Extended Operational and Trade Vocabulary

Container, Intermodal and Trade Codes glossary

The codes and bodies governing containerized and intermodal trade: customs filing systems (ACE, ACI), CSC inspection under ACEP, AEO and trusted-trader status, AAR rail interchange rules, and the trade-documentation set. Grounds each acronym in the regulatory or interchange framework that lets a container move across modes and borders.

492 defined terms.

Showing 250 on this page (page 1 of 2).

A

AAR: Average Adjuster's Report; settlement document apportioning general average contributions.
ABS: American Bureau of Shipping; IACS member classification society.
ACE: Automated Commercial Environment, US Customs system.
ACEP: Approved Continuous Examination Programme for CSC container inspection.
ACI: Advance Commercial Information, Canada Border Services Agency pre-arrival cargo reporting.
Acquittal: Discharge of a transit document such as TIR carnet.
AD: Antidumping duty, additional US tariff offsetting unfair pricing.
ADR: European Agreement concerning the International Carriage of Dangerous Goods by Road.
Aft: Toward the stern.
Agency fee: Charge by a carrier or NVOCC for documentation and local representation.
AMS: Automated Manifest System, US CBP electronic manifest filing for arriving cargo.
AMS fee: Surcharge collected by carriers for the AMS filing service.
ANSI ASC X12: North American EDI standard family, parallel to UN/EDIFACT.
APHIS: Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, US agency enforcing wood packaging and quarantine rules.
APL: American President Lines, container carrier brand operated by CMA CGM.
Apron: Quayside area between ship and stacking yard.
AQIS: Former Australian quarantine inspection service, now part of DAFF biosecurity.
Arrival notice: Carrier notice to consignee of cargo arrival.
ATA Carnet: Customs document for temporary admission.
ATL: Automatic twistlock, deck twistlock that locks on stacking without manual handling.
ATR: Movement certificate proving free circulation in the EU-Turkey customs union.
AWB: Air waybill, used in air-sea intermodal moves and consolidations.

B

B/L: Bill of lading.
BAF: Bunker Adjustment Factor, fuel surcharge added to ocean freight to recover bunker price moves.
BAPLIE: Bayplan/Stowage Plan Occupied and Empty Locations Message, UN/EDIFACT EDI message used between terminals, carriers, and planners.
Bay: Transverse slice of a container vessel, numbered from bow to stern in stowage plans.
Bay plan: Stowage diagram showing every container slot on a vessel by bay, row, and tier.
BBC: Break-bulk container, occasional carrier marketing term for open-top or flatrack used for project cargo.
BCO: Beneficial Cargo Owner, the actual importer or exporter behind a freight booking.
Bedplate: Steel base on a tank container frame supporting the pressure vessel.
BIC: Bureau International des Containers, global registrar of ISO 6346 owner prefixes.
BIC code: Four-letter owner prefix issued by BIC, ending in U, J, Z, R, or others by equipment category.
Bill of Lading: Receipt, document of title, and evidence of the contract of carriage.
BIMCO: Baltic and International Maritime Council, drafter of standard maritime contracts.
Blank sailing: Carrier cancellation of a scheduled vessel call or full string voyage.
Block stow: Loading containers of one destination together to speed discharge.
Block train: Dedicated unit train moving containers between two terminals without intermediate switching.
Boat note: Tally document confirming containers loaded or discharged at a terminal.
Bollard: Mooring fitting on quay or dolphin.
BoxTech: BIC-operated global container fleet database recording technical specifications by BIC code.
Bracing: Internal dunnage securing cargo inside a container against shifting.
Break bulk: Cargo handled piecemeal rather than in unit loads.
Breakbulk surcharge: Extra charge for handling unitized cargo as conventional break-bulk.
Bridge fitting: Steel piece linking the tops of two adjacent containers for athwartship stability on deck.
Buffer stock: Inventory held at a CY or warehouse to absorb supply variability.
Bunker: Marine fuel oil used by container vessels.
Burgee: Vessel pennant; in container parlance, sometimes used for carrier house flag on stowage docs.

