AANZFTA
ASEAN-Australia-New Zealand Free Trade Area.
ABS
American Bureau of Shipping. US based classification society for merchant ships and marine systems.
Act of God
A natural event beyond human control which may result in the damage of property or loss of life, such as flooding, earthquake, lightning, etc.
Addendum
Please refer Amendment.
Ad Valoren
Meaning ‘according to value’, it is the chargeable tax based on the value of goods or property.
Agency Fee
Sometimes referred to as an Attendance Fee, the Agency Fee represents freight related charges while the ship is at port.
Agent
Short for Freight Agent, it is a person, company or business that acts for or represents another with authority to direct the transport of goods and submit associated paperwork.
Aggregated Coal
Varieties of coal blended together.
AIMS
American Institute of Merchant Shipping.
Amendment
An amendment or addendum, is an additional requirement or modification made to a document (i.e. a Booking Confirmation), following publication or printing.
AMS
Operated by the United States Customs and Border Protection agency, the Automated Manifest System (AMS) is an electronic information transmission system which was implemented in 2004 for security purposes. All US imports require an AMS filing, which documents inventory and cargo information.
ANF
Arrival Notification Form abbreviation, advising consignees of goods that are due to arrive soon.
ASABOSA
Association of Ships’ Agents & Brokers.
ASL
Association of Shipping Lines.
ATA Carnet
International customs documentation granting temporary importation of goods without payment of otherwise applicable duties and taxes.
ATF
Approved Transitional Facilities – Containment areas or warehouses approved by New Zealand MPI to hold and manage imported goods that are considered a biosecurity risk or hazard, such as plant materials, used machinery, sea containers, etc.
Athens Convention
An international convention governing the carriage of passengers and their luggage by sea including liability.
Attendance Fee
Please refer Agency Fee.
BAF
Bunker Adjustment Factor. Floating sea freight charges accounting for oil price fluctuations. See FAF for similar road transport fuel surcharge.
Bagged Cargo
Also called a breakbulk, bagged cargo refers to various commodities that are commonly packed in sacks or bags, such as grain, sugar, cement, etc.
Barcode
A series of bars and spaced which represent data relating to an object, product or freight consignment
Bareboat Charter
A hired or chartered vessel agreement which excludes running expenses (ie crew and provisions).
Barge
>A flat-bottom boat commonly used to transport cargo and goods across rivers, canals or other protected waterways.
B/D
A measurement of petroleum output, B/D or BPD refers to the number of barrels produced per day (barrels per day).
Beam
Also referred to as breadth, the beam is the width of a vessel at its widest point.
Berth
Allocated wharf docking area for a vessel.
Bill Of Lading
The Bill of Lading is a legal document and receipt cataloguing goods for shipment and carriage contract terms.
B/L
Abbreviation for Bill Of Lading. Please refer Bill Of Lading.
B/L Ton
Also referred to as Freight Ton, B/L Ton is the greater measurement or weight of cargo where one tonne is either 1,000 kg or one cubic metre.
Booking
Also referred to as a Booking Request, a booking is a schedule order made in advance to transport goods and cargo.
Booking Confirmation
Document confirming freight is reserved for shipment at appointed place and date.
B/P
Also referred to as BOP, B/P is an acronym for balance of payments.
Breadth
Please refer Beam.
Breakbulk
Cargo that is not shipped in shipping containers.
Breakbulk Vessel
A general or multipurpose cargo ship which typically carries freight of various or non-uniform sizes.
Bow
The front end of a ship.
Bulk
Cargo commodities transported in loose, unpacked or large quantities and stored in the hull of a vessel (or cargo hold), such as gravel, grain ore or oils.
Bulk Carrier
Also referred to as bulk freighter or bulker, a bulk carrier is a ship specifically designed to transport bulk commodity cargoes such as coal, cement, diesel, etc. Such goods are stored in the vessel’s cargo hold.
Bulkhead
A wall within the hull of a ship used to partition compartments for functional, safety and structural purposes.
Bunker Surcharge
Please refer BAF.
Cabotage
Passengers or goods transported between two points by sea or air within the same country.
Cans
New Zealand slang for shipping containers.
