The meaning of terms and abbreviations ABCC Association of the British Chambers of Commerce. Act of God Any accident due to natural causes, without human intervention which could not have been prevented by foresight and care. Ad valorem In proportion to the value. Ad valorem duty A duty based upon the value of the goods. Ad valorem freight Freight chargeable on the value of the goods, and not on weight or measure­ ment. ADR European agreement for the inter­ national carriage of dangerous goods. Agent One who transacts business on behalf of a principal. AIMS American Institute of Merchant Ship­ ping. Arbitration Process whereby contending parties mutually appoint a person (arbiter) to settle a dispute in order to avoid going to law. BAF Bunker Adjustment Factor. Bailee A person (or firm) responsible for goods whilst in his care. Bill of sight A customs import form used when the importer is unable to make a complete entry. A Customs Officer opens and 'sights' the goods and the information thus provided enables a normal entry to be made. B/L - Bill of lading (house) A document of carriage issued by a forwarding agent to his principal or a domestic document between two ocean carriers where they are carrying each other's cargo. B/L - Bill of lading (ship) A receipt for goods either received for shipment or shipped on board a named vessel. A document of title and evidence of the contract of carriage. BIMCO Baltic and International Maritime Confer­ ence. Blue Book Government publication covering the rules for carriage of dangerous goods and explosives by sea. Bonded goods lmported (dutiable) goods accommo­ dated in a Customs bonded warehouse until the duty on them has been paid. 84 THE MEANINGS OF TERMS ANO ABBREVIATIONS Break bulk cargo Cargo consisting of individual packages stowed in a 'conventional ship'. Broken stowage Space lost in stowing packages of irregular shape. Broker An agent employed as an intermediary to negotiate a business contract, or in the case of insurance to effect a contract of insurance with underwriters. Brokerage The reward on a percentage basis paid to a broker for his services. BS Bunker Surcharge. BSC British Shippers' Council. BSI British Standards Institution. Bulk cargo Commodity which is carried loose, e.g., grain, oii, ore, coal. Bulkhead A transverse underdeck construction of steel plates, capable of withstanding great strain, forming watertight com­ partments. Bunker That part of a ship set aside for the stor­ ing of fuel for use on the voyage. CAACE Committee of Shipowners' Associations of the European Community. (Comite des Associations d' Armateurs des Com­ munautes Europeennes). CAF Currency Adjustment Factor. CAP Common Agricultura! Policy (of the EEC). Cargo The general name for goods carried on board a trading vessel. CBI Confederation of British Industries. cec Customs Co-operation Council. CCCN Customs Co-operation Council Nomen­ clature (formerly BTN). CENSA Council of European and Japanese National Shipowners' Associations. Certificate of origin Document certifying the country of origin of goods. Normally signed by a Chamber of Commerce or Embassy. C&F Cost and Freight. Charter-party A contract made between a shipowner and a charterer for the hire of a ship, or part of her, for a certain specified period of time or voyage at an agreed rate; known as hire money. c & I Cost and Insurance. CIF Cost, Insurance and Freight. CIM (Convention Internationale International convention applied by 19 concernant le transport de European railways setting out condi­ Marchandises par chemin de tions for the international carriage of fer) goods by railway. Claused bill of lading An endorsement to the effect that the goods or part thereof are not in good order, i.e., damaged, indadequately packed etc. THE MEANINGS OF TERMS AND ABBREVIA TIONS 85 Clearance Goods­ Satisfying HM Customs formalities. Ships - Before a vessel can load outward cargo she must be 'cleared inward' by Customs who, after rummaging the holds etc., issue a certificate known as a Jerque Note which also shows the quan­ tity of dutiable goods left on board under official seal. CMI Comite Maritime International. CMR (Convention relative au International convention for the inter­ contrat de transport national carriage of goods by road. international des Marchandises par vois de Route) Combined transport bill of A document issued by a Combined lading Transport Operator (CTO) for the carriage of goods by at least two modes of transport. Conference system A conference is an association of liner shipowners operating in the same trade who agree to abide by a set of regula­ tions, and to quote the same rates of freight, to the mutual benefit of ship­ pers and themselves. Consign To forward goods from one place to another. Consignment Goods in transit to a named destination. Consignment note Document used to consign goods. Consignee The person to whom goods are sent; the Receiver. Consignor The sender