ABBREVIATIONS A - D

AA
Always Afloat. A charter party clause which requires that a ship is to berth for loading or discharging without touching the bottom of the sea / river / lake, etc.

AAAA
Always Accessible Always Afloat

AAOSA
Always Afloat or Safe Aground. Condition for a vessel whilst in port

AARA
Amsterdam-Antwerp-Rotterdam Area

ABOARD
On or within the ship

ABOVE DECK
On the deck (not over it - see ALOFT)

ABT
About
Act Of God
An essentially inevitable event occurring without the intervention of man. These events can include floods, or hurricanes or other events beyond the control of any party.

ADCOM
Address Commission

ADDENDUM
Additional chartering terms at the end of a charter party

AFSPS
Arrival First Sea Pilot Station (Norway)

AFFREIGHTMENT
The hiring of a ship in whole or part

AFT
At or towards the stern or rear of a ship

AGROUND
Touching or fast to the bottom

AGW
All Going Well

AHL
Australian Hold Ladders

AIDS TO NAVIGATION
Artificial objects to supplement natural landmarks indicating safe and unsafe waters

ALOFT
Above the deck of the ship

AMIDSHIPS
In or toward the centre of the ship

ANCHORAGE
A place suitable for anchorage in relation to the wind, seas and bottom

ANTHAM
Antwerp-Hamburg Range

APS
Arrival Pilot Station

ARAG
Amsterdam-Rotterdam--Antwerp-Gent Range

ARBITRATION
Method of settling disputes which is usually binding on parties. A clause usually in a charter party

A/S
Alongside

ASBA
American Shipbrokers Association

ASPW
Any Safe Port in the World

ASTERN
In the back of the ship, opposite of ahead

ATDNSHINC
Any Time Day/Night Sundays and Holidays Included

ATHWARTSHIPS
At right angles to the centreline of the ship

ATUTC
Actual Times Used to Count

BACKLETTER
Where a seller/shipper issues a 'letter of indemnity' in favour of the carrier in exchange for a clean bill of lading

BAF
Bunker Adjustment Factor. A Fuel Surcharge expressed as a percentage added or subtracted from the freight amount, reflecting the movement in the market place price for bunkers.

BALE CAP.
Cubic capacity of a vessels holds to carry packaged dry cargo such as bales/pallets

BALLAST
Heavy weight, often sea water, necessary for the stability and safety of a ship which is not carrying cargo

BALLAST BONUS
Compensation for relatively long ballast voyage

BAREBOAT CHTR.
Bareboat Charter - Owners lease a specific ship and control its technical management and commercial operations only. Charterers take over all responsibility for the operation of the vessel and expenses for the duration.

BBB
Before Breaking Bulk. Refers to freight payments that must be received before discharge of a vessel commences

BDI
Both Dates Inclusive

BEAM
The maximum breadth or the greatest width of a ship

BELOW
Beneath the deck

BENDS
Both Ends (Load & Discharge Ports)

BI
Both Inclusive

BIMCO
The Baltic and International Maritime Council

BL1
Bale

BL2
(Bill of Lading) A document signed by the carrier which acts as a Contract of Affreightment, a receipt and evidence of title to the cargo.

BM
Beam

BN
Booking Note

BOB
Bunker on Board

BOFFER
Best Offer

BOW
The forward part of a ship

BROB
Bunkers Remaining on Board

BROKERAGE
Percentage of freight payable to broker (by owners in c/p's) or applicable to sale or purchase

BSS
Basis

BSS 1/1
Basis 1 Port to 1 Port

BT
Berth Terms

BULKHEAD
A vertical partition separating compartments

BUNDLING
This is the assembly of pieces of cargo, secured into one manageable unit. This is relevant to items such as Structural Steel, Handrails, Stairways etc. Whilst this is a very flexible description, a rule of thumb is to present cargo at a size easily handled by a large (20 tonne) fork lift.

BUNKERS
Name given for vessels Fuel and Diesel Oil supplies (Originates from coal bunkers)

BUOY
An anchored float used for marking a position on the water or a hazard or a shoal and for mooring

BWAD
Brackish Water Arrival Draft

CABOTAGE
Refers to the coastal trades of a particular nation. Cabotage is often governed by statutes requiring that only ships flying the flag of the coastal state concerned may engage in the coastal trades between ports of that state, unless "waivers" are obtained from the government of the state. In the United States, this means that the vessels must be built (primarily) in the United States, fly the U.S. flag and be crewed by American nationals.

