ANTHAM

Arrival Pilot Station

APS

Amsterdam-Rotterdam--Antwerp-Gent Range
ARAG
Method of settling disputes which is usually binding on parties. A clause usually in
ARBITRATION a charter party

Alongside
A/S

American Shipbrokers Association

ASBA

Any Safe Port in the World

ASPW

In the back of the ship, opposite of ahead

ASTERN

Any Time Day/Night Sundays and Holidays Included

ATDNSHINC

At right angles to the centreline of the ship

ATHWARTSHIPS

Actual Times Used to Count

ATUTC
Where a seller/shipper issues a 'letter of indemnity' in favour of the carrier in
BACKLETTER exchange for a clean bill of lading
Bunker Adjustment Factor. A Fuel Surcharge expressed as a percentage added
or subtracted from the freight amount, reflecting the movement in the market
BAF place price for bunkers.
Cubic capacity of a vessels holds to carry packaged dry cargo such as
BALE CAP. bales/pallets
Heavy weight, often sea water, necessary for the stability and safety of a ship
BALLAST which is not carrying cargo

Compensation for relatively long ballast voyage

BALLAST BONUS
Bareboat Charter - Owners lease a specific ship and control its technical
management and commercial operations only. Charterers take over all
BAREBOAT CHTR. responsibility for the operation of the vessel and expenses for the duration.
Before Breaking Bulk. Refers to freight payments that must be received before
BBB discharge of a vessel commences

Both Dates Inclusive

BDI

The maximum breadth or the greatest width of a ship

BEAM

Beneath the deck

BELOW

Both Ends (Load & Discharge Ports)

BENDS

Both Inclusive
BI
 The Baltic and International Maritime Council
BIMCO

Bale
BL1
(Bill of Lading) A document signed by the carrier which acts as a Contract of
BL2 Affreightment, a receipt and evidence of title to the cargo.

Beam
BM

Booking Note
BN

Bunker on Board
BOB

Best Offer
BOFFER

The forward part of a ship

BOW

Bunkers Remaining on Board

BROB
Percentage of freight payable to broker (by owners in c/p's) or applicable to sale
BROKERAGE or purchase

Basis
BSS

Basis 1 Port to 1 Port

BSS 1/1

Berth Terms
BT

A vertical partition separating compartments

BULKHEAD
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
BUNDLING a very flexible description, a rule of thumb is to present cargo at a size easily
handled by a large (20 tonne) fork lift.
Name given for vessels Fuel and Diesel Oil supplies (Originates from coal
BUNKERS bunkers)
An anchored float used for marking a position on the water or a hazard or a shoal
BUOY and for mooring

Brackish Water Arrival Draft

BWAD

Currency Adjustment Factor

CAF

Cubic Metres
CBM

Cubic Feet
CBFT (or CFT)

Cost and Freight

CFR (or C&F)

A map used by navigators

CHART
 Charterers Option
CHOPT

Charterers
CHTRS
Cost, Insurance & Freight. Seller pays all these costs to a nominated port or place
CIF of discharge.

Completely knocked down

CKD
Contract of Affreightment - Owners agree to accept a cost per revenue tonne for
COA cargo carried on a specific number of voyages.

Carriage and Insurance paid to...

CIP

Contract of Affreightment Charter Party

COACP

Closing of Business
COB

Closing of Business London

COBLDN

Cash On Delivery
COD

Carriage of Goods by Sea Act

COGSA

Port/berth delays
CONGESTION

Consumption
CONS

CONSIGNEE. Name of agent, company or person receiving consignment

C/SNEE

Custom Of Port
COP

Charter Party
CP (or C/P)

Charterers Pay Dues

CPD

Carriage Paid To
CPT

Customary Quick Despatch

CQD

Current Rate
CR

Cargo Remaining on Board

CROB

Crane
CRN
Cargo Retention Clauses, introduced by charterers based on shortage of
CRT delivered cargo because of increased oil prices

Centistoke
CST
 Container Fitted
CTR

Disbursement Account
DA

Deliver At Frontier
DAF

Days all Purposes (Total days for loading & discharging)

DAPS
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
DAMFORDET on delay. If the cargo is ready there is no DAMFORDET.

Delivered Duty unpaid.

DDU

Delivered Duty Paid.

DDP

A permanent covering over a compartment, hull or any part thereof

DECK
Demurrage (Quay Rent). Money paid by the shipper for the occupying port space
DEM beyond a specified "Free Time" period.

