Terms

All in — “All inclusive”.
The term means that the declared transportation cost covers all additional fees and services stipulated in the transportation contract. The client pays a fixed rate without hidden charges.

ATA (Actual Time of Arrival)
Indicates the exact moment when a vehicle (ship, airplane, train, etc.) actually arrives at the destination, as opposed to the scheduled time.

ATD (Actual Time of Departure)
Records the actual time the vessel, airplane, or other transport unit departs from the port or terminal.

AWB (Air Waybill)
Document issued by the air carrier upon cargo acceptance. Confirms the conclusion of an air transport contract and contains information about the shipper, consignee, and cargo details.

B/L (Bill of Lading)
Official confirmation that the carrier has received the cargo for maritime transportation and undertakes to deliver it to the port of destination. This document serves as both a transport contract and a receipt for goods. The shipper is responsible for the accuracy of the information.

BAF (Bunker Adjustment Factor)
Additional freight charge compensating for changes in fuel prices. Calculated based on fluctuations in fuel costs on the global market.

B/G (Bonded Goods)
Goods under customs control — cargo stored until all customs clearance procedures are completed. Until then, they are not subject to taxation.

Bonded Warehouse
A storage facility under the control of customs authorities. Goods can be stored here without paying taxes and duties until customs formalities are completed.

Booking Note
Document submitted to book space on a vessel or transport unit. Contains basic cargo information but is not used directly for issuing a bill of lading. After submission, the client commits to preparing the cargo by the specified deadline.

BLK (Bulk Cargo)
Cargo transported without packaging — for example, grain, coal, sand, ore, and other loose materials.

Break Bulk
Transport of general cargo without a container. Used for shipping individual cargo lots that do not fit or require containerization.

CAF (Currency Adjustment Factor)
Adjusting charge added to the freight rate to account for fluctuations in international currency exchange rates.

CBM (Cubic Meter)
Main unit of cargo volume measurement in logistics. Used for capacity, freight, and tariff calculations.

CIF — Cost, Insurance and Freight (Incoterms)
Delivery under CIF terms means the seller fulfills obligations when the goods cross the ship’s rail at the port of shipment. The price includes the cargo cost, transportation expenses, and marine insurance.

CFR — Cost and Freight (Incoterms)
Under CFR terms, the seller pays for shipping to the port, vessel freight, and export duties. Insurance is arranged by the buyer. Risks transfer to the buyer once the goods cross the ship’s rail. Applicable only for maritime and river transport.

CFS — Container Freight Station
Warehouse where goods are consolidated, loaded, and unloaded into containers. Often used for groupage shipments.

COC — Container of Carrier
Carrier-owned container — a container belonging to the transport company. Its usage cost is included in the total freight rate.

CNEE — Consignee
The recipient — a person or entity receiving the cargo at the destination according to transport documents.

CU.FT. — Cubic Foot (Feet)
Unit of volume measurement used for capacity and freight calculation, especially in international logistics.

Cut Off Time
Deadline for delivering cargo to the terminal and processing it for inclusion in a voyage. Missing this time may cause shipment delays.

CY — Container Yard
Container terminal — area for container storage before or after transport. CY/CY condition (terminal to terminal) means the carrier delivers the container between points, including freight, loading, and unloading.

DAP — Delivered At Place (Incoterms 2010)
Delivered to the specified place. The seller bears responsibility and costs until the goods are handed over at the agreed destination point. Applies to all transport modes. Replaces old terms DAF, DES, and DDU.

DAT — Delivered At Terminal (Incoterms 2010)
Delivered to the terminal. The seller is responsible for delivering the cargo to the chosen terminal (port, warehouse, container yard) and bears costs until unloading. Applicable to all transport modes; replaces DEQ.

DC — Dry Container
Standard closed container designed for transporting regular dry cargo without special storage requirements.

DDP — Delivery Duty Paid (Incoterms 2000)
Delivery with duties paid. The seller assumes all expenses, risks, and taxes, including duties, until the goods are delivered to the buyer in the importing country. Suitable for all transport modes.

DDU — Delivery Duty Unpaid (Incoterms 2000)
Delivery without paying duties. The seller bears expenses until the goods arrive at the destination, but import duties and taxes are paid by the buyer. The buyer is also responsible for potential customs delays.

DEMURRAGE
Fee charged for using a container beyond the free period. Calculated from container unloading until removal from the port. Paid to the container owner, usually the shipping line.

DES — Delivered ex Ship (Incoterms 2000)
Delivered “free on ship” — the seller fulfills obligations when goods are on board at the destination port. All further costs and risks transfer to the buyer.

DEQ — Delivered ex Quay (duty paid) (Incoterms 2000)
Delivered “free on quay with duties paid” — the seller bears all expenses, including duties, until the cargo is handed over at the quay.

Door to Door
Delivery “door-to-door” — the forwarder is responsible for transporting cargo from the shipper’s premises to the consignee’s door. Costs include all transportation stages.

DROP-OFF CHARGE
Fee for returning a container to a location different from the destination listed in the bill of lading.

EDI — Electronic Data Interchange
Automated system for exchanging commercial information between logistics participants.

ETA — Estimated Time of Arrival
Estimated arrival date and time when the vessel or transport is expected at the destination.

ETD — Estimated Time of Departure
Estimated departure date and time when the vessel or transport leaves the port of origin.

EXW — Ex Works (Incoterms)
Delivery “from the factory” — the seller makes goods available at their premises (warehouse, shop, etc.) without responsibility for loading or transportation. All costs and risks transfer to the buyer.