CAF
Currency Adjustment Factor

CBM
Cubic Metres

CBFT (or CFT)
Cubic Feet

CFR (or C&F)
Cost and Freight

CHART
A map used by navigators

CHARTERPARTY
Contract of Affreightment signed between the shipowner and the charterer, whereby the charterer hires the vessel for the carriage of goods. These contracts can take many forms, including Time Charters, Bareboat Charters or Voyage Charters.

CHOPT
Charterers Option

CHTRS
Charterers

CIF
Cost, Insurance & Freight. Seller pays all these costs to a nominated port or place of discharge.

CKD
Completely knocked down

COA
Contract of Affreightment - Owners agree to accept a cost per revenue tonne for cargo carried on a specific number of voyages.

CIP
Carriage and Insurance paid to...

COACP
Contract of Affreightment Charter Party

COB
Closing of Business

COBLDN
Closing of Business London

COD
Cash On Delivery

COGSA
Carriage of Goods by Sea Act

CONGESTION
Port/berth delays

CONS
Consumption

C/SNEE
CONSIGNEE. Name of agent, company or person receiving consignment

COP
Custom Of Port

CP (or C/P)
Charter Party

Charterers Pay Dues

CPT
Carriage Paid To

CQD
Customary Quick Despatch

CR
Current Rate

CROB
Cargo Remaining on Board

CRN
Crane

CRT
Cargo Retention Clauses, introduced by charterers based on shortage of delivered cargo because of increased oil prices.
CST
Centistoke

CTR
Container Fitted

DA
Disbursement Account

DAF
Deliver At Frontier

DAPS
Days all Purposes (Total days for loading & discharging)

DAMFORDET
Damages for Detention. Penalty if cargo is not ready when ship arrives for working (1st day of Laycan). This is not detention which is charged for ships time on delay. If the cargo is ready there is no DAMFORDET.

DDU
Delivered Duty unpaid.

DDP
Delivered Duty Paid.

DECK
A permanent covering over a compartment, hull or any part thereof

DEM
Demurrage (Quay Rent). An agreed amount of money payable to the shipowner, by the charterer, for occupying the port space beyond a specified Free Time

DEMISE CHARTER
A Demise charter is essentially the same as a Bareboat charter. In this case, the charterers hire or charter the ship for a set period of time and provide the crew and ship management and additionally pay all running expenses.

DEQ
Delivered Ex Quay

DES
Delivered Ex Ship

DESP
Despatch. Time saved, reward for quick turnaround- in dry cargo only

DET
Detention (See DAMFORDET)

DEV
Deviation. Vessel departure from specified voyage course

DFRT
Deadfreight. Space booked by shipper or charterer on a vessel but not used

DHDATSBE
Despatch Half Demurrage on All Time Saved Both Ends

DHDWTSBE
Despatch Half Demurrage on Working Time Saved Both Ends

Disbursements
Expenses incurred in a port against the general expenses of the vessel - these include wages , loading and/or discharging, bunkers, water, provisions, customs clearance, port and quay dues, pilotage, tugs and other pertinent costs.

DISCH
Discharge

Disponent Owner
A person or company who controls the commercial operation of a ship , responsible for deciding the ports of call and the cargoes to be carried.
DK
Deck

DLOSP
Dropping Last Outwards Sea Pilot (Norway)

DO
Diesel Oil

DOLSP
Dropping Off Last Sea Pilot (Norway)

DOP
Dropping Outward Pilot

DOT
Department of Transport

DNRCAOSLONL
Discountless and Non-Returnable Cargo and/or Ship Lost or Not Lost

DRAUGHT (or DRAFT)
Depth to which a ship is immersed in water. The depth varies according to the design of the ship and will be greater or lesser depending not only on the weight of the ship and everything on board, but also on the density of the water in which the ship is lying.

DRK
Derrick

DUNNAGE
Materials of various types, often timber or matting, placed among the cargo for separation, and hence protection from damage, for ventilation and, in the case of certain cargoes, to provide space in which the tynes of a fork lift truck may be inserted.

DWAT (or DWT)
Deadweight. Weight of cargo, stores and water, i.e. the difference between lightship and loaded displacement.