A legal document issued by the carrier confirming receipt of cargo for shipment and defining the terms of transport. It serves as proof of cargo ownership.

A document issued by the seller stating the cargo's value, description, and prices — used in customs clearance.

An official certificate proving the cargo originates from a specific country — used for tariff preferences.

Cargo shipped together from one point to another via one or more transport modes.

Movement of cargo through multiple countries or ports on its journey from origin to destination.

Discharging bulk cargo from inside a vessel's holds using excavators and suitable equipment.

The agreed time for discharging or loading a vessel without extra charges. Exceeding it is a delay.

The time a vessel spends at the berth during discharge, loading, or waiting.

A penalty charged when a container is not pulled from the port after the free period expires.

Trade term: the seller bears costs up to the ship's rail; the buyer takes over after that.

Trade term: price includes the cost of goods, insurance, and freight to the destination port.

Trade term: the seller makes goods available at its premises; all costs and risks transfer to the buyer.

A refrigerated container equipped with a cooling system to keep sensitive cargo at a constant temperature.

A document detailing the contents of each package or container — weight, dimensions, and units.

A penalty for late return of the empty container after pulling it from the port beyond the free time.

A logistics intermediary that arranges cargo transport on behalf of the exporter or importer.

A contract between the shipowner and charterer for hiring the whole or part of a vessel.

An official list of all cargo loaded on a vessel — submitted to customs before arrival.

Official procedures to release cargo through customs — documents, duties, and inspection.

The global unit for vessel and container capacity — 1 TEU = 20ft container, 1 FEU = 40ft = 2 TEU.

You hire the entire container for your cargo alone — even if you don't fill it.

You share a container with other shippers — you pay only for the space your cargo occupies.

ETA is estimated arrival, ETD estimated departure — the backbone of shipment scheduling.

The service of handling cargo at the quay — loading and discharging vessels with cranes and labour.

The standard 20ft or 40ft closed container with rear doors for dry cargo.

A container with no sides or roof — a steel floor with collapsible ends for oversized cargo.

A cylindrical tank inside a steel frame for liquids, gases, and liquid chemicals.

A container with no fixed roof — a removable tarpaulin for top-loaded tall cargo.

The structure where vessels moor for loading and discharging — each berth has a number, draft, and length.

A facility for storing cargo — dry, cold, or silos depending on cargo type.

Unpackaged cargo shipped in large quantities — dry bulk (grain, minerals) or liquid bulk (oil, chemicals).

The area for storing and assembling containers in port — the handover point for FCL/LCL.

A bank guarantee ensuring the seller is paid if compliant documents are presented.

Free days allowed for a container to stay in or outside port before penalties apply.

Moving cargo inside port — from vessel to quay, yard, warehouse or truck.

A company that owns or operates vessels on regular routes — e.g. Maersk, MSC.

The party to whom cargo is shipped and who is legally entitled to collect it with the B/L.

The party that ships the cargo — the seller or exporter who delivers it to the line.

The party notified of vessel arrival — may be the consignee or its agent.

The government body managing the port — berths, tariffs, and safety.

The depth of the submerged part of the vessel — determines if it can enter a port or berth.

A fee on top of base freight for special conditions — fuel, congestion, peak season.

The cost to move cargo port to port — per container, per ton, or per CBM.

MBL is issued by the line to the forwarder; HBL by the forwarder to the real shipper — common in LCL.

A 6–10 digit international code classifying goods — determines duty and regulatory requirements.