FAS — Free Alongside Ship (Incoterms)
Seller delivers the goods alongside the ship. Buyer pays loading, freight, insurance, and transportation. Risks transfer once cargo is alongside the vessel.

FCA — Free Carrier (Incoterms)
Seller fulfills obligations when delivering goods cleared for export to the carrier named by the buyer at the agreed location. Loading responsibility depends on where transfer occurs.

FCL — Full Container Load
Container fully loaded with cargo from one shipper for one consignee.

FOB — Free on Board (Incoterms)
Seller pays for delivery to the port and loading on the vessel. Risks transfer once goods cross the ship’s rail. Ownership often transfers at this point.

FEEDER
Small vessel or line transporting cargo between a minor port and a major hub for transshipment onto mainline vessels.

FEU — Forty-foot Equivalent Unit
Unit equal to the volume of a standard 40-foot container. Used for capacity and freight calculations.

FI — Free In
Sea term indicating freight does not include loading costs.

FIO — Free In and Out
Terms where loading and unloading costs are excluded from the freight rate and paid separately.

FO — Free Out
Sea term indicating freight does not cover unloading costs at the destination port.

FOR — Free on Rail
Freight rate does not include loading/unloading from railway cars or cleaning expenses.

FOT — Free on Truck
Price includes loading onto the truck; buyer pays further transport costs.

FR — Flat Rack
Platform container with end walls for oversized or heavy cargo: machinery, vehicles, aircraft engines, etc.

FREIGHT COLLECT
Freight paid by consignee — all transport costs borne by the receiver.

FREIGHT PREPAID
Freight paid by shipper — transport costs included in shipment price.

GP — General Purpose
Standard general-purpose container for most dry cargo.

GENERAL CARGO
Packaged or unitized cargo that can be counted (boxes, bags, containers, barrels, bales, etc.).

GRI — General Rate Increase
Temporary or seasonal surcharge set by shipping lines according to tariff policies.

HC — High Cube
Container taller than standard by 1 foot, allowing more volume.

IN-BOND
Cargo that has not undergone customs clearance and is under customs control.

LCL — Less than Container Load
Consolidated cargo — a shipment whose volume and weight are less than a container’s capacity; usually one container carries cargo from multiple shippers.

LI — Line In
“Line conditions on departure” — the forwarder ensures container removal from transport, placement at the terminal, and loading onto the vessel. These services are included in the freight rate.

LO — Line Out
“Line conditions on arrival” — includes unloading from the vessel, placement at the terminal, and subsequent loading onto the consignee’s transport.

MOTHER VESSEL
Main vessel — large-tonnage ship serving major ports and receiving cargo from feeder lines.

MT — Metric Ton
Unit of mass equal to 1000 kilograms.

NVOCC — Non Vessel Operating Common Carrier
Carrier without its own fleet — a company that leases cargo space on other shipping lines’ vessels and issues its own bills of lading.

OGC — Out of Gauge Cargo
Oversized cargo — items exceeding standard container dimensions.

OT — Open Top
Container with an open top, used for loading oversized cargo with cranes.

POD — Port of Destination
Port where the cargo is unloaded — the final destination of the shipment.

POL — Port of Loading
Port where cargo is loaded onto a vessel.

PSI — Port Security Charge – Import
Port security fee for imported cargo.

PSS — Peak Season Surcharge
Seasonal surcharge — additional freight charge during high demand periods (usually summer and autumn).

RAMP — Ramp
Loading platform used for transshipment between vehicles. “From/to ramp” means the forwarder transports cargo to the nearest ramp of the shipper or consignee.

REPO
Return of an empty container to the point specified by the carrier after unloading.

RF — Refrigerated Container
Container equipped with a cooling system for transporting perishable goods.

RO/RO — Roll-on/Roll-off
Vessel type with horizontal loading/unloading allowing vehicles and equipment to roll on and off without cranes.

SER — Carrier Security Charge
Charge for cargo security during transportation.

SHIPPER
The party providing cargo for transport and giving instructions to the carrier.

SHIPPING REQUEST
Document based on which a bill of lading is issued.

SOC — Shipper Owned Container
Container owned by the shipper (client), not the transport company.

STUFFING
Process of loading cargo into a container.

TEU — Twenty-foot Equivalent Unit
Unit equal to the volume of a standard 20-foot container.

THC — Terminal Handling Charges
Charges for terminal operations, including unloading, moving, stacking, and cargo delivery. Usually paid by the shipper at the loading port or by the consignee at the destination port.

TRANSSHIPMENT
Transfer of cargo in an intermediate port to another vessel for delivery to a destination not served directly by the main line.

UN CODE — United Nations Number
Four-digit identifier assigned to hazardous substances or their groups according to international classification. Developed by the UN Committee of Experts on the Transport of Dangerous Goods for accurate identification during transportation.

WAY BILL
Transport document confirming cargo acceptance and the carrier’s obligation to deliver it to the consignee. Like a bill of lading, it confirms receipt but is not a title document. The shipper is responsible for the accuracy of the information.

WM — Weight / Measurement
Freight calculation basis based on weight or volume — the larger value (weight or volume) is used to determine the transport cost.

WNS — Winter Surcharge
Additional freight charge for icebreaking support and navigation in freezing ports during winter.

FSC — Fuel Surcharge
Additional charge based on fuel price fluctuations to compensate the carrier’s expenses.

ISPS — International Ship and Port Facility Security Code
International code defining measures for vessel and port facility security to prevent terrorism and illegal interference in maritime transport.

IMO CLASS — International Maritime Organization Classification
Classification of hazardous cargo per IMO requirements, including 9 classes of hazard.