Extended Operational and Trade Vocabulary

Project Cargo Forwarders and Heavy Transport glossary

The project-forwarding and heavy-transport vocabulary: abnormal indivisible loads and their notification, route engineering and escort planning, above-deck stowage of project units, and the multimodal heavy-transport and SPMT terms. Grounds each term in the heavy-transport operation or the abnormal-load regulation it belongs to.

567 defined terms.

Showing 250 on this page (page 1 of 3).

A

ABLE (Abnormal Load Engineers): UK specialist consultancy for road oversize and abnormal load route engineering and escort planning.
Abnormal Indivisible Load (AIL): UK regulatory term for a road load that cannot be divided and exceeds standard construction and use limits.
Abnormal Load Notification: Statutory advance notice filed with police, bridge owners, and highway authorities before moving an oversize unit.
Above Deck Stowage: Placement of project cargo on the weather deck of a heavy lift vessel for oversize or hazardous units.
Acceptance Survey: Inspection on delivery of a newbuild or chartered vessel confirming compliance with contract specifications.
Acceptance Test Certificate: Manufacturer document confirming a project unit has passed factory acceptance testing before dispatch.
Access Road Survey: Field study of the haul route to identify width, gradient, and overhead obstructions.
Accompanying Engineer: Forwarder or carrier engineer who travels with the cargo to oversee handling at each interface.
Activity Network: Sequenced schedule of every move, lift, and weld required to deliver a project cargo to its foundation.
Acute Angle Pull: Sling configuration where the sling leg deviates sharply from vertical, sharply reducing working load limit.
Adjustable Gooseneck: Detachable front section of a lowbed trailer that allows the deck to be lowered for loading.
Aerial Survey: Drone or helicopter inspection of a haul route or jetty before a major project move.
Air Bag Lifting: Use of inflatable bags to raise a load incrementally for cribbing or trailer insertion.
Air Caster: Pneumatic film bearing that floats heavy modules across a smooth floor inside fabrication halls.
Air Charter Broker: Intermediary who sources outsize freighter capacity such as An-124 or 747F for project shipments.
Air Ride Suspension: Trailer suspension that cushions sensitive project cargo such as transformers and turbines.
Airbus Beluga ST: Outsize freighter operated by Airbus Transport International, occasionally chartered for project parts.
ALE Heavy Lift: UK-based heavy lift and transport contractor acquired by Mammoet in 2020.
All-Risk Cargo Insurance: Marine policy covering project cargo against most physical loss or damage perils.
All-Terrain Crane (AT): Wheeled mobile crane combining road mobility with off-road jobsite capability.
Allcargo Logistics: Mumbai-headquartered Indian multinational with project, NVOCC, and contract logistics divisions.
Allowable Axle Load: Maximum permitted weight per axle on a specified road or bridge segment.
Alongside Delivery: Term placing cargo on the quay within reach of the vessel's gear or shore crane.
Alternative Routing Study: Comparative evaluation of multiple haul corridors for an oversize move.
Anchor Point: Engineered attachment on a vessel deck or transport beam used to secure a project unit.
Antonov Airlines: Ukrainian state airline operating the surviving An-124 fleet for project charter work.
Antonov An-124 Ruslan: Soviet-designed four-engine heavy freighter widely chartered for outsize project cargo.
Antonov An-225 Mriya: Six-engine outsize freighter, the world's largest, destroyed at Hostomel in February 2022.
Approach Channel Survey: Bathymetric study confirming draft and width for a heavy lift vessel calling a project berth.
Approval in Principle (AiP): class statement that a novel concept is feasible against applicable rules pending detailed design.
Arrival notice: Carrier notice to consignee of cargo arrival.
As Loaded Plan: Final stowage drawing reflecting the actual position of each project unit after loading.
ASME B30.10: US standard covering hooks used in lifting service.
ASME B30.20: US standard for below-the-hook lifting devices such as spreader bars and lifting beams.
ASME B30.9: US standard governing the design, inspection, and use of slings for lifting.
Atlas Air: US cargo airline operating Boeing 747 freighters used in project charter markets.
Auxiliary Hoist: Secondary hoisting mechanism on tandem-lift STS cranes used for trim and list adjustment of the headblock.
Average Adjuster: independent professional who prepares general average and complex particular average statements.
Axle Line: One transverse row of wheels on an SPMT, typically rated 36 to 48 tonnes payload.
Axle Load Calculation: Engineering computation distributing a project unit's weight across trailer axles for permitting.

