Business of Shipping Definitions Flashcards
Accommodation Ladder(gangway)
A narrow hanging staircase used by persons entering or leaving a vessel. Accommodation Ladders are usually supplied with two platforms, one at each end.
Agent
A person employed to assist with vessel logistics such as port formalities, fuel procurement, provisions, tugs and pilots, mail, crew joining and leaving, medical appointments, etc.
Ashore
On land; not aboard the ship.
Bareboat charter
A charter in which the bare ship is chartered without crew, and the charterers are fully responsible for the operation of the ship.
Bill of lading
The contract under which the goods will be carried between stated ports-and also a statement of exactly what is to be carried, in what quantities and under what conditions. Acts as a receipt.
Bulk cargoes
Bulk cargo is cargo transported unpackaged in large quantities. These cargos are usually dropped or poured, with a spout or shovel bucket, as a liquid or solid, into a bulk carrier’s hold. Bulk cargos are classified as liquid or dry.
Bunkering
Loading fuel for a vessel. The type of “bunkers” will vary depending upon the propulsion mode of the vessel. Steamships will use a heavy fuel oil, diesels use a range of fuels from heavy to light, and gas turbines generally use kerosene
Cadet
A future ship’s officer under training; either a deck cadet or an engineering cadet.
Cargo work
The loading, discharging and stowing of cargo.
Chief Mate (second in command)
The chief mate is the head of the deck department.
Consigned
Sent to the receiver, or intended to be delivered to the proper receiver.
Containers
a standardized reusable steel box used for the safe, efficient and secure storage and movement of materials and products in the intermodal freight transport system. Lengths vary from 8 to 56 feet (2.438 to 17.069 m) and heights from 8 feet (2.438 m) to 9 feet 6 inches (2.896 m)
Cranes
Gantry type cranes used for loading and discharging containers.
Crew
The people who work on the ship and have signed Articles of Agreement. There is often a distinction between Officers and Crew, more so in the navy.
Deck department
One of three main departments into which a ship’s crew is divided. The other two are engine room and stewarding. The deck department is responsible for navigation, cargo, general maintenance and security.
Due diligence
The exercise of due care and attention.
Engine room
The area on board ship where the main engine(s), generators, compressors, pumps, oil purifiers and other major machinery are located. It is sometimes referred to as the “machinery space”.
Examined
Inspected
Freight forwarder
An individual or company that books or otherwise arranges space for shipments of cargo on ships or other modes of transport. Freight forwarders do not ship cargo themselves but instead arrange for its carriage by others.
Funnel marking
Identifiable company logo or symbol painted on the ship’s funnel (stack).
Hoisted
Lifted or raised by mechanical means.
Intermodal
Involving different modes of transport. The container is the key element in the system. Once filled at the factory, it can move by truck, railway, ship and vice versa without the contents ever being handled again until they reach their final destination.
Load planners
Division of the shipping company who take the cargo information such as the weight and size of the box, the destination port, the number of similar boxes consigned to the same port, and use their computer skills and maritime knowledge to determine exactly where in the ship the container will be loaded.
Main deck
The continuous deck of a ship running from fore to aft. The freeboard is measured from this deck.
Marine terminal
An assigned area of a port with facilities for loading and unloading the cargo or passengers (for cruise lines) of various types of vessels. Typically a marine terminal will also be where cargo is received, stored, and later distributed to sites outside the port. Different kinds of cargo are handled at different kinds of terminals. For example, bulk cargoes such as coal, grain, and petroleum require highly specialized facilities for their handling, while general cargo (including containerized cargo) requires adequate crane service and appropriate storage areas.
Master
Captain of the vessel. In command, and has overall responsibility for the ship, crew and cargo.
Merchant marine academy
A training institution that prepares future ship’s officers for a career at sea.
Navigation bridge
That area of a vessel where the wheelhouse and chart room are located. It is the navigating section of a vessel. The command post of a ship.
Offshore side
The side of the ship away from the dock.
Pilots
A pilot is a mariner who guides ships through dangerous or congested waters, such as harbours or river mouths, possessing great local knowledge of the areas.
Ports
Harbors with piers or docks where ships can load and unload cargo. Ports often have cargo-handling equipment such as cranes and forklifts (operated by longshoremen or stevedores) for use in loading/unloading of ships.
PPE
Mandatory personal protective equipment (PPE) which must be worn on board ship.
Renewed
replaced
Refurbished
fixed up
Sail
Depart; go to sea.
Seafarers
People who make their living going to sea.
Ship chandler
Particular merchants handling ship’s stores and supplies. Sometimes handles spare parts as accommodation to ship operators.
Shipper
The person for whom the master of a ship agrees to carry cargo. Also called consignor.
Stern
The after-most part of a vessel. The stern will house the steering gear compartment and various stowage areas. It is that section of a vessel over the rudder and propeller.
Stores
A general term for provisions, materials, and supplies used aboard ship for the maintenance of the crew, and for the navigation, propulsion and upkeep of the vessel and its equipment.
Stowage
The placing of cargo in the appropriate spaces aboard the ship.
Tank-barge
Small shallow-draft vessel carrying bunkers to refuel ships. The refuelling is done from the offshore side and doesn’t interfere with cargo operations.
TEU (13,500 TEU container ship) – TEU:
Twenty-foot Equivalent Unit. It is the basic standard for containers with dimensions 20ft long x 8ft wide x 8.5ft high. The maximum weight is 20 tonnes, but in most cases the loaded weight is much less because of the space the goods occupy. The majority of containers in use are 40 feet long i.e. 2TEUs, but certain models can be 45, 48 or even 53ft long. For height, they can go up to 9 ½ feet (high volume cargoes) or down to 4 ¼ feet (high density cargoes).
Trade
Generally refers to the commodity (type of cargo) being carried, but sometimes to the ship type. e.g. tanker trade, LNG trade, bulk trade, container trade.