Capsize
When a vessel has turned on its side or is positioned upside-down (bottom up).
Cargo
Goods and merchandise stowed on a ship, truck, train, aircraft or other vehicle for transport.
Cargo Bays
Facility or warehouse loading dock, where vehicles are loaded/unloaded.
Cargo Hold
The area within an aircraft or ship assigned to storing cargo.
Cargo Manifest
A transport document finalised at departure, listing all cargo (including quantities and descriptions), crew and passengers on board, for destination port authorities including customs.
Cargo Packing
The process of loading shipping containers and pallets with goods in preparation for transport and storage.
Cargo Plan
Vessel loading plan, based on commodity types, quantities, weights, scheduled unloading ports and other key considerations to ensure the ship is seaworthy, efficiently loaded, and ready for departure on time.
Cargo Preference
A portion of a nation’s imports and exports reserved to national-flag ships.
Cargo Preference
A portion of a nation’s imports and exports reserved to national-flag ships.
Cargo Ship
Also referred to as a freighter, a cargo ship is any vessel that primarily carries cargo.
Carriage of Goods Act of 1979
governing the transport of goods (responsibilities and liabilities) and covered under Champion Freight’s terms of service (section 19.2).
Carriers
1. Carriers are transport companies that move cargo by land, sea or air.
2. Vessel types, ie bulk carrier.
Carrier’s Certificate
A document specifying cargo particulars, issued by the carrier and presented to customs authorities.
Cartage
The transport of goods by truck.
CBAFF
Abbreviation for Customs Electronic Delivery Order, a CEDO is a Customs export entry which must be completed, submitted and approved by Customs prior to cargo export and loading to vessel.
CEDO Chase
When a shipping line urgently requests CEDO documentation and Customs approval prior to cargo loading for export.
Cell
A slot aboard a cellular vessel used to secure containerised freight.
Cellular Vessel
Please refer Container Ship.
Certificate of Origin
Used in foreign trade, a certificate of origin documents the country in which goods were manufactured, produced, or processed amongst other important shipment details including destination, commodity, etc.
C&F
Cost and Freight – terms of sale quoting the cost of goods and delivery.
CFS
Container Freight Station. Also referred to as a container terminal or container yard, the CFS is the designated port location assigned to the storage, loading and unloading of containerised freight to and from vessels.
Charter
The leasing of a vessel and/or crew for a voyage.
Charterer
The person or party who charters a ship.
Charter Party Agreement
Legal agreement specifying contact terms relating to the hiring of a charter vessel for a particular voyage or defined period of time.
Charter Rates
Trade tariffs applied for chartering tonnage.
Chemical Tanker
A transport ship specially designed to carry chemicals in bulk.
CIF
Cost, Insurance, Freight – terms of sale quoting the cost of goods, transport insurance and delivery.
Clean Ship
An oil tanker which has removed all traces of crude and heavy fuel oils from cargo areas which can remain following transportation and delivery.
CM
Centimetres. 1cm = 0.39370078740157477in.
CMA CGA
Compagnie Maritime d’Affretement, Compagnie Generale Maritime (shipping line).
Coastal Service
Additionally referred to as coastwise, a coastal service is a domestic shipping route that follows a single coast.
Code of Line Conduct
The regulation of shipping traffic in terms of shipment quantities between two foreign countries – 20% for owners of the country which is neither the origin nor the destination, 40% for owners of the country of destination and 40% for owners of the country of origin, as drafted under the auspices of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development.
COGSA
Carriage of Goods by Sea Act – United States legislation governing the rights and responsibilities between shippers and owners for all US sea freight imports and exports.
Collier
A ship used for the transportation of coal.
Commercial Invoice
Used in international trade, a commercial invoice is used for customs declaration purposes detailing the value of goods.
Commodity
A commodity is a specification of products and goods, such as food, machinery, oil, etc.
Common Point
Intersection of multiple transit routes.
Consignee
The consignee is a person or party who is considered to be the owner or purchaser of a consignment.
Consignor
The consignor is the person or party sending a consignment.
Consolidation
The merging and optimisation of freight consignments into one shipment to improve efficiency and reduce costs.