of goods; the shipper or his agent. Consul A Government Commercial represen­ tative appointed to reside in a foreign country to facilitate and protect the commercial relation with his own country. Contraband The import or export of prohibited or dutiable goods. Contract Involves an offer and an acceptance. Contracts are normally but not necessarily confirmed in writing. Conventional cargo Cargo not carried in containers, flats, etc., but stowed in normal packages. Cooperage The repairing of casks or the services of a cooper in repairing damaged cargo. Also the opening of cargo for Customs examination and repacking. CPT Customs New Import Entry Processing System. CRN Customs Registered Number. A system to assist HM Government in the pub­ lication of accurate trade statistics. It replaced the Customs Assigned Number (CAN) in October 1981). CTO Combined Transport Operator. 86 THE MEANINGS OF TERMS AND ABBREVIATIONS Customs entry Document rendered to obtain Customs clearance on imported goods or to satisfy Customs requirements on exported goods. Deadfreight Space booked by a shipper or charterer but not used. Deck cargo Cargo shipped on the open deck. Delivery order The written authority to deliver goods etc., to a named party in exchange for the bill of lading. Depot charges Exports - An amount for receiving cargo and stowing into a groupage unit. lmports - An amount for receiving a loaded groupage unit and subsequent delivery to motor vehicle for transport to final destination. Demurrage Compensation payable for delay to ships, motor vehicles, wagons, con­ tainers, etc., beyond a stipulated free period. Despatch Reward payable to the shipper or charterer for time saved; the opposite of demurrage. DGN Dangerous goods note. Dock dues A toll charged on vessels and goods entering or leaving a dock. Raised as revenue to pay for dock maintenance etc. Dock receipt Receipt for cargo delivered for ship­ ment. DoE Department of the Environment. DTI Department of Trade and Industry. Drawback Repayment of duty by HM Customs upon the re-export of certain goods which paid duty on import. Dunnage Material, usually planking and mats etc., to facilitate the stowage of cargo. Duty deferment EEC system permitting the deferred payment of Customs duties for an agreed period, against acceptable guarantees. ECE Economic Commission for Europe (UN). ECGD Export Credits Guarantee Department. EDI Electronic Data Interchange. EEC European Economic Community. Eur Form An EEC document used by the twelve member countries as a movement certifi­ cate to countries who have a Free Trade Association Agreement with the EEC. Excise Tax levied by Customs on certain classes of goods produced in this country, e.g., whisky. Export licence Document issued by the Government giving permission to export certain controlled goods. THE MEANINGS OF TERMS AND ABBREVIATIONS 87 Ex-quay Selling price includes all charges up to goods being landed on the quay for sellers account. The buyer is responsible for charges after delivery on quay. Ex-ship Selling price includes all charges up to port of discharge. Alllanding and other costs are charged to the account of the purchaser. Ex-works Selling price includes all charges up to the manufacturers' collection point. Does not include insurance, freight or transport charges. FAK A system whereby freight is not charged in accordance with a commodity tariff, i.e., a flat rate system (freight all kinds). FAS Free alongside. FBL Freight forwarders combined transport bill of lading. FCL Full container load. A container loaded to capacity by one shipper and for his account. FCLILCL Container movement whereby the pack­ ing is charged to the account of the merchant and the stripping is to the carrier. FCR Freight Forwarders Certificate of Receipt. The forwarding agent's own through document for goods. Feeder vessel A container ship used in short sea trades to serve ports at which the ocean vessel does not call. FlATA The International Federation of For­ warding Agents Associations. FIO Free in and out. The charterer, shipper or consignee pays for the cost of loading and discharge of the cargo. FIOS Free in and out and stowed. The charterer, shipper or consignee pays for the cost of loading, discharge and stowage of the cargo. Flotsam When cargo is jettisoned, that which floats is termed flotsam. FOB Free on board. The shipper/exporter pays all charges excluding freight and insurance which is paid by the consignee. On the continent it is customary for some additional charges to be paid by the consignee. Freightliner The name first employed by British Raii for their container hauling operation. This expression is now used by railways generally to denote fast overland container movement. Freight tonne (F/T) The weight or measurement of cargo on which the freight is calculated. A weight 88 THE MEANINGS OF TERMS AND ABBREVIATIONS tonne equals 1000 kilo and a measure­ ment tonne equals one cubic metre (M3).