| S.N. |
Term |
Full Form |
Description |
| 1. |
3PL |
3rd Party Logistics |
A third party, who takes care of the logistics value chain. |
| 2. |
BAF |
Bunker Adjustment Factor |
A kind of fuel surcharge added to the freight rates. |
| 3. |
Barge |
A kind of small ship |
Flat Bottomed cargo
carrying boat. It is used for movement of small quantity cargo. Mainly
used for coastal or river movements. |
| 4. |
BL |
Bill of Lading |
BL is issued by the
carrier (Shipping Line/NVOCC). This is the document which is presented
to the shipping line at POD, and then only cargo can be cleared. |
| 5. |
Break Bulk |
Break Bulk Cargo |
The cargo which can be counted (Other than Containers). It includes Steel coils, Vehicles etc. |
| 6. |
Bulk Cargo |
Bulk Cargo |
The cargo like coal, limestone etc. These are loaded in the hatches of the ships with the help of cranes having grabs. |
| 7. |
CAF |
Currency Adjustment Factor |
A kind of surcharge added to freight rates, to mitigate the currency risk. |
| 8. |
CAN |
Cargo Arrival Notice |
A document issued by carrier/agent to the importer, notifying him about the arrival of cargo. |
| 9. |
CBU |
Completely Built Unit |
Vehicles being shipped in fully built form. |
| 10. |
CFS |
Container Freight Station |
CFS is a kind of customs bound warehouse, where stuffing and destuffing of containers are done. These are near to the ports. |
| 11. |
CKD |
Completely Knocked Down |
Vehicles being
shipped in parts. One vehicle is knocked down in many small small parts
and these parts are shipped in containers. |
| 12. |
CoC |
Carrier Owned Container |
The containers owned by the carriers. |
| 13. |
CY |
Container Yards |
These are genaral purpose yards, where generally empty containers are stacked. |
| 14. |
DBL |
Draft Bill of Lading |
The B/L issued by
the Carrier to Freight Forwarder. This is just to check the actual
format of the B/L as per LC. Master B/L is issued on the basis of DBL
and after MBL is issued, this remains null and void. |
| 15. |
DC |
Dangerous Cargo |
Cargos like petroleum, chemical etc. Special equipments are required to handle these. |
| 16. |
Demurrage |
Demurrage |
The penalty paid by the charterar to the owner of the ship for delay in completing the voyage. |
| 17. |
Dispatch |
Dispatch |
The money paid by
the owner of the ship to the charterar for completing the voyage in
advance. Genarally the rate will be half of demurrage rate. |
| 18. |
DO |
Delivery Order |
A document issued by
carrier/agent to the importer, giving him the authority to collect the
cargo. This is issued after B/L is surrendered to the carrier/agent. |
| 19. |
EGM |
Export General Manifest |
A document issued by carrier/agent to the port authorities stating that a container is going for export. |
| 20. |
FAK |
Freight of all Kind |
Freight charged by linear operators. Quoted in terms of per TEU. |
| 21. |
FCL |
Full Container Load |
When one container contains cargo for only one consignee. |
| 22. |
Feeder |
Feeder Service |
A kind of shipping
service in which ships ply between a distant port and some port having
linear service. For Ex- service between Haldia and Colombo. In this
case Haldia is a distant port whereas many linear routes pass through
Colombo. |
| 23. |
FEU |
Forty Feet Equivalent Unit |
A container of 40' length. One FEU is equal to 2 TEU. |
| 24. |
FR |
Flat Rack |
A kind of container which has just the bottom, like a rack. Generally used for oversized cargo. Freight is more. |
| 25. |
Freight |
Freight |
Money charged by shipping lines to take the cargo from one port to another. |
| 26. |
HBL |
House Bill of Lading |
The B/L issued by Freight Forwarder to the Shipper. In this B/L the name of actual importer will reflect as consignee. |
| 27. |
IATA |
International Air Transport Organisation |
An organisation of all the air transporters across the world. Any new air transporter needs an IATA license to operate. |
| 28. |
ICD |
Inland Container Depot |
ICDs' are a kind of CFS only. The only difference is that ICDs' are far from the ports. These are generally called Dry Ports. |
| 29. |
IGM |
Import General Manifest |
A document issued by carrier/agent to the port authorities stating that a container is coming for imports. |
| 30. |
LC |
Letter of Credit |
LC is the master
document. It is opened by the bank of consignee in favour of the
shipper. All the terms & conditions of the trade are mentioned in
this document. |
| 31. |
LCL |
Less than Container Load |
When one container contains cargo for more than one consignee. |
| 32. |
Lo-Lo |
Lift On Lift Off |
It is generally used
to describe the kind of terminals where vehicles/containers or any
cargo are lifted through lifts and put onto the ship. |
| 33. |
Mate's Receipt |
Mate's Receipt |
A declaration given by the captain of the ship about the cargo. B/L is issued based on this. |
| 34. |
MBL |
Master Bill of Lading |
The B/L issued by
Carrier to the Freight Forwarder. In this B/L Freight Forwarder will be
shown as consignee. This is done to hide the actual importers details
from the Carrier. |
| 35. |
MLO |
Main Line Operator |
The shipping lines, having linear services. |
| 36. |
MTO |
Multimodal Transport Operator |
A Kind of license issued by DG-Shipping. It authorises carriers to issue multimodal B/L. |
| 37. |
OT |
Open Top |
A kind of container which has no ceiling. Used for oversized cargo. Freight is more than general container. |
| 38. |
POD |
Port of Discharge |
The port where cargo is to be discharged. |
| 39. |
POL |
Port of Loading |
The port where cargo has been loaded on the ship. |
| 40. |
Reefer |
Refrigerated Container |
The containers
having refrigeration units. They have a battery to operate on and are
connected to external power at ports and on ships. Used for shipping
meats, fruits etc. |
| 41. |
RMQ |
Rail Mounted Quay |
A kind of crane used at container terminals. |
| 42. |
Ro-Ro |
Roll On Roll Off |
It is a kind of
terminal used to ship the vehicles in CBU forms. Vehicles are just
driven through the terminal and parked in the ship. |
| 43. |
SKD |
Semi Knocked Down |
Vehicles being shipped in parts. One vehicle is knocked down into 4-5 major parts and these parts are shipped. |
| 44. |
Slot |
Slot |
Money charged by shipping lines from NVOCC operators to take containers from one port to another. |
| 45. |
SoC |
Shipper Owned Container |
The containers which have been arranged by the shipper/agent and not by the shipping line. |
| 46. |
TAMP |
Tariff Authority of Major Ports |
A statutory body formed by GoI. It regulates the tariffs charged at all the 12 major ports in India. |
| 47. |
TEU |
Twenty Feet Equivalent Unit |
Represents a unit for containers. One TEU is equal to one container of 20' length. |
| 48. |
THC |
Terminal Handling Charges |
Charges to be paid
to terminal operator (Most of the cases-Ports). It includes loading
charges and charges paid to the stevedores. |