B

Back Up Crane: Secondary crane positioned on standby during a critical project lift.
Bagger 288: Krupp-built bucket-wheel excavator of about 14,200 tonnes, one of the largest mobile land machines ever transported.
Ballast Tractor: Heavy prime mover with rear ballast box used to push or pull modular trailers.
Ballasting Operation: Adjusting vessel ballast water to keep deck level during heavy lift loading or discharge.
Bansard International: Paris-based forwarder with a recognized project cargo division across Africa and Asia.
Barge Loading: Use of a flat-deck barge to receive a project unit before transfer to a seagoing vessel.
Barge Ramp: Hinged steel ramp linking quay to barge deck for roll-on roll-off project moves.
BBC Logistics: Bremen-based project freight forwarder, organizationally separate from BBC Chartering.
BBM Logistics: Wuppertal-headquartered German forwarder with project and BBM Akustik acoustic divisions.
Beam Wagon: Specialized trailer with a central girder beam used for vessels, columns, and tanks.
Below-the-Hook Lifting Device: Any rigging assembly attached between the crane hook and the load, governed by ASME B30.20.
Bend Radius: Minimum curvature a wire rope or sling may follow without losing capacity.
Bertling Logistics: Hamburg-based project forwarder founded in 1865, active in offshore wind and power generation.
BIFA: British International Freight Association, the UK trade body for freight forwarders.
Big Carl: Operating name of the Sarens SGC-250 ring crane deployed at Hinkley Point C.
BIMCO Heavycon: standard charterparty form used for heavylift project cargoes.
BL Notation Heavy Lift: Bill of lading remark identifying a unit as oversize requiring special handling.
Block and Tackle: Multi-sheave rigging arrangement that multiplies pulling force for project lifts.
Boiler Drum Lift: Tandem lift of a steam drum onto a power plant boiler structure.
Bollore Logistics: French forwarder rebranded as CMA CGM Logistics after the 2024 acquisition.
Bolster: Container support structure on flat racks that must accommodate proper IMDG securing of dangerous goods.
Boom Hoist: Mechanism on an STS crane that raises the seaward boom to vertical when not working to allow vessel passage.
Boom Suspension: Cable or strut system holding the boom at its working angle on a lattice crane.
Borealis Plant: Petrochemical complex of the Borealis group, an example consignee of polyethylene reactor modules.
Bracing: Internal dunnage securing cargo inside a container against shifting.
Bridge Crane: Overhead traveling crane spanning a fabrication bay, used to assemble project modules.
Bridge Loading Assessment: Engineering check of a structure's capacity to carry an oversize trailer combination.
Bridge Segment: Precast deck or girder unit transported and lifted into place for highway or rail bridges.
BST Brake Specification: Documentation of trailer braking performance for heavy haul permitting.
Bumper Pull: Light trailer towed from a hitch, contrasted with heavy haul fifth wheel or gooseneck connections.
Bundle Lift: Single lift of multiple long items strapped together, common for piping and structural steel.