C

C-TPAT: Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism, US CBP supply-chain security program.
CAF: Currency adjustment factor.
Cargo Manifest: Statutory list of cargo carried.
Cargo receipt: Acknowledgement of goods received at a CFS or CY.
Carnet: Customs document allowing temporary import without duty payment.
Carrier: Party that performs or undertakes carriage of goods under a bill of lading.
Carrier haulage: Container haulage arranged by the carrier.
Casing: Outer protective shell, used for tank containers' insulation cladding.
CBM: Cubic meter, freight volume measure.
CBP: US Customs and Border Protection, the import enforcement agency.
CBSA: Canada Border Services Agency.
CCS: Cargo Containment System under the IGC and IGF Codes.
CEDEX: Container Equipment Data Exchange, IICL-era specification for transmitting equipment damage and repair data.
CFR: Cost and Freight, Incoterm 2020.
CFS: Container freight station for less than container load cargo.
CFS/CFS: Service term for LCL bookings handled station to station.
CFS/CY: LCL inbound to a container yard at destination.
Chassis: Wheeled trailer that carries an ISO container by road.
Check digit: Modulo-11 digit at position 11 of an ISO 6346 container number, computed from the BIC prefix and serial.
CIF: Cost, Insurance and Freight, Incoterm 2020.
CIP: Carriage and Insurance Paid To, Incoterm 2020.
CIQ: China Inspection and Quarantine, now part of GACC.
Class I railroad: Largest US freight rail carrier classification by revenue.
Clean B/L: Bill of lading without notation of damage or shortage at receipt.
CMA CGM: French container shipping line, third-largest globally.
CMR: Convention on the Contract for the International Carriage of Goods by Road.
CN code: Combined Nomenclature, EU 8-digit tariff code extending the HS.
CO: Certificate of Origin, document declaring the country of manufacture.
CODECO: Container Gate-in/Gate-out Report, UN/EDIFACT message reporting terminal interchange events.
Combination carrier: Vessel able to carry containers and other cargo such as ro-ro or break-bulk.
Commercial invoice: Sales invoice for customs and payment.
Conference: Group of liner operators that fixes rates and conditions on a trade lane.
Consignee: Party to whom goods are consigned.
Consignor: Shipper named in the bill of lading.
Consol: Consolidation of multiple shipments into one container.
Consolidator: NVOCC or forwarder that combines LCL shipments into FCL containers.
Container: ISO 668-defined intermodal freight unit.
Container number: Unique 11-character identifier formed by 4-letter owner prefix, 6-digit serial, and 1 check digit per ISO 6346.
Container terminal: Terminal for handling intermodal containers.
Container yard: CY, in-port container storage area.
COPARN: Container Announcement Message, UN/EDIFACT message used by carriers to order container release or return to depots.
COPRAR: Container Discharge/Loading Order Message, UN/EDIFACT message from carrier to terminal listing containers to discharge or load.
COREOR: Container Release Order Message, UN/EDIFACT message instructing release of containers to a party.
Corner casting: ISO 1161 corner fitting at each of a container's eight corners for handling and securing.
Corner post: Vertical structural member at each corner of a container.
COSCO: China Ocean Shipping Company, container line under COSCO Shipping Group.
Cosmetic damage: Surface marks not affecting structural integrity or watertightness.
CPT: Carriage Paid To, Incoterm 2020.
Cross dock: Transfer of cargo between transport modes without storage.
CSC: International Convention for Safe Containers, 1972, governing structural safety of freight containers.
CSC Plate: Container Safety Convention safety approval plate; verified on container surveys.
CSI: Container Security Initiative, US program for overseas screening of US-bound containers.
Currency Clause: provision fixing the currency of premium and claim.
Customs broker: Licensed agent handling customs declarations.
CV: Cargo Value, used in insurance and freight rating.
CY: Container Yard, the carrier's nominated point for receipt or delivery of FCL containers.
CY/CY: Container yard to container yard service terms.

D

D&D: Demurrage and detention charges.
DAFF: Australian Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, biosecurity authority.
DAP: Delivered at Place, Incoterm 2020.
DCSA: Digital Container Shipping Association.
DCSA eBL: DCSA's electronic bill of lading data and process standard.
Deadweight: Carrying capacity of a vessel in metric tonnes.
Demurrage: Liquidated damages for detention of ship beyond laytime.
Depot: Inland facility for storage, maintenance and repair of empty containers.
DEQ: Delivered Ex Quay, withdrawn Incoterm, replaced by DAP.
Detention: PSC action holding a ship until deficiencies are rectified.
DG: Dangerous goods.
DGD: Dangerous Goods Declaration, shipper's signed statement of the hazardous nature and packaging of cargo.
DGR: Dangerous Goods Regulations, IATA's air equivalent of the IMDG Code.
Direct call: Vessel service calling a port without transhipment.
Discharge port: Port at which a container is unloaded from the vessel.
DMS: Document Management System, used for trade-document storage.
Door: End of a container with the swinging doors; "right door" and "left door" referenced in damage reports.
Door-to-door: Through-transport service from shipper's premises to consignee's premises.
Door-to-port: Through service ending at the discharge port.
Dovetail: Triangular fitting on flatracks or tank frames used to secure on rail wagons.
DPP: Direct Port Delivery, Indian customs scheme for moving containers from port straight to importer premises.
Drayage: Short haul road movement of containers.
Drop and pick: Trucking move where empty chassis is left and loaded chassis collected.
Dry container: Standard general purpose container.
DTHC: Destination Terminal Handling Charge.
Dunnage: Disposable wood, mats, or air bags used to protect, separate, and chock cargo.
DV: Dry van, North American term for a standard dry container.

