International Shipping Terms Glossary

A group of stevedores, usually four to five members, with a supervisor. This group is engaged in loading and unloading the vessel.

A narrow portable platform for safe, comfortable, and quick movement of people between a vessel and a terminal.

The amount by which ocean carriers increase their base rates across specific lines, generally as a result of increased demand.

A common motor carrier that carries general commodities or all commodities (except special commodities).

A warehouse for storing a variety of goods.

A term associated with more than one definition: 1) Whole or part of the cargo received from the shipper, including any equipment supplied by the shipper. 2) Common term indicating movable property, merchandise, or wares. 3) All materials which are used to satisfy demands.

A ship's total internal volume expressed in “register tons”, each of which is equal to 100 cubic feet (2.83 m3). Gross register tonnage uses the total permanently enclosed capacity of the vessel as its basis for volume. Typically, this is used for dockage fees, canal transit fees, and similar purposes where it is appropriate to charge based on the size of the entire vessel.

The mass of the goods, together with the packaging (inseparable from the goods until their consumption) and external packaging (boxes, bags, barrels, etc.)