C

Cable Reel Transport: Movement of large drums of high-voltage or umbilical cable using cradles or beam trailers.
CAD Lift Drawing: Computer drawing depicting crane geometry, load, and clearances for a project lift.
Cargo Care Plan: Documented procedure for monitoring temperature, humidity, and shock during project transit.
Cargo Manifest Heavy Lift: Stowage manifest with weights, dimensions, and lift points for each project unit.
Cargo Securing Manual (CSM): Approved manual whose application is verified during lashing surveys.
Cargolux: Luxembourg-based all-cargo airline operating Boeing 747-8F freighters in project trades.
Carrying Beam: Beam fitted between two trailers to bridge a load that overhangs both decks.
Catwalk: Elevated walkway between container stacks, providing access for lashing.
CC 8800-1 Twin: Demag crawler crane configuration rated 3,200 tonnes used in refinery and power lifts.
CC 9800: Demag 3,200 tonne crawler crane used for refinery columns and wind tower lifts.
Center of Gravity (CoG): Three-dimensional balance point of a project unit, critical for slinging and trailer placement.
CEVA Logistics: Marseille-headquartered global forwarder owned by CMA CGM.
CH Robinson: Eden Prairie, Minnesota-based third-party logistics provider, the largest in the US by gross revenue.
Charter Party Heavy Lift: Contract governing the carriage of project cargo on a chartered heavy lift vessel.
Chassis Frame: Main structural frame of a modular trailer carrying axle suspension and load deck.
Chock: Mooring fitting that guides a line outboard.
Civil Works Interface: Coordination point between the forwarder's delivery and the contractor's foundation works.
Class Approval: Verification by a classification society that a lifting or transport arrangement meets relevant rules.
Clearance Profile: Cross-section diagram showing minimum overhead and lateral clearance along a haul route.
CMA CGM Logistics: Logistics arm of the CMA CGM group encompassing CEVA and former Bollore Logistics.
Coker Drum: Tall refinery vessel for delayed coking, often weighing several hundred tonnes per unit.
Cometto: Italian manufacturer of self-propelled modular transporters and heavy haul trailers.
Commissioning Engineer: Specialist who oversees site assembly and start-up after project cargo delivery.
Concrete Counterweight: Cast block used to balance ring cranes such as the SGC-250 during lifts.
Conjunto Axle Suspension: TII Group hydraulic suspension architecture used across Scheuerle and Kamag SPMT lines.
Container Lashing Plan: Stowage plan showing securing of project cargo with twistlocks and lashings in containers.
Containerized Heavy Cargo: Project items shipped inside flat racks or open top containers for liner movement.
Contingency Plan Heavy Lift: Documented response to wind exceedance, equipment failure, or load instability during a lift.
Convoy Movement: Coordinated road move of multiple oversize trailers under unified escort.
Cooling Tower Module: Prefabricated section of a power plant cooling structure shipped as a project unit.
Counterweight Wagon: Wheeled wagon supporting the rear counterweight on superlift configurations.
Crane Mat: Heavy timber or steel mat distributing crane outrigger or track loads to weak soils.
Crane Pad: Engineered foundation for a heavy crane, designed for ground bearing pressure and stability.
Crane Worldwide Logistics: Houston, Texas-based forwarder founded in 2008 by former EGL executives.
Cribbing: Stacked timber blocks supporting the hull on the keel line and bilge during dock work.
Critical Lift: Lift requiring special engineering and management because of weight, value, or hazard.
Cross Member: Transverse structural element on a modular trailer connecting two side rails.
Crown Worldwide Group: Hong Kong-headquartered moving and logistics company with project and records divisions.
CSCMP: Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals, US-based industry body.
CSS Code: IMO Code of Safe Practice for Cargo Stowage and Securing.
Customs Bond Heavy Lift: Financial guarantee covering duties on project cargo moved under temporary importation.
Cutting Edge Deck: Reinforced trailer deck designed to take direct load from heavy steel structures without bolsters.
Cycle Time Lift: Total time between crane pickup of a unit and return to ready position for the next lift.