E

eBL: Electronic bill of lading per DCSA standards.
EBS: Emergency Bunker Surcharge, ad hoc fuel cost recovery applied when bunker prices spike.
ECCN: Export Control Classification Number, US classification under the EAR.
ECRS: Emergency Cost Recovery Surcharge, generic ad hoc carrier surcharge for sudden cost shocks.
EDI: Electronic Data Interchange, structured business-to-business message exchange.
EDIFACT: UN/EDIFACT, the United Nations EDI standard used in container shipping.
EEI: Electronic Export Information, US export filing through AES.
EIR: Equipment Interchange Receipt, document recording condition of container at gate in or out.
Empty positioning: Movement of empty containers to balance regional supply and demand.
ENS: Entry Summary Declaration, pre-arrival security filing into the EU's ICS2.
EORI: Economic Operator Registration and Identification number.
EOS: End of Service, term for retiring containers from fleet.
EPA: US Environmental Protection Agency, relevant for reefer refrigerant rules.
ETA: Estimated time of arrival.
ETB: Estimated time of berthing.
ETD: Estimated time of departure.
ETS: Emissions Trading System, EU scheme now covering maritime CO2.
Evergreen: Evergreen Marine Corporation, Taiwanese container line.
EXW: Ex Works, Incoterm 2020.

F

FAK: Freight All Kinds, single rate covering mixed commodity cargo in one container.
FAS: Free Alongside Ship, Incoterm 2020.
FCA: Free Carrier, Incoterm 2020.
FCL: Full container load.
FEU: Forty-foot Equivalent Unit, capacity measure equal to two TEU.
FF: Freight forwarder.
FIATA: International Federation of Freight Forwarders Associations.
FIATA FBL: Negotiable multimodal transport bill of lading issued by forwarders.
FIATA FCR: Forwarder's Certificate of Receipt.
First port of call: Initial port a vessel visits on a coastal rotation.
Flatrack: Container with collapsible or fixed end walls and no sides or roof.
FMC: US Federal Maritime Commission, regulator of ocean common carriers.
FOB: Free on Board, Incoterm 2020.
Fork pocket: Slot in container base allowing handling by heavy forklift; standard on 20 ft units, optional on 40 ft.
Forklift pocket: See fork pocket.
Forty-foot equivalent unit: FEU.
Forwarder: Freight forwarder organising transport on behalf of shipper.
Free astray: Re-forwarding misrouted cargo without additional charge.
Free time: Period a container may stay at a terminal or with a customer before demurrage or detention starts.
Freight collect: Freight payable by consignee at destination.
Freight prepaid: Freight paid at origin.
FROB: Foreign cargo Remaining on Board, US CBP term for transit containers staying onboard at a US port.
FTA: Free Trade Agreement, granting preferential tariffs between member countries.
FTL: Full truck load.
FTZ: Foreign Trade Zone, US duty-deferred area.
Full container load: FCL.

G

GACC: General Administration of Customs of the People's Republic of China.
Gantry crane: Rail-mounted gantry such as STS, RMG, or RTG.
Gate house: Terminal building where truck and container details are recorded.
Gate in: Process of a container entering the terminal gate.
Gate out: Process of a container leaving the terminal gate.
General Average: Loss voluntarily incurred for the common safety, contributed by all interests under York-Antwerp Rules.
General-purpose container: GP, standard dry-cargo box.
Geneva Convention: Used loosely for several customs treaties including CSC and CCC 1972 conventions.
Gooseneck tunnel: Recessed channel in the underside of 40 ft and longer containers to seat on gooseneck chassis.
GP: General Purpose, ISO size-type code suffix for standard dry containers.
GRI: General Rate Increase, scheduled across-the-board uplift of ocean freight rates.
Gross mass: Total mass of container plus contents, the figure declared under SOLAS VGM.
GSP: Generalized System of Preferences, tariff reductions for developing-country imports.
GSP Form A: Origin certificate used to claim GSP preference.

