Chartering Terms Abbreviations
AA
Always Afloat
AAAA
Always Accessible Always Afloat
AARA
Amsterdam-Antwerp-Rotterdam Area
ABT
About
ADCOM
Address Commission
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
AGW
All Going Well
AHL
Australian Hold Ladders
ANTHAM
Antwerp-Hamburg Range
APS
Arrival Pilot Station
ARAG
Amsterdam-Rotterdam--Antwerp-Ghent Range
A/S
Alongside
ATDNSHINC
Any Time Day or Night Sundays and Holidays Included
ATUTC
Actual Times Used to Count
BAF
Bunker Adjustment Factor
BALLAST
Heavy weight, often sea water, necessary for the stability and safety of a ship which is not carrying cargo.
BAREBOAT CHTR
Bareboat Charter Owners lease a specific ship and control its technical management and commercial operations only
BBB
Before Breaking Bulk
BDI
Both Dates Inclusive
BENDS
Both Ends (Load & Discharge Ports)
BI
Both Inclusive
BIMCO
The Baltic and International Maritime Council
BL
Bale
BL
(Bill of Lading) A document signed by the carrier which acts as a receipt and evidence of title to the cargo.
BM
Beam
BEAM
The maximum breadth of a ship
BOB
Bunker on Board
BOFFER
Best Offer
BROB
Bunkers Remaining on Board
BSS
Basis
BSS 1/1
Basis 1 Port to 1 Port
BT
Berth Terms
BUNDLING
the assembly of pieces of cargo, secured into one manageable unit.
BUNKERS
Name given for vessels Fuel and Diesel Oil supplies
BWAD
Brackish Water Arrival Draft
CBM
Cubic Meter
CBFT (or CFT)
Cubic Feet
CFR (or C&F)
Cost and Freight
CHOPT
Charterers Option
CHTRS
Charterers
CIF
Cost, Insurance & Freight. Seller pays all these costs to a nominated port or place of discharge.
COA
Contract of Affreightment Owners agree to accept a cost per revenue ton for cargo carried on a specific number of voyages.
COACP
Contract of Affreightment Charter Party
COB
Close of Business
COD
Cash On Delivery
COGSA
Carriage of Goods by Sea Act
CONS
Consumption
COP
Custom Of Port
CP (or C/P)
Charter Party
CPD
Charterers Pay Dues
CPT
Carriage Paid To
CQD
Customary Quick Dispatch
CROB
Cargo Remaining on Board
CRN
Crane
CST
Centistoke
CTR
Container Fitted
DAPS
Days all Purposes (Total days for loading & discharging)
DDU
Delivered Duty unpaid.
DDP
Delivered Duty Paid.
DEM
Demurrage
DESP
Dispatch
DET
Detention
DHDATSBE
Dispatch Half Demurrage on Actual Time Saved
DISCH
Discharge
DK
Deck
DLOSP
Dropping Last Outwards Sea Pilot (Norway)
DO
Diesel Oil
DOLSP
Dropping Off Last Sea Pilot (Norway)
DOP
Dropping Outward Pilot
DOT
Department of Transport
DNRSAOCLONL
Discountless and Non-Returnable Ship and/or Cargo Lost or Not Lost
DRAFT
Depth to which a ship is immersed in water.
DRK
Derrick
DUNNAGE
Materials 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 forks of a lift truck may be inserted.
DWAT (or DWT)
Deadweight. Weight of cargo, stores and water, i.e. the difference between lightship and loaded displacement.
EC
East Coast
EIU
Even if Used
ELVENT
Electric Ventilation
ETA
Estimated Time of Arrival
ETC
Estimated Time of Completion
ETD
Estimated Time of Departure
ETS
Estimated Time of Sailing
EXW
Ex Works
FAS
Free Alongside Ship. Seller delivers goods to appropriate dock or terminal at port of embarkation and buyer covers costs and risks of loading.
FD
Free of Dispatch
FDD
Freight Demurrage Deadfreight
FDIS
Free Discharge
FEU
Forty foot container equivalency unit Standard 40' Container
FHEX
Fridays/Holidays Excluded
FHINC
Fridays/Holidays Included
FILO
Free In/Liner Out. Seafreight with which the shipper pays load costs and the carrier pays for discharge costs.
FIO
Free In/Out. Freight booked FIO includes the sea freight, but no loading/discharging costs, i.e.
FIOS
Free In/Out Stowed. As per FIO, but includes stowage costs.
FIOT
Free In/Out and Trimmed. As per FIOS but includes trimming the leveling of bulk cargoes
FIOSLSD
Free In/Out Stowed, Lashed, Secured and Dunnaged.
FIOST
Free In/Out and Trimmed. Charterer pays for cost of loading/discharging cargo, including stowage and trimming.
FIT
Free In Trimmed
FIW
Free In Wagon
FIXING
Chartering a Vessel
FLT
Full Liner Terms Shipowner pays to load and discharge the cargo
FMC
Federal Maritime Commission US government agency
FMS
Fathoms = 6 feet
FO (IFO)
Fuel Oil/Intermediate FO
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 and receivers due to events beyond their control.
FOT
Free On Truck
FOW
First Open Water or Free On Whart
FREE OUT
Free of discharge costs to Owners
FWAD
Fresh Water Arrival Draft
FWDD
Fresh Water Departure Draft
FYG
For Your Guidance
FYI
For Your Information
GA
General Average
GLS
Gearless
GNCN
Gencon a standard BIMCO charter party form
GN (or GR)
Grain (capacity)
GO
Gas Oil
GRD
Geared
GRT
Gross Registered Tonnage
GSB
Good Safe Berth
GSP
GoodSafe Port
GTEE
Guarantee
2H
Second Half
HA
Hatch
HDWTS
Half Dispatch Working Time Saved
HMS
Heavy Metal Scrap
HO
Hold
HW
High Water
IMDG
International Maritime Dangerous Goods Code
IMO
International Maritime Organization
IND
Indication
INTERMODAL
Carriage of a commodity by different modes of transport
ITF
International Transport Federation international body that regulates crewing of ships
IU
If Used
IUATUTC
If Used, Actual Time Used To Count
IUHATUTC
If Used, Half Actual Time Used To Count
IWL
Institute Warranty Limits