Delivered Ex Quay
DEQ

Delivered Ex Ship
DES

Despatch. Time saved, reward for quick turnaround- in dry cargo only
DESP

Detention (See DAMFORDET)

DET

Deviation. Vessel departure from specified voyage course

DEV

Deadfreight. Space booked by shipper or charterer on a vessel but not used

DFRT

Despatch Half Demurrage on All Time Saved Both Ends

DHDATSBE

Despatch Half Demurrage on Working Time Saved Both Ends

DHDWTSBE

Discharge
DISCH

Deck
DK

Dropping Last Outwards Sea Pilot (Norway)

DLOSP

Diesel Oil
DO

Dropping Off Last Sea Pilot (Norway)

DOLSP

Dropping Outward Pilot

DOP
 Department of Transport
DOT

Discountless and Non-Returnable Cargo and/or Ship Lost or Not Lost

DNRCAOSLONL
Depth to which a ship is immersed in water. The depth varies according to the
design of the ship and will be greater or lesser depending not only on the weight
DRAUGHT (or DRAFT) of the ship and everything on board, but also on the density of the water in which
the ship is lying.

Derrick
DRK
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
DUNNAGE certain cargoes, to provide space in which the tynes of a fork lift truck may be
inserted.
Deadweight. Weight of cargo, stores and water, i.e. the difference between
DWAT (or DWT) lightship and loaded displacement.

A receeding current
EBB

East Coast
EC

Even If Used
EIU

Electric Ventilation
ELVENT

Estimated Time of Arrival

ETA

Estimated Time of Completion

ETC

Estimated Time of Departure

ETD

Estimated Time of Sailing

ETS

Ex Works
EXW

Fast as can
FAC
Free Alongside Ship. Seller delivers goods to appropriate dock or terminal at port
FAS of embarkation and buyer covers costs and risks of loading
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
FCA not actually on board vessel.

Free Discharge
FD (FDIS)

Freight Demurrage Deadfreight

FDD

Free Despatch
FDESP
Freight Deemed Earned, Discountless And Non-Returnable (Refundable) Ship
FDEDANRSAOCLONL And Or Cargo Lost Or Not Lost
 A cushion, placed between ships, or between a ship and a pier, to prevent
FENDER damage

Standard 40’ Container

FEU

Fridays/Holidays Excluded
FHEX

Fridays/Holidays Included
FHINC
Free In/Liner Out. Seafreight with which the shipper pays load costs and the
FILO carrier pays for discharge costs.
Free In/Out. Freight booked FIO includes the seafreight, but no
loading/discharging costs, i.e. the charterer pays for cost of loading/discharging
FIO cargo.

Free In/Out Stowed. As per FIO, but excludes stowage costs.

FIOS
Free In/Out and Trimmed. Charterer pays for cost of loading/discharging cargo,
FIOST including stowage and trimming.
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
FIOT stowage costs.

Free In Trimmed
FIT

Free In Wagon
FIW

Chartering a Vessel
FIXING

Conclusion of shipbrokers negotiations to charter a ship - an agreement

FIXTURE

Cargo to be presented stacked and secured as an integral unit.

FLATPACKING

Full Liner Terms

FLT

Federal Maritime Commission

FMC

Force Majeure Excepted

FME

Fathoms
FMS

For Orders
FO1

Fuel Oil/Intermediate FO
FO2 (IFO)

Free Out
FO3
Free on Board. Seller sees the goods "over the ship’s rail" on to the ship which is
FOB arranged and paid for by the buyer

Firm Offer
FOFFER
 For Our Guidance
FOG

Free On Quay
FOQ

Free On Rail
FOR

Clause limiting responsibilities of the charterers, shippers and receivers of cargo.

FORCE MAJEURE

In a line parallel to the keel

FORE-AND-AFT

Toward the bow of the ship

FORWARD

Free On Truck
FOT

First Open Water

FOW1

Free On Wharf
FOW2

Free Pratique. Clearance by the Health Authorities

FP

First Refusal. First attempt at best offer that can be matched

FR

The minimum vertical distance from the surface of the water to the gunwale
FREEBOARD

Freight. Money payable on delivery of cargo in a mercantile condition

FRT
If loading/discharging achieved sooner than agreed, there will be no freight money
FREE DESPATCH returned.

Free of any Extra Insurance (Owners)

FREE EXINS

Free of discharge costs to owners. Includes seafreight only.

FREE OUT
Charterers when cancelling agreement sometimes quote 'doctrine of frustration'
FRUSTRATION i.e. vessel is lost, extensive delays.

Fresh Water Arrival Draft

FWAD

Fresh Water Departure Draft

FWDD

For Your Guidance

FYG

For Your Information

FYI

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