Container shipping line

A container shipping line is the operator of a scheduled (liner) service that carries cargo in standardized ISO containers between fixed ports on a published rotation. It owns or charters cellular container ships, controls a fleet of owned and leased boxes (COC), and sells slots against a tariff or service contract, acting as a common carrier under its bill of lading. Lines pool capacity through vessel-sharing agreements and alliances to fill larger ships on trunk routes while feeders serve smaller ports. The line is responsible for the cargo from receipt to delivery under Hague-Visby or its bill-of-lading terms, and it sets demurrage and detention on its equipment.