The Maritime Glossary

Every acronym, charge, document and convention you'll encounter on a bill of lading, a port circular or an alliance announcement — explained in plain language by our newsroom.

Terms

Letters covered

Topics

Free

For everyone

A 4 terms

Aframax Vessels Aframax tankers are common on regional crude and product trades, including cargoes into Indian west-coast refineries, because their size suits many ports that cannot take larger tankers. AIS Vessels Automatic Identification System A radio-based ship-tracking system mandated by IMO SOLAS for vessels above 300 GT. Transmits identity, position, course and speed every 2-10 seconds; underpins every commercial vessel-tracking platform. All-in Rate Charges Shippers compare all-in rates to see the real cost of a booking. Always check which surcharges are included, as quotes labelled all-in can still exclude destination charges. Arrival Notice Documents Consignees use the arrival notice to arrange customs clearance and payment in time, so the container can be released before free time runs out.

B 7 terms

BAF Charges BAF is one of the first lines shippers check on a quote, as it moves with bunker prices and with low-sulphur fuel rules. Ballast Vessels Ships discharging ballast in Indian ports must manage it to avoid introducing invasive species, which is why ballast-water treatment systems are now standard on new ships. Berth Ports Berth availability drives waiting time at anchorage. Port performance dashboards in India track berth occupancy and pre-berthing detention. Bill of Entry Documents Importers or their customs brokers file the bill of entry before or on arrival. Filing early (advance filing) lets assessment start before the ship berths and cuts clearance time. Bill of Lading Documents Banks, buyers and carriers all rely on the B/L. Releasing cargo against an original B/L protects the seller until payment is made. Break Bulk Cargo Project cargo and steel exports from Indian ports often move as break bulk, which needs different handling equipment and longer port stays than containers. Bunkering Vessels Bunker prices at a port affect whether ships choose to refuel there. Competitive bunkering is a key part of India's plans to attract transhipment calls.

C 11 terms

Cabotage Trade & Policy Cabotage rules decide whether foreign-flag ships can carry cargo between Indian ports, which affects coastal shipping costs and transhipment routing. CAF Charges CAF shields carriers from currency swings. Shippers on rupee-priced contracts should check whether CAF still applies. Capesize Vessels Capesize ships carry most iron ore and coal moving long distances, so their freight rates are a key indicator for the dry bulk market. CBAM Trade & Policy Indian exporters of steel, aluminium, cement and fertilisers to the EU must report embedded emissions, and face carbon costs under the regulation. CFS Ports CFSs near major ports handle LCL consolidation and customs examination, taking pressure off terminal yards. Charter Party Documents Charter parties set the hire, laytime and demurrage terms for bulk and tanker voyages. Standard forms from BIMCO are widely used as the base contract. CII Regulation Carriers pass CII compliance costs on through slower steaming and low-carbon surcharges on some trade lanes. Classification Society Regulation Insurers, flag states and charterers rely on class certificates to judge whether a ship is seaworthy. CONCOR Ports CONCOR's rail services move most of the containers between India's west-coast ports and inland depots in the north. Consignee Documents The consignee must clear customs and pay any destination charges before collecting cargo, so their details on the B/L must match the import filing. Cut-off Ports Missing a cut-off means the container rolls to the next sailing, which can delay delivery by a week or more.

D 6 terms

Demurrage Charges Demurrage builds up quickly when customs clearance or payment is delayed, so importers track free time from the day the ship discharges. Detention Charges Detention starts once a container leaves the port and is not returned empty in time, which often happens when factory unloading is slow. DGFT Trade & Policy Exporters deal with DGFT for importer-exporter codes (IEC), export incentives and licences for restricted goods. DPD Ports Importers approved for DPD can collect containers straight from the terminal, saving CFS handling charges and days of dwell time. Draught Vessels Draught limits at a port decide the largest ships that can call fully loaded, which is why channel deepening is a recurring port investment. DWT Vessels DWT is the figure brokers use to compare cargo-carrying capacity when fixing bulk carriers and tankers.

E 3 terms

ECA Regulation Ships trading into ECAs must burn fuel with very low sulphur content or use scrubbers, which raises fuel costs on those routes. EEXI Regulation Older ships often meet EEXI by limiting engine power, which lowers their top speed. ETA Ports ETAs drive berth planning, labour allocation and customs pre-filing; frequent ETA changes are a common source of port congestion.

F 5 terms

FAK Charges FAK rates keep quoting simple for mixed cargo, but shippers of high-value goods may get better terms with commodity-specific rates. FCL Cargo FCL is usually cheaper per unit than LCL once a shipment fills most of a container, and avoids CFS handling. FEU Cargo Carriers often quote per FEU on long-haul trades. One FEU counts as two TEUs in port throughput figures. FOB Trade & Policy Under FOB the buyer books and pays for ocean freight, so Indian exporters selling FOB have less control over shipping schedules. Free Time Charges Negotiating longer free time with carriers is a common way for importers to avoid demurrage and detention bills.

G 2 terms

GRI Charges GRIs are announced in advance but do not always stick; how much is actually applied depends on market demand on that lane. GT Vessels Many port dues and safety rules are set by GT bands, so it appears on almost every port call invoice.

H 1 term

HBL Documents Shippers who book through a forwarder receive an HBL; the forwarder holds the carrier's MBL and releases cargo against the HBL at destination.

I 5 terms

ICD Ports ICDs let inland exporters and importers clear customs close to their factories, with containers moving to and from ports by rail or road. ICEGATE Trade & Policy Customs brokers file shipping bills and bills of entry on ICEGATE and track their status there. IMDG Regulation Shippers of hazardous goods must declare, label and pack them correctly; carriers may refuse or surcharge dangerous cargo bookings. Incoterms Trade & Policy The Incoterm in a sales contract decides who books freight, who pays insurance and where risk passes, so it shapes the whole shipping plan. ISPS Regulation Indian ports and terminals must hold ISPS compliance, which shapes gate access, cargo screening and security drills.

L 2 terms

LCL Cargo LCL suits small exporters, but costs per cubic metre are higher and transit times longer because of consolidation at the CFS. Letter of Credit Documents Discrepancies between the L/C and the shipping documents are a common reason for payment delays, so exporters check documents carefully before presentation.

M 2 terms

MARPOL Regulation MARPOL rules on fuel sulphur, garbage and emissions shape fuel choice and operating costs for every ship calling Indian ports. MBL Documents The forwarder or NVOCC uses the MBL to collect cargo from the carrier, then delivers to its own customers against their HBLs.

N 1 term

NVOCC Cargo NVOCCs let small shippers access carrier capacity and often offer LCL consolidation services.

P 3 terms

P&I Club Regulation Ports and authorities usually require proof of P&I cover before a ship can call, as it guarantees payment of third-party claims. Panamax Vessels Panamax bulk carriers are widely used for coal and grain shipments into Indian ports. PCS Ports India's PCS lets shipping lines, terminals, customs brokers and CFSs exchange documents such as delivery orders electronically, reducing paperwork and delays.

R 2 terms

Reefer Cargo Reefer exporters need power points at terminals and CFSs and close temperature monitoring; any break in the cold chain can spoil the cargo. RoRo Vessels RoRo ships carry India's car exports and are also used on coastal and ferry routes for trucks.

S 3 terms

Sagarmala Trade & Policy Sagarmala funding supports projects such as port connectivity roads, coastal berths and fishing harbours, which affect where new cargo capacity comes up. Sea Waybill Documents Sea waybills speed up delivery because the consignee does not need an original document, so they suit trusted trading partners and intra-company shipments. Shipping Bill Documents Exporters or their customs brokers file the shipping bill on ICEGATE; it is also the basis for export incentive claims.

T 3 terms

TEU Cargo Port and carrier capacity is measured in TEU, so throughput figures for Indian ports are reported in TEU. THC Charges THC is charged at both origin and destination and is often billed separately from ocean freight, so it can surprise shippers comparing quotes. Transhipment Ports Developing deep-water transhipment hubs such as Vizhinjam is aimed at moving India's transhipment cargo away from foreign hubs.

U 1 term

ULCV Vessels Only ports with deep draught and large cranes can handle ULCVs, which is why Indian ports are deepening channels and upgrading berths.

V 2 terms

VLCC Vessels VLCCs carry much of the crude oil imported into India from the Middle East, often discharging at single-point moorings offshore. VLSFO Vessels VLSFO prices feed directly into carriers' bunker surcharges, so they affect freight costs on every trade lane.

The Maritime Glossary

Site Links

Site Links

Follow Us