Consular Invoice
Required by some foreign countries, the consular invoice is a document used in international trade to certify a shipment of goods and details relative cargo particulars including commodity, consignee, consignor, etc.
Container
A container, or shipping container, is a steel rectangular box or collapsible platform typically measuring 10ft, 20ft and 40ft in length. They are used for storage and modular transportation by road, rail and sea.
Container Chase
When a shipping line urgently requests container numbers for shipments that are yet to be gated in for loading. Such information is used by the shipping line to finalise cargo manifests and loading placement/order.
Container Crane
Also known as a ship-to-shore crane, or container handling gantry crane, the container crane is a specially designed dockside gantry crane used to load and unload shipping containers to and from vessels.
Containerised Freight
Also referred to as containerised cargo, containerised freight are goods packed into standardised shipping containers measuring 20ft and 40ft in length, ready for shipment and transportation
Container Service Charge
Containerised freight terminal handling and storage fee.
Container Ship
Additionally referred to as a cellular vessel, a container ship is a type of freighter or cargo ship designed to transport containerised freight.
Container Stuffing List (CSL)
List of goods and how they are stowed within a shipping container.
Container Terminal
Please refer CFS.
Container Yard
Please refer CFS.
Conveyance
The transport of freight from one location to another or the means by which cargo is transported (ie vehicle).
Cross-Docking
The physical delivery of inbound cargo for immediate outbound transport, with an aim to eliminate or minimise storage time and costs.
Cubic Capacity
Measured in cubic metres and feet, the cubic capacity is the cargo carrying capacity of a ship, or shipping container.
Currency Adjustment Factor (CAF)
A fee which accounts for fluctuations in international currency exchange rates.
Customs Broker
An individual or company who is licensed by the government to submit and clear goods or merchandise through customs.
Customs Clearance
The act of passing imported or exported goods through customs, subject to documentation and physical inspection approval (where applicable), permitting cargo to enter or leave the country.
Cut & Run
A cut and run can refer to the late arrival of a vessel at port, requiring the ship to depart prematurely without loading all reserved cargo and shipping containers in order to maintain sailing schedule. Original use of the term related to the hasty departure of a vessel requiring the ship’s anchor cable to be cut in order to make sail at once.
CWD
Container Weight Declaration. Subject to country, federal or state legislation, a CWD may be required in order to transport international sea freight containers by road or rail.
Dangerous Goods
Also referred to as hazardous material, dangerous goods are potentially harmful substances such as petroleum, acid, radioactive material, explosives, biohazardous medical waste, etc that pose a high or unreasonable risk to the health and safety of people, property, flora and fauna.
DDP
Deliver Duty Paid.
DDU
Deliver Duty Unpaid.
Deck
Horizontal ship platform.
Delivery
The transport of goods to final destination.
Delivery Order
Abbreviated DO, the Delivery Order grants the consignee title of goods following payment for services received.
Demurrage
Also referred to as a detention charge, demurrage is a penalty fee relating to the late detention of a ship or freight transportation vehicle, during loading or unloading, beyond allowable specified timeframes (Free Time).
Destination
The location in which a journey or consignment is intended to end.
Detention Charge
Please refer Demurrage.
Devan
To unload or unpack goods from a shipping container.
Dimensional Weight
Additionally referred to as the DIM weight, volume weight, cubed weight and measurement weight, the dimensional weight is a method of calculating freight transportation fees with consideration to cargo height, width and length
Door To Door
Cargo pickup and delivery to final specified address location.
Draft
Please refer Draught.
Draught
The vertical distances between the waterline and a ship or boat’s lowest point underwater.
Drawback
Government tax or duty rebate applied to imported goods which are subsequently exported.
Dry Dock
A dock at port which can be flooded or drained of water to allow vessels to enter or exit, and rest on a dry platform for hull repairs and maintenance.
Dry Shipping Container
10ft, 20ft to 40ft shipping containers used to stow general cargo commodities (non-refrigerated).
DTHC
An abbreviation for Destination Terminal Handling Charges.
Dunnage
Packing material used to protect and support cargo while in transit. Dunnage includes pallets, blocks, boards, planks, bracing, etc.