D

D-Ring: Forged ring lashing point welded to deck or structure.
Dangerous Goods Project Cargo: Project units containing hazardous materials, governed by IMDG and ADR rules.
Day Rate Crane: Hire rate charged per calendar day for a mobilized heavy crane.
DB Schenker: Hamburg-based logistics arm of Deutsche Bahn with a global project and industrial division.
Deadweight Capacity Heavy Lift: Maximum cargo weight a heavy lift vessel can carry to a stated draft.
Deck Beam Lay Out: Pattern of cross beams on a heavy lift vessel deck designed to spread point loads.
Deck Cargo Convention: IMO instrument covering carriage of deck stowed project cargo.
Deck Reinforcement Plan: Drawings showing additional support fitted on a vessel deck for a heavy project unit.
Deck Strength Drawing: Vessel plan stating allowable uniform and point loads across the deck.
Delivery Vessel Window: Berthing slot reserved at a project site for arrival of a heavy lift vessel.
Demag CC 2800: Crawler crane in the 600 tonne class used for power plant and refinery work.
Demag CC 6800: Crawler crane in the 1,250 tonne class, also marketed under the Terex brand.
Demag CC 8800-1: Crawler crane in the 1,600 tonne class, the basis of the Twin variant.
Demag TC 3800: Truck mounted lattice boom crane in the 650 tonne class.
Departure Survey: Inspection at origin confirming the project unit and securing arrangements before sailing.
Detention Heavy Cargo: Charge levied when project equipment is held beyond agreed free time.
deugro Engineering Solutions: In-house engineering arm of deugro providing heavy lift and transport design.
deugro group: Frankfurt-based pure project freight forwarder founded in 1924 with about 70 offices worldwide.
deugro projects Houston: US specialist division of deugro focused on energy and petrochemical projects.
Dimensional Drawing: Scaled drawing of a project unit with all critical dimensions for transport planning.
Dolly Steering: Auxiliary steerable trailer placed under the front of a long project load.
Double Drop Trailer: Trailer with a low center section providing extra vertical clearance for tall units.
Down Time Crane: Hours during which a hired crane is non-productive but still on rate.
Draft Survey Heavy Lift: Reading of vessel marks to confirm loaded condition during project cargo operations.
Drawing Approval Cycle: Engineering review and sign-off loop between forwarder, contractor, and client.
Driveway Loading: Permissible wheel load over a culvert or driveway crossed by a heavy trailer.
Dropped Object Study: Hazard analysis of consequences if a project unit falls during lifting.
DSV A/S: Hedehusene, Denmark-headquartered global forwarder, with Project Industrial Logistics division.
Dunnage: Disposable wood, mats, or air bags used to protect, separate, and chock cargo.

E

Earth Pressure Plate: Steel plate used to spread crane outrigger loads on soft ground.
ECU Worldwide: Mumbai-based NVOCC subsidiary of Allcargo Logistics, formerly Hellmann Africa in some markets.
Edge Protection Sling: Pad or sleeve placed between a sling and a sharp corner to prevent cutting.
Electric Power Pack: Battery and motor unit used to drive SPMTs without diesel emissions.
End Beam Cargo: Project unit, often a vessel section, with lifting and supporting points at each end.
End User Certificate: Statement of ultimate buyer used in sanctions checks.
Engineered Lift: Lift designed using site-specific calculations rather than catalog charts.
Engineered Transport: Trailer move designed using axle distribution and route survey calculations.
Engineering Critical Assessment: Fitness for service review of a project unit before transport or installation.
Engineering Drawing Package: Bundle of arrangement, lifting, and transport drawings issued for a project move.
Engineering Liaison: Forwarder engineer who interfaces between manufacturer, contractor, and carrier.
Engineering Method Statement: Document setting out step-by-step procedure for a lifting or transport operation.
Engineering Risk Register: List of identified risks with mitigation actions for a project move.
Engineering Survey: Detailed measurement of equipment and route to support a project lift or move.
Envision Energy: Chinese wind turbine OEM whose nacelles and blades are frequent project cargo.
Equipment Mobilization: Movement of salvage gear and personnel to a casualty location.
Escort Vehicle: Pilot car accompanying an oversize load on the highway for safety and traffic management.
Estuary Transfer: Mid-river transfer of project cargo from seagoing vessel to inland barge.
EU Heavy Goods Permit: Member state permit authorizing road movement of an abnormal load within the EU.
Exceedance Wind Speed: Wind threshold above which a planned lift must be paused.
Expeditors International: Seattle, Washington-based forwarder with a project cargo and industrial vertical.
Expert Witness: Independent engineer engaged to opine on a heavy lift or transport dispute.
Export License Project: Government authorization required for shipment of controlled project equipment.
External Loadout: Loading of project modules from quay to vessel using shore equipment rather than ship's gear.