H

Hague Rules: 1924 international convention on carrier liability under bills of lading.
Hague-Visby Rules: 1968 Visby Protocol and 1979 SDR Protocol to the Hague Rules.
Hamburg Rules: 1978 UN Convention on Carriage of Goods by Sea.
Handling charge: Generic surcharge for moving cargo at a CFS or warehouse.
Hapag-Lloyd: German container carrier in the Gemini cooperation.
Harmonized System: HS, six-digit WCO commodity classification used worldwide.
Hatch cover: Watertight cover over a cargo hatch.
Hazardous cargo: Cargo classified under the IMDG Code.
Hazmat: Hazardous materials, regulated under IMDG and 49 CFR.
HBL: House bill of lading issued by an NVOCC or forwarder.
High cube: Container with 9 ft 6 in external height, code suffix HC.
HMM: HMM Co., Korean container line in the Premier Alliance.
HMRC: His Majesty's Revenue and Customs, UK customs and tax authority.
House-to-house: Older synonym for door-to-door service.
HQ: High Cube, alternative abbreviation.
HR: Hard-top container, code suffix; roof removed by crane.
HS chapter: Two-digit top level of the Harmonized System, 01 through 97.
HS code: Harmonized System tariff classification.
HS heading: Four-digit subdivision within an HS chapter.
HSC: Harmonized System Convention.
HTSUS: Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States, 10-digit US import classification.
Hub: Major transhipment port served by multiple feeder services.

I

IATA: International Air Transport Association.
ICC: Institute Cargo Clauses A, B, and C.
ICD: Inland Container Depot, container yard located inland from the port.
ICS: International Chamber of Shipping, industry body.
ICS2: EU's Import Control System version 2, the multifiling pre-arrival security regime.
IFTMBF: International Forwarding and Transport Booking Firm Message, EDIFACT booking message.
IFTMIN: International Forwarding and Transport Instruction Message, EDIFACT shipping instruction.

Z

20FR / 22P1: 20 ft flatrack with fixed ends.
20FR collapsible / 22P3: 20 ft flatrack with collapsible ends.
20GP / 22G1: 20 ft general-purpose dry container, 8 ft 6 in high.
20OT / 22U1: 20 ft open-top container with removable tarpaulin.
20PL / 22P0: 20 ft platform (plain) container.
20RF / 22R1: 20 ft integral reefer container.
22BU / 22B1: 20 ft bulk container with top loading hatches and bottom discharge.
22HR: 20 ft refrigerated container with external machinery (port-hole / Conair type), legacy.
22PL: 20 ft platform without ends or sides.
22RT: 20 ft reefer tank container.
22SN: 20 ft named-cargo container, e.g., livestock or auto carrier per ISO 6346.
22T0: 20 ft tank container, non-dangerous liquids, minimum pressure.
22T1: 20 ft tank, non-dangerous liquids, 1.5 bar minimum.
22T2: 20 ft tank, non-dangerous liquids, 2.65 bar minimum.
22T3: 20 ft tank, dangerous liquids, 1.5 bar minimum.
22T4: 20 ft tank, dangerous liquids, 2.65 bar minimum.
22T5: 20 ft tank, dangerous liquids, 4 bar minimum.
22T6: 20 ft tank, dangerous liquids, 6 bar minimum.
22T7: 20 ft tank, gases, 9.1 bar minimum.
22T8: 20 ft tank, gases, 22 bar minimum.
22T9: 20 ft tank, gases, minimum pressure as per design specification.
22U1: 20 ft open-top with removable top members and tarpaulin.
22VH: 20 ft ventilated container with passive vents.
40FR / 42P1: 40 ft flatrack.
40GP / 42G1: 40 ft general-purpose dry container, 8 ft 6 in high.
40HC / 45G1: 40 ft high-cube dry container, 9 ft 6 in high.
40OT / 42U1: 40 ft open-top container.
40RF / 42R1: 40 ft integral reefer container, 8 ft 6 in high.
40RH / 45R1: 40 ft high-cube integral reefer.
45G1: ISO 6346 size-type code for 40 ft high-cube dry container.
45HC / L5G1: 45 ft high-cube dry container.