Duty
A tax or tariff imposed on imports by local customs authorities.
EDI
Electronic Data Interchange – used in the transfer of data between different computer networks and systems.
Embargo
Official ban or restriction of trade or commercial activity to a country.
ETA
Estimated Time of Arrival.
ETD
Estimated Time of Departure.
Ex Works
Terms of trade which places greater responsibility on the buyer, allowing goods to be picked up (without loading) at the seller’s place of business, warehouse, depot, etc.
Export Duty
Tax imposed on exported goods.
Export Entry
Please see CEDO.
Exports
The shipment of goods to another country.
FAF
Fuel Adjustment Factor. A road transport surcharge accounting for fluctuations in fuel prices.
See BAF for similar sea freight oil surcharge.
FAK
Freight All Kinds or Freight Of All Kinds is a shipping classification term, which refers to a consolidated full container load shipment consisting of mixed goods.
FAS
Free Alongside Ship or Free Along Side. Transport quote which includes physical delivery of goods to port alongside a vessel.
FCA
Meaning Free Carrier, the FCA is a named place of cargo delivery which may be an airport, container freight station, terminal, etc.
FCL
Full Container Load. A shipping container carrying one consignment of goods, commonly filled or near space/weight capacity.
Fendering
A port fendering system is designed to facilitate safe mooring of vessels, acting as a shock absorber to protect both the wharf and ship from damage during berthing
Flatbed
An open platform trailer without sides for the transport of heavy or oversized cargo and containerised freight.
Flatrack Container
Shipping containers especially designed without sides or top, for the transport of oversized cargo which is too large to fit inside standard sea freight containers.
FOB
Free On Board. Terms of trade defining seller’s and buyer’s transport responsibilities (including costs and liabilities) to port and loading.
Foot (ft)
1ft = 0.3048m. Convert
FOR
Free On Rail. Charge exclusion for the transport and loading of goods to rail at a designated point.
Free Time
Specified timeframe allowing freight to be loaded or unloaded before demurrage and detention fees commence and accrue.
Free Trade
Government economic policy which reduces or eliminates import & export tariffs.
Freight
The transport of goods and merchandise by train, truck, plane and ship.
Freight Forwarder
Additionally referred to as a forwarder, forwarding agent or third party logistics provider (3PL), a freight forwarder is a business that specialises in the shipping and storage of goods on behalf of a shipper. Other common freight forwarding services include cargo tracking, containerised freight packing and devanning, insurance, customs clearances, etc. For more information please see what is a freight forwarder and why do I need one?
Freighter
A cargo ship or plane designed to carry freight.
FTL
Full Truckload. FTL refers to road transport consignments that are either fully loaded or use a dedicated truck for delivery (irrespective of capacity).
Gantry Crane
Positioned on rails for parallel manoeuvering alongside vessels, a gantry crane is a large port crane commonly used to load and unload containerised freight from cargo ships.
Gateway
The primary entry point (seaport or airport) to a country, territory or region.
GO
General Order. A Customs mandate for imported goods and merchandise which remains uncleared.
GP
General Purpose. A common type of shipping container designed to stow nonspecific goods and merchandise.
Gram
1g = 0.035274oz.
Groupage
The consolidation of smaller freight consignments into one single shipment.
GST
Goods and Services Tax (currently 15% throughout New Zealand).
GVW
Gross Vehicle Weight. The total weight of a vehicle and its load including trailers, cargo, fuel, driver, passengers, etc.
Hangertainer
Specialised shipping container designed to stow clothing on hangers.
Haulage
The transport of goods by road in a truck.
Hauling
To transport freight by road in a truck.
HAWB
House Airwaybill.
Hazardous Material
Please refer Dangerous Goods.
HazMat
Abbreviation for Hazardous Material. Please refer Dangerous Goods.
HC
An acronym for High Cube. Please see High Cube.
High Cube
A shipping container which exceeds 8 foot 6 inches or 2.6213 metres in height. Please see our Shipping Container Specs.
High Density Compression
Compression of a cotton bale to approximately 32 pounds (14.5 kgs) per cubic foot.
