AAAA - Always Accessible Always Afloat
AARA - Amsterdam-Antwerp-Rotterdam Area
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
A/E - Accept / Except
ASF - As follows
AWIWL - Always Within Institute Warranty Limits
BAF - Bunker Adjustment Factor. A Fuel Surcharge expressed as percentage added or subtracted
from the freight amount reflecting the movement in the market place price for bunkers.
BALLAST - Heavy weight, often sea water, necessary for the stability and safety of a ship which is not
carying 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 (1) - Bale
BL (2) - (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 - This is the assembly of pieces of cargo, secured into one manageable unit. This is a
very flexible description, a rule of thumb is to present cargo at a size easily handled by a large (20
tonne) fork lift truck.
BUNKERS - Name given for vessels Fuel and Diesel Oil supplies (Originates from coal bunkers)
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 Despatch
CROB - Cargo Remaining on Board
CRN - Crane
CST - Centistoke
CTR - Container Fitted
CVE - Communication / Victuals / Entertainment
DAPS - Days all Purposes (Total days for loading & discharging)
DDU - Delivered Duty unpaid.
DDP - Delivered Duty Paid.
DEM - Demurrage
DESP - Despatch
DET - Detention
DHDATSBE - Despatch Half Demurrage on Actual Time Saved Both Ends
DHDWTSBE - Despatch Half Demurrage on Working Time Saved Both Ends
DISCH - Discharge
DK - Deck
DLOSP - Dropping Last Outwards Sea Pilot (Norway)
DO - 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. The depth varies according to the design of the
ship and will be greater or lesser depending not only on the weight of the ship and everything on
board, but also on the density of the water in which the ship is lying.
DRK - Derrick
DUNNAGE - 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 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.
Abbreviations A - D: