Glossary of marine terms

Abbreviation for linear transportations between ports:

• FIOS - Free in / out (loading and discharging at a sender's cost);

• FILO - Free in / Liner out (loading at the sender's cost, discharging at the line's cost);

• LIFO - Liner in / Free out (loading at the line's cost, discharging at the sender's cost);

• LILO - Liner in / out (loading and discharging at the line's cost - linear terms completely).

Depending on the practices of the particular port here can be added various allowances:

• CAF (Currency Adjustment Factor) – indexation of exchange difference;

• BAF (Bunker Adjustment Factor) – indexation of fuel prices' changes;

• Wharfage - port duty;

• CUC (Chassis Using Charge) - fee for use of the chassis;

• Documentation Free - administration fee and several others.

Besides the port container in sea container traffic can be delivered to the container terminal (container yard) near the port or in the interior of the country, depending on the line's activity in the area. And, of course, it can be delivered to the "door" of the client. According to it, we can add following conditions:

• FICY - Free in / Container yard (with no loading at the port - to the container terminal);

• LI-Door - Liner in / Door (loading at the port at the line's cost - the "door" of the client.)

It should be noted that even during the transportation Door-to-Door, , the line only serves the container to the address, but almost never performs stuffing / unstuffing of containers. This question the consignor decides on its own or with the help of the freight forwarder.

Bills of lading types

The differences between the bills of lading are small but important. These nuances are mentioned in the definition of bills of lading with the description of what they do.

Onboard bill of lading

Onboard bill of lading (Board B / L) certifies that the cargo accepted for transportation are actually loaded onto the ship.

Delivery order (D/O)

Delivery order - title document issued by the carrier or the consignee to confirm the captain of the ship. It is used in case of a partial sale of the goods to the consignee, before he took the delivery. Delivery - the order to transfer some parts of the cargo at the port of destination to another person.

Insured bill of lading

Insured Bill of Lading - is a combination of a transport document and the insurance policy. It is proof of how the goods are to be transported, of its insurance. It is popular when the cargo is transported in containers.

Straight bill of lading

Straight bill of Lading (Straight B / L) - compiled by the name of the specific consignee. By the straight bill of lading the goods are handed at the port of destination to the recipient, which is specified in the bill of lading. To deliver the goods to another person is possible only on the basis of transactions executed in compliance with the rules established for the transfer of the claim.

Bearer bill of lading

Transferred in exchange for the goods by mere delivery.

Received for shipment bill of lading

Received for shipment Bill of Lading (Received for shipment B / L) - the bill of lading received for a shipment at the port waiting for a ship, not arrived yet.

Line bill of lading

Liner bill of Lading (Liner B / L) - a bill of lading issued by the shipping company or on its behalf, and absorbing a freight on the ships, plying on regular routes in accordance with the established and published timetable.

Claused bill of Lading

Claused bill of Lading (Claused B / L; Unclean bill of lading) - the bill of lading with a mark about the damage of the goods and / or packaging.

Local bill of lading

Local bill of Lading - with reference to the through bill of lading for which the cargo accepted for transportation. Local bills of lading have official value for the reporting of the line, port, and are not documents of title.

Order bill of lading or a negotiable bill of lading

Order bill of lading; Negotiable bill of landing (Negotiable B / L) - the bill of lading in which the cargo is transferred to "order" of the consignor, or "order" consignee, or "order" of the bank, or by endorsement of anyone's for whom the "order" is made . If the order bill of lading does not specify that it is made to "order" of the recipient, it is considered that it is made to "order" of the sender. "Order" is the indication of the person to whom the goods should be handed. For example, when a recipient can not receive cargo at the port of destination, in this case, the goods can be taken by forwarder, which will be that person.

Direct bill of lading

Direct bill of lading – the bill of lading that absorbs the shipment between the direct ports of loading and discharging on the same ship.

Combined (Collapsible) bill of lading

Combined (Collapsible) bill of lading - a few loads for different consignees.

Through bill of lading

Through Bill of Lading (Through B / L, TBL) - providing transshipment of the cargo to another vessel at an intermediate point and absorbing all the shipping from the port of loading to the place of final destination. Such shipments are possible if the carrier has a few regular lines in different directions or according to the agreement between the two carriers – the ones who take the goods at the port of departure and deliver it away from the port of transshipment. Commonly, carriers, together transporting the cargo, according to the through bill of lading, shall be specified by their mutual commitments. Each carrier shall be liable only for that part of the way in which he performs the carriage. Clear markings about the transfer of cargo from one carrier to another are important to have, when you work with the through bill of lading.

Freight rate - is the basic freight rate with some changes and additions on the date of the charter. It mainly depends on the type of cargo, the distance and the direction of transportaion. If the size of the freight rate is not provided, the freight rate is set by agreement of the parties.

Booking note - a contract of freight, for which separate consignment fixed for the next trip of he ship, according to the timetable. Regular shipping lines register loads in advance for the next trip.

Feeder vessel - a small vessel that is capable of cruising at relatively shallow depths. These vessels are used for the transportation of containers coming with the liners, and each collects containers along their route.

Liner – is the ship that makes trips between certain ports, according to its timetable. Usually in linear cargo ships shipment of goods is made in small batches. For each batch is given a separate bill of lading. On the liner for different containers there are different ports of destination.