Hitchment
The merging of two or more consignments from different originating geographical locations under one shipment and bill of lading for joint delivery.
Hold
Also referred to as a cargo hold, it is the section within a ship or aircraft designed to stow cargo.
House Bill
Please refer Bill Of Lading.
Hustler
Additionally referred to as a hostler or yard hustler, a hustler is a tractor which is used to move shipping containers within a CFS or port.
ICPR
Importing Countries Phytosanitary Requirements.
Import Licence
Additionally referred to as an import permit, an import licence is a government document required in some countries authorising the importation of goods and merchandise.
Import Restrictions
Additionally referred to as import controls, import restrictions are any method employed by a country to limited the import of goods and merchandise such as quota, tariff, etc.
Importer of Record
A term used in customs law, the importer of record (IOR) is an individual or entity who is responsible for the import of goods in accordance with all local laws.
Imports
The shipment of goods into a country from abroad.
Inbound
An import delivery or shipment.
Inches
1in = 2.54cm.
Incoterms (INCO terms)
Incoterms or International Commerce Terms are a standardisation of international trade terms published by the International Chamber of Commerce and accepted by legal authorises, governments, and agencies all over the world. They are primarily used for the authoritative and uniformed interpretation of common international trade terms to define costs and liabilities between parities.
Please see Incoterms for more information.
Inland Carrier
A transport company that hauls freight inland from port.
Insurance
Specified terms of compensation should goods be damaged, lost, destroyed or adversely delayed in transit.
Insurance Certificate
Official insurance document issued by an insurance company to the consignee, assuring freight is covered for loss and damage whilst in transit.
Integrated Carriers
A transport company which has hauling fleets across two or more modes of transportation, such as air and ground fleets.
Intermodal
The hauling of goods and merchandise by two or more different modes of transport.
Inventory
A comprehensive stock list.
Invoice
A bill summarising goods and services purchased and associated costs due.
IOR
Abbreviation for importer of record. Please see importer of record.
ISF
An abbreviation for Importer Security Filing, the ISF (or 10+2) is a United States Customs and Border Protection rule which requires containerised cargo information to be filed prior to goods being loaded onto the vessel.
ISPS
The International Ship and Port Facility Security Code. Minimum security measures and responsibilities governing international trade ports and agencies to ensure security threats are identified and prevented.
JIT
Just-in-time. A method of inventory control designed to increase efficiency, decrease waste and warehousing costs, by receiving goods and merchandise JIT – as they are required.
KG
Abbreviation for kilogram. 1,000 grams = 1kg, or 2.20462lbs.
King Pin
Also referred to as a kingbolt, a king pin is a vertical bot which securely connects the body of a vehicle (such as a tractor) to a trailer.
KM
Kilometre. 1km = 0mi 1093.6yd.
KN
An abbreviation for knots. A measure of speed equal to one nautical mile per hour. 1 kn = 1.85 km/h.
Known Loss
Shipment loss discovered at the time of delivery.
Laden
Burdened, carried or loaded (usually heavily).
Land
Refers to freight transported by road or rail.
Lashing
To secure or fasten cargo with rope, cord or wire.
Lbs
Please refer pounds.
L/C
Abbreviation for Letter of Credit. Please refer Letter of Credit.
LCL
Less Than Container Load. A containerised shipment of goods that is not large enough to fill a container. Such consignments are typically consolidated with other LCL shipments to optimise transport rates.
LCT
An acronym for Lyttelton Container Terminal (New Zealand).
LD3
Lower Deck Type 3 freight container, commonly used in passenger planes.
Letter of Credit
An official bank document authorising freight payment (in credit) if specified terms and conditions are fulfilled.
Line Haul
The transport of cargo between two major long distance ports or cities.
Liner
A plane or ship owned and operated by an airline or shipping line.
Litre
1 litre = 0.2641724155846 gallons.
LOA
Length Overall. Total length of a ship’s hull.
Logistics
End to end transport management, from origin to final destination.
LOLO
An abbreviation for Lift-On/Lift-Off, LOLO ships are equipped with onboard cranes designed to load and unload cargo (including shipping containers).
Lower Deck
The deck or compartment below the main deck, within the hull of the ship or vessel.
LPC
An acronym for the Lyttelton Port Company.
LT
Long Ton. 1lt = 2,239.9999999978495lbs.
LTL
Less Than Truckload. LTL refers to road transport consignments that do not fill an entire trailer. These are typically grouped with other LTL consignments to optimise transport costs and efficiency.
Lumber
Sawed timber prepared for use and market.
MAF
Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (New Zealand). MAF is now a part of the MPI.
Main Deck
Running the full length of a large ship, the main deck is the uppermost platform immediately above the hull.
Manifest
Please refer Cargo Manifest.
Marine Cargo Insurance
Issued by an Insurance Company, Marine Cargo Insurance is a guarantee of compensation for goods should they be lost, damaged or adversely delayed while at sea, subject to specified criteria, terms and conditions.
Marks & Numbers
Numbers identifying a package or sea container.
MAWB
Master Airway Bill.
Metres (m)
1m = 39.36in, or 3.28ft.
Miles (mi)
1mi = 1.609344km.
Mixed Shipment
A shipment of goods and merchandise consisting of two or more commodities and charged separate tariff rates.
MPH
Abbreviation for miles per hour. A unit of speed measuring the number of miles travelled per hour. 1 mph = 1.60934 km/h.
MPI
Ministry for Primary Industries (New Zealand).
MSC
Mediterranean Shipping Company (shipping line).
MT
Metric Ton. 1mt = 1t, or 1,000 kgs.
Navigation
In shipping, navigation is the act of planning or plotting of a vessel’s route including chart, tidal, current, weather, and draught considerations.
NOE
Not Otherwise Enumerated.
NOIBN
Not Otherwise Indexed By Name.
NOS
Not Otherwise Stated.
Notify Party
Appearing on the bill of lading or waybill, the notify party is the person or company who is to be notified when freight arrives at destination.
NVD
No Value Declared.
Ocean Freight
Refer sea freight.
On Board
Cargo loaded aboard a train, ship, vehicle, or aircraft.
On Deck Stowage
Cargo that is stowed on the deck of a ship.
On-Time Performance
Schedule adherence success rate.
Open Top Container
A shipping container with a removable top or canopy for overhead loading and unloading.
Order Cycle
The process and duration of an order, from placement to receipt of goods.
Origin
Additionally referred to as ‘place of origin’, the origin is a shipment’s commencement location (i.e. specific address, port, city or country).
Out Of Gauge (OOG)
Cargo that does not match standard dimensions.
Outbound
An export of goods.
Outsourced
Hired third-party service provider.
Over Land
Cargo transported by road or rail.
Overcharge
Charges exceeding published and agreed rates.
Oversize
Packing
Can refer to the loading of goods inside a shipping container.
Packing List
Itemised list of packages documenting commodity, quantity, weights and measurements.
Pallet
A square portable wooden platform used in the transport and storage of goods, and easily maneuvered into position using a forklift.
Palletised Freight
Freight that has been loaded and packed onto pallets for transport.
Patent Slip
An inclined plane which allows sea vessels to be hauled from the water onto a wooden cradle to facilitate external dry hull access for repairs and maintenance.
Phyto
Abbreviation for a Phytosanitary Certificate. Please refer Phytosanitary Certificate.
Phytosanitary Certificate
A government document used for the import of plant materials verifying the absence of pests and disease following heat treatment.
Pier
Additionally referred to as a wharf or quay, a pier is a platform which extends from land out over water and is commonly used for docking vessels or recreational activities such as handline fishing.
PIL
Pacific International Lines (shipping line).
Pilferage
Cargo theft.
POD
An acronym with multiple possible definitions. Port Of Discharge. The port where cargo is unloaded. Proof Of Delivery. Document receipt of cargo received requiring signature authentication. Place Of Delivery. The final destination for a consignment.
Port
Port to Port
Cargo delivery from port of origin to port of destination.
Pounds (lbs)
1lbs = 0.453592kgs.
Project Freight
The domestic and international transportation of freight that is heavy, large, out of gauge, high value or significant (in terms of importance to the project they are intended for). Project freight can present a number of logistical challenges that are often unique or specific to the transport item, requiring specialised equipment.