F

Factory Acceptance Test: Acceptance testing of new containers at the manufacturer's plant before delivery to lessor or carrier.
Fairlead: Fitting that leads a rope in the desired direction without chafe.
Fall Block: Multi-sheave hook block carrying the main hoist rope reeving on a heavy crane.
Fall Protection Plan: Safety scheme for working at height on project cargo or rigging structures.
Fast Track Project: Project where engineering, procurement, and delivery overlap to compress schedule.
Faymonville: Belgian manufacturer of modular trailers, beam wagons, and SPMT equipment.
Faymonville MultiMAX: Modular semi-trailer family widely used for project and oversize cargo.
FEED Study: Front End Engineering Design phase, when project cargo specifications begin to crystallize.
Ferry Crossing Heavy Cargo: Use of a roll-on roll-off ferry to bridge a sea or river link in a project route.
FIATA: International Federation of Freight Forwarders Associations.
Field Erection: Final assembly of a project unit at its installation site after delivery.
Field joint coating: In offshore pipelines, coating applied to joints in the field after welding.
Final Mile Heavy: Last leg of a project delivery from staging yard to foundation.
Final Position Survey: Geodetic check confirming a project unit is set within installation tolerances.
Five-Wheel Per Side SPMT: SPMT configuration with five wheel pairs across each axle line for high payload.
Fixed Lashing: Lashing arrangement intended to resist load motion in all sea states.
Flange Up Position: Orientation of a piping spool or vessel during transport with flanges facing upward.
Flat Rack Container: Open-sided container designed for oversize and heavy project cargo.
Flexitrailer: Generic term for modular hydraulic suspension trailer families used in project transport.
Float On Float Off (FLO/FLO): Loading method where a floating module is positioned over a semi-submersed vessel.
Float-out: Operation removing hull from drydock.
Floating Sheerleg: Crane barge with a fixed lattice boom used for heavy lifts in harbor.
Flue Gas Duct: Large ducting transported as a project unit for power and refinery installations.
Forwarding Order: Contract instruction from shipper to forwarder defining scope of project move services.
Foundation Bolts: Anchor bolts cast into foundations onto which a project unit is finally seated.
Foundation Loading Drawing: Drawing showing how a project unit's weight transfers to its foundation.
Frame Trailer: Heavy trailer with a structural frame replacing a conventional deck for vessels and columns.
Free On Board Liner Out (FOBLO): Cost split where shipper bears costs through loading and carrier through discharge.
Free Span Bridge: Bridge with a single unsupported span over which oversize loads require detailed analysis.

