Freight, Maritime & Customs Glossary

A trusted-trader status granted by customs to operators meeting compliance and security standards.

The dominant EDI standard in North America, used for trade, transport, healthcare and finance.

An electronic message that pre-announces a shipment to the receiver, listing what is en route.

An international customs document allowing temporary import/export of goods without paying duty.

The standard transport document for international air cargo, issued by the airline (or its agent).

The UN/EDIFACT message that communicates a container vessel's full stowage plan (which container in which slot).

A charter where the charterer takes a vessel without crew or provisions and operates it as if owner.

A legal document acknowledging receipt of cargo for shipment, serving as a receipt, contract, and (often) document of title.

A structured list of components, sub-assemblies, and raw materials needed to manufacture a product.

The fuel oil used by a ship's engines; "bunkering" is the act of refuelling.

The legacy IATA EDI message standard for air cargo, being replaced by Cargo-XML.

An Incoterm where the seller pays cost and freight to destination, but buyer assumes risk at the load port.

A warehouse facility where LCL shipments are consolidated into containers (export) or de-consolidated (import).

A contract under which a shipowner hires out a vessel to a charterer for the carriage of cargo.

An Incoterm where the seller pays cost, insurance, and freight to the destination port; risk transfers at the load port.

The IMO's mandatory rating of a ship's operational carbon intensity, A (best) to E (worst).

A non-governmental organisation that surveys ships to verify they meet construction, equipment and operational standards.

A long-term contract committing a shipowner to carry a series of cargoes over a defined period.

The UN/EDIFACT message that confirms a container has been discharged from (or loaded to) a vessel.

The temperature-controlled logistics chain for perishable goods — pharma, fresh produce, meat, dairy, biotech.

The UN/EDIFACT message that pre-announces a container's arrival to a terminal or port community.

A shipping line's authorisation to release a container at the destination terminal to the named consignee.

The UN/EDIFACT message used by carriers to report cargo to customs authorities before arrival.

A licensed professional or company that handles customs entry filings on behalf of importers and exporters.

An Incoterm where the seller delivers goods to the buyer's premises with all costs and duties paid.

A synonym for bareboat charter — the charterer takes the vessel without crew and operates as if owner.

A penalty charge for keeping a container or vessel longer than the agreed free time at a port or terminal.

A penalty charge for holding a shipping line's container too long after it has left the port.

Cargo that poses a risk to safety or the environment, regulated by IATA DGR (air) or IMDG (sea).

A specialised dock that can be drained of water so a ship's hull can be inspected and worked on out of the water.

The paperless replacement for the traditional paper AWB, exchanged via EDI between forwarders and airlines.

Integrated software for managing the back-office of a business — finance, HR, procurement, inventory, manufacturing, sales.

A shipment that occupies an entire container, dedicated to one shipper.

The final statement of port-call costs, reconciled against actuals, replacing the proforma DA.

A shipping line that operates short-sea services connecting smaller ports to major hub ports.

An Incoterm where the seller delivers goods on board the vessel at the load port; buyer pays freight, insurance, and assumes risk from there.

A designated area where goods can be imported, stored, processed and re-exported without normal customs duties.

A company that provides cargo handling, passenger handling, and aircraft servicing on behalf of airlines at airports.

A document recording the actual receipt of goods into a warehouse — quantities, condition, discrepancies.

Marine insurance covering physical damage to the ship's hull, machinery, and equipment.

A bill of lading issued by a freight forwarder or NVOCC to the actual shipper of the cargo.

The international standardised numeric code that classifies traded products for customs duty, statistics and regulation.

The association of the 12 major classification societies that collectively classify 90%+ of world tonnage.

The IATA manual governing the safe transport of dangerous goods by air.

The UN agency responsible for international shipping safety, security, and environmental performance.

A set of standardised three-letter trade terms (EXW, FOB, CIF, DDP, etc.) defining responsibilities between buyer and seller.

The mandatory IMO standard for the safe management and operation of ships.

The mandatory IMO security framework for ships and port facilities, introduced after 9/11.

The final segment of a delivery — from local hub to end customer's door.

The agreed window during which a vessel must arrive at the load port to be acceptable under a charter.

A shipment that occupies less than a full container; multiple LCL shipments are consolidated together.

The IMO treaty regulating pollution from ships — oil, chemicals, sewage, garbage, air emissions.

A bill of lading issued by the shipping line to the freight forwarder or NVOCC who booked the container.

The ILO convention establishing minimum working and living conditions for seafarers, often called the "seafarers' bill of rights".

A planning method that calculates what materials to purchase or produce, in what quantity, by when, to meet demand.

A logistics company that issues its own bills of lading and consolidates shipments without owning vessels.

The period during which a time-chartered vessel is not earning hire because of an event outside the charterer's control.

A company that provides outsourced logistics services — typically warehousing, fulfilment, transportation and customs.

Third-party liability insurance for shipowners, covering cargo damage, crew injury, pollution, and other risks not covered by hull insurance.

A computerised system for scheduling and tracking maintenance tasks across a vessel's machinery and equipment.

Evidence that a shipment was delivered — typically a signed receipt or digital signature plus photo.

The statement of all port-call costs that a ship agent collects from the shipowner or operator.

Oversized, heavy, or complex cargo that requires specialised planning, equipment, and multi-leg transport coordination.

A refrigerated container with its own machinery, used for temperature-controlled ocean and intermodal transport.

Wireless technology for identifying tagged items at distance — used widely in WMS and supply chain tracking.

A vessel type (and freight mode) where wheeled cargo drives on and off the ship under its own power or via tugmasters.

The IMO's most important treaty, regulating minimum safety standards for commercial ships worldwide.

The IMO convention setting minimum training and certification standards for ship's crew worldwide.

A charter where the charterer hires a vessel for a defined period, paying a daily hire rate.

Software for planning, executing, and optimising the movement of goods — typically road but also rail/air/sea.

A pallet or container used to load air cargo onto wide-body aircraft.

The dominant international EDI standard for cross-border trade messages, used widely in maritime, customs and freight.

A secure-cargo workflow for high-value shipments — precious metals, currency, jewellery, art, controlled substances.

A charter where the shipowner is paid to carry a specific cargo on a specific voyage between named ports.

Software for managing warehouse operations — inbound, storage, picking, packing, dispatch, inventory accuracy.