Provedore
A business or person who supplies food and beverages to ships.
Quality Control
Process and planning which aims to produce and sell manufactured goods of a high standard.
Quay
Please refer Pier.
Rail
Refers to freight transported by railway.
R&D
Receival and Delivery. Cargo received or delivered out of port.
Rebate
A deduction or partial refund to a chargeable amount.
Reefer
Please refer refrigerated container.
Refrigerated Container
Available in 20ft and 40ft length measurements, a refrigerated container (or reefer), is a cooled shipping container used in the transport of perishable or temperature sensitive goods such as meat, fish, milk, etc.
Roll-on, Roll-off (RORO)
Ships designed to load, stow and discharge cargo on wheels, such as vehicles.
Rolled
When a shipment is delayed and moved to an alternative vessel for shipping.
Route
The planned course from origin to destination a ship, vehicle, train or aircraft journeys.
Sanction
A trade embargo or restriction imposed following political opposition between two or more countries.
Schedule
A shipping schedule, or schedule, is a planned list or order of ships, their port of call, departure dates, etc.
S/D
Abbreviation for sea damage.
Sea Freight
The transportation of cargo by sea. Additionally referred to as ocean freight. See our Sea Freight service or Sea Freight 101 for more information.
Shipment
A consignment of goods shipped.
Shipper
A person or company that transports freight by land, air or sea.
Shipping Agent
A person or company who prepares documents, insurance and other shipping related services.
Shipping Container
Rectangular in shape, a shipping container is a steel container commonly measuring 10ft, 20ft and 40ft in length. They are primarily designed for the modular transport and storage of goods. See Shipping Container Specs.
Shipping Lines
Please refer carriers.
Shipping Mark
Freight identification symbols, letters or numbers.
Shipping Weight
Rectangular in shape, a shipping container is a steel container commonly measuring 10ft, 20ft and 40ft in length. They are primarily designed for the modular transport and storage of goods. See Shipping Container Specs.
SLI
Shipper’s Letter of Instruction. A form used by the shipper to authorise a carrier to issue shipping documents (i.e. bill of lading) on their behalf. See Freight Forms.
Starboard
The side of a ship to the right of the bow.
Stern
The back end of a vessel.
Stow
To store goods or packages.
Stuffing
The act of loading freight into a shipping container.
Supply Chain
The end to end logistical management of products, from raw materials and manufacture to final consumer.
Surcharge
Additional fees and charges.
TACT
The Air Cargo Tariff.
Tare Weight
The weight of an empty shipping container.
Tax Invoice
Marked ‘Tax Invoice’ it is a receipt of payment which includes taxation values such as GST.
TEU
Abbreviation for Twenty-foot Equivalent Units, the TEU is an international measure of cargo capacity aboard a ship.
Third-party Logistics Provider
Sometimes abbreviated 3PL or TPL, a third-party logistics provider is an outsourced business providing freight services such as transport, warehousing, cargo packing, etc.
TT
An abbreviation for Telegraphic Transfer.
T/T
Transit Time.
Turnaround Time
The duration of a ship at port, from arrival to departure.
ULD
Unit Load Device. A type of container or aircraft pallet.
Vanning
The loading of cargo into a shipping container.
Vendor
A person or company who supplies and sells goods.
VGM
An abbreviation for Verified Gross Mass, the VGM is the confirmed total weight of a container, including its cargo, bracing and dunnage.
Warehousing
The storage of goods within a warehouse facility. Please see Warehousing.
Waybill
Documenting shipment details and instructions, a waybill is a common freight document used in the transport of goods.
Wharf
Please refer Pier.
Wharfage
Fees and charges relating to the use of port facilities including the loading, unloading and handling of cargo.
Xeric
Dry. Containing little to no moisture.
Yard (yd)
1yd = 0.91440m.
YTD
Year To Date.
Zonate
Marked and divided into zones.
CHAMPION FREIGHT (N.Z.) LIMITED is registered with the U.S. Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) as a non-vessel operating common carrier (NVOCC) under FMC No. 032081.