G

GAC Group: Gulf Agency Company, a global shipping, logistics, and marine services group founded in Kuwait in 1956.
Gantry Lift: Lift performed by a portal frame on rails rather than a mobile crane.
Gas Turbine Lift: Heavy lift of a power plant or compressor station gas turbine, often above 300 tonnes.
GE Vernova: Energy spin off of General Electric encompassing the GE wind turbine business including Haliade-X.
Generator Stator Transport: Movement of a large electrical machine stator, frequently 200 to 500 tonnes.
Geodis: Paris-headquartered logistics group founded by SNCF in 1991, with a Projects vertical.
Geodis Projects: Project industrial division of Geodis covering oil, gas, and renewables.
Geotechnical Survey Crane: Soil investigation used to validate ground bearing for a heavy crane setup.
Girder Bridge Ramp: Heavy ramp formed of girders used to span a step between quay and vessel.
Globaliner Project Network: Independent project forwarder cooperation network with global membership.
Goldhofer: German manufacturer of heavy duty and modular trailers including the THP/SL family.
Goldhofer PST/SL-E: Self-propelled modular transporter family from Goldhofer.
Goldhofer THP/SL: Hydraulic modular trailer system used worldwide for project transport.
Goldwind: Chinese wind turbine manufacturer whose nacelles and blades are major project cargo.
Gondola Wagon: Open top rail wagon used for steel coils and bulky project components.
Gooseneck: Hinged fitting connecting a boom to a mast.
GPS Tracking Project Cargo: Real-time location monitoring fitted to high-value project units in transit.
Granger Loading: Term sometimes used for end-to-end loading of long project units onto rail.
Grease Lift: Lubrication of trailer axles and suspension before a long heavy haul.
Gross Tonnage Heavy Lift Vessel: ITC tonnage measure used in port dues for heavy lift carriers.
Ground Bearing Pressure (GBP): Pressure exerted by crane tracks or outriggers on the soil.
Ground Improvement Pad: Engineered pad of compacted material to raise bearing capacity for a crane.
Guide Pin: Tapered pin used to align a project unit with its foundation during set down.
Guy Wire: Tensioned cable supporting a tower crane or temporary structure during lifts.

H

HAZID: Hazard Identification workshop used in design and post-casualty review.
HAZOP: Hazard and operability study applied to diving system design.
Heavy & Specialized Transport Carriers Conference (HSTCC): North American forum for specialized hauliers and forwarders.
Heavy Cargo Hook: Forged hook used on heavy lift cranes, certified per ASME B30.10 or equivalent.
Heavy Equipment Manager: Forwarder role responsible for cranes, SPMTs, and ancillary heavy gear on a project.
Heavy Haul Permit: Authorization to move an oversize or overweight load over public roads.
Heavy Lift Code Guidance: IMO MSC.1/Circ.1353 guidance on shipboard handling of heavy cargo.
Heavy Lift Concept Study: Early stage study comparing crane, SPMT, and skidding solutions for a project unit.
Heavy Lift Insurance: Marine and project cargo insurance covering oversize units and project moves.
Heavy Lift Sling Set: Engineered set of slings sized and certified for a specific project lift.
Heavy Transport Vehicle (HTV): Road combination configured for abnormal indivisible loads.
Heavy-Lift Vessel (HLV): Project-cargo ship with high-capacity cranes.
Heliport Crane: Crane positioned to assemble or maintain offshore platform helidecks.
Hellmann Worldwide Logistics: Bremen-based global forwarder with project and air freight divisions.
High Cube Module: Project module with overall height exceeding standard transport envelopes.
Hinkley Point C: UK nuclear power project where the Sarens SGC-250 ring crane is deployed.
Hoisting Engineer: Discipline engineer specifying crane configurations and rigging for project lifts.
Hold On Lashing: Lashing fitted at sea to hold a project unit firmly against its supports.
Hook Block Capacity: Working load limit of a crane's main hook block in a given reeving configuration.
Hostomel: Ukrainian airport where the only Antonov An-225 Mriya was destroyed in February 2022.
Hub City Project Office: Forwarder office located near a project hub such as Houston, Dubai, or Singapore.
Hydraulic Climbing Jack: Strand jack or hydraulic jack used to raise project units in steps.
Hydraulic Gantry: Portable lifting system using hydraulic cylinders on legs running on rails.
Hydraulic Suspension Trailer: Trailer using hydraulic cylinders rather than mechanical springs, key to SPMT designs.
Hyundai Glovis: South Korean logistics company, the captive provider to Hyundai Motor Group.

I

ID Survey Project Cargo: Identification survey marking and recording each project piece before shipment.
IL-76: Soviet-designed jet freighter operated by Volga-Dnepr, Silk Way, and Maximus Air for project work.
IMDG Code: International Maritime Dangerous Goods Code, mandatory under SOLAS VII Part A.

K

"K"Line Logistics: Tokyo-based logistics subsidiary of Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha.
"K"Line Project: Project cargo branding within the "K"Line Logistics group.