Glossary of Chartering Terms

The following are generally accepted code terms used internationally in the shipping community:

AGW - All going well
AAAA - Always Afloat, Always Accessible
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
AHL - Australian Hold Ladders
ANTHAM - Antwerp-Hamburg Range
APS - Arrival Pilot Station
ARAG - Amsterdam-Rotterdam-Antwerp-Gent Range
A/S - Alongside
ATDNSHINC - Any Time Day/Night Sundays and Holidays Included
ATUTC - Actual Time Used To Count
BAF - Bunker Adjustment Factor
BALLAST -Heavy weight, necessary for the stability of a ship not carrying cargo.
BBB - Before Breaking Bulk
BDI - Both Dates Inclusive
BENDS - Both Ends
BI - Both Inclusive
BIMCO - Baltic and International Council
BL - Bill of Lading
BM - Beam
BOB - Bunker on Board
BOFFER - Best Offer
BROB - Bunkers Remaining on Board
BSS - Basis
B S S 1/1 - Basis 1 port to 1 port
BT - Berth Terms
BWAD - Brackish Water Arrival Draft
CBM - Cubic Meter
CBFT - Cubic Feet
C&F - Cost and Freight
C&F FO - Cost & Freight Free Out
CHOPT - Charterers Option
CHTRS - Charterers
CIF - Cost, Insurance & Freight
CKD - Completely knocked down
COA - Contract of Affreightment
COACP - Contract of Affreightment Charter Party
COB - Closing of Business
COD - Cash on Delivery
COGSA - Carriage of Goods by Sea Act
CONS - Consumption
COP - Custom Of The Port
CP - Charter Party
CPD - Charterers Pay Dues
CPT - Carriage Paid To
CQD - Customary Quick Dispatch
CR - Current Rate
CROB - Cargo Remaining on Board
CRN - Crane
CST - Centistoke
CTR - Container Fitted
DAPS - Days All Purposes
DAMFORDET - Damages for Detention
DDU - Delivery Duty Unpaid
DDP - Delivery Duty Paid
DEM - Demurrage
DHDATSBE - Dispatch Half Demurrage on All Time Saved Both Ends
DHDWTSBE - Dispatch Half Demurrage on Working TIme Saved Both Ends
DISCH - Discharge
DK - Deck
DOP - Dropping Outward Pilot
DOT - Department of Transportation
DNRCAOSLONL - Discountless and Non-Returnable Cargo and/or Ship Lost or Not Lost
DRK - Derrick
DWAT - Deadweight
EC - East Coat
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
FCA - Free to Carrier
FDEDANRSAOCLONL - Freight Deemed Earned Discountless & Non-Refundable Ship &/or Cargo Lost Or Not Lost
FDESP - Free Dispatch
FDD - Freight Demurrage Deadfreight
FDIS - Free Discharge
FEU - Standard 40' Container
FHEX - Fridays, Holidays Excepted (Muslim Countries)
FHINC - Fridays, Holidays Included (Muslim Countries)
FILO - Free In/Liner Out
FIOS - Free In & Out & Stowed
FIOST - Free In & Out, Stowed & Trimmed
FIOT - Free In & Out & Trimmed
FIW - Free In Wagon
FMC - Federal Maritime Commission
FMS - Fathoms
FO - Fuel Oil
FOB - Free On Board
FOG - For Our Guidance
FOQ - Free On Quay
FOQ - Free On Truck
FOW - Free On Wharf
FWAD - Fresh Water Arrival Draft
FWDD - Fresh Water Departure Draft
FYG - For Your Guidance
FYI - For Your Information
GA - General Average
GLS - Gearless
GNCN- General Conditions
GN -Grain
GO -Gas Oil
GRD- Geared
GRT -Gross Restricted Tonnage
GSB -Guaranteed Safe Berth
GSP -Good Safe Port
GTEE- Guarantee
HA -Hatch
HDLTSBENDS -Half Dispatch Lay Time Saved Both Ends
HDWTS -Half Dispatch Working Time Saved
HMS -Heavy Metal Scraps
HO- Hold
HW -High Water
IMDG -International Maritime Dangerous Goods Code
IMO- International Maritime Organization
IND -Indication
IU -If Used
IUHTAUTC -If Used, Half Time Actually to Count
I WL -Institute Warranty Limits
LAT- Latitude
LOA -Length Overall of the Vessel
LW -Low Water
LYCN -Laycan (Layday Cancelling Date)
MB -Merchant Broker
MDO- Marine Diesel Oil
MOLCHOPT -More or Less Charterers Option
MOLOO- More or Less Owners Option
MT -Metric Ton
M/V -Motor Vessel
NAABSA -Not Always Afloat but Safely Aground
NCB -National Cargo Bureau
NOR -Notice of Readiness
NRT -Net Restricted Tonnage
NYPE- New York Produce Exchange
OO -Owners Option
OSH- Open Shelter Deck
OWS -Owners
PC -Period of Charter
PCGO -Part Cargo
PCT -Percent
PDPR- Per Day Pro-rated
PHPD -Per Hatch Per Day
PRATIQUE -License or permission to use a port
PWWD -Per Weather Working day
RCVR -Receivers
ROB -Remaining on Board
RT -Revenue Ton
SATPM -Saturday P.M.
SB -Safe Berth
SD -Single Decker
SELFD -Self Discharging
SF -Stowage Factor
SHEX -Sundays, Holidays Excepted
SHINC -Sundays, Holidays Included
SL Bale (capacity)
SOC- Shipper Owned Container
SOF -Statement of Facts
SP -Safe Port
SRBL -Signing and Releasing Bill of Lading
SSHEX- Saturdays, Sundays, Holidays Excluded
SSHINC- Saturdays, Sundays, Holidays Included
STEM -Subject to Enough Merchandise
SUB -Subject (to)
SWAD- Salt Water Arrival Draft
SWDD -Salt Water Departure Draft
TC -Time Charter
TEU- Standard 20' Container
TTL -Total
TW -Tween Decker
USC -Unless Sooner Commenced
UU -Unless Used
UUIWCTAUTC -Unless Used In Which Case Time Actually Used To Count
VPD -Vessel Pays Dues
WIBON -Whether In Berth Or Not
WIFPON- Whether In Free Pratique Or Not
WCCON- Whether Customs Cleared Or Not
WIPON -Whether In Port Or Not
WLTOHC- Water Line-To-Hatch Coaming
WOG -Without Guarantee
WP- Weather Permitting
WWD- Weather Working Day
WRIC -Wire Rods In Coils
WWR -When, Where Ready
YAR -York Antwerp Rules
Z UTC=GMT