ABBREVIATIONS S - V

SATPM
Saturday P.M.

SB
Safe Berth

SD (or SID)
Single Decker

SEAFREIGHT
Costs charged for transporting goods over the sea. This does not cover haulage or loading/discharging costs but the sea transport only

SEAWORTHINESS
Statement of condition of the vessel (valid certificates, fully equipped and manned etc.). The fitness of a ship to safely load, transport and discharge a particular cargo, with respect to the hazards of the sea. Seaworthiness is a key component of any kind of charter party. See Unseaworthy.

SELFD
Self Discharging

SEMI-TRAILERS
Are usually 12.0 meter flat bed road trailers

SF
Stowage Factor. Cubic space (measurement tonne) occupied by one tonne (2,240 lbs/1,000 kgs) of cargo

SHINC
Sundays/Holidays Included
SHIPPER
The party who contracts with a Shipowner (carrier) for the carriage of goods.

SHEX
Sundays/Holidays Excluded

SKIDS
Are bearers (timber or steel) positioned under the cargo to enable forklift handling at port, and for ease of rigging and lashing on board ship.

SN
Satellite Navigation - A form of position finding using radio transmissions from satellites with sophisticated on-board automatic equipment

SOC
Shipper Owned Container

SOF
Statement of Facts

SP
Safe Port

SPIDERING
Is the strengthening of circular tanks for transport, this prevents the tanks from becoming warped. The tanks are strengthened with steel or wood crossbeams giving a spider appearance

SRBL
Signing and Releasing Bill of Lading

SSHEX
Saturdays, Sundays, Holidays Excluded

SSHINC (or SATSHINC)
Saturdays, Sundays, Holidays Included

STABILITY
It is paramount that a vessel is stable in all aspects at all times. When cargo is loaded/discharged, the stability is monitored by a computer, which takes into account the weight and position of cargo within the vessel.

STARBOARD
Right side of a ship when facing the front or forward end.

STEM
Subject to Enough Merchandise (Availability of cargo). Also, the forward most part of the bow.

STERN
The aformost or after part of a ship

SUB
Subject (to). Depending upon as a condition

SUBJECT STEM
Relating to the availability of cargo on the date or dates on which a ship is offering to load.

SUPERCARGO
Person employed by a ship owner, shipping company, charterer of a ship or shipper of goods to supervise cargo handling operations. An individual dispatched by a Shipowner or shipping company or charterer of a ship or shipper of goods to supervise cargo handling operations, inspect cargoes, ships, etc. Often called a port captain, Surveyor)

SWAD
Salt Water Arrival Draft

SWDD
Salt Water Departure Draft

THWARTSHIPS
At right angles to the centre-line of the ship

TIDE
The periodic rise and fall of water level in the oceans

TIME BAR
Time after which legal claims will not be entered. It is the expiration of the time period within which a lawsuit can be brought or arbitration commenced against a carrier for any claim under a contract of carriage. This time period is usually stipulated in the contract of carriage and can be extended or abridged by agreement of the two parties.

TIME CHARTER PARTY
The document containing the terms and conditions of a contract between a charterer and a Shipowner for the hire of a ship for a fixed time frame, usually more than one voyage.

TBN
To Be Named / To Be Nominated

TC
Time Charter - Owners agree to hire a particular ship for a set length of time and provide technical management, crewing etc.

TCP
Time Charter Party

TEU
Standard 20' Container

TOPSIDES
The sides of a ship between the waterline and the deck; sometimes referring to onto or above the deck

Trading Limits: Geographical limits specified in a time charter party outside which the charterer is not allowed to operate the ship.

TRIM
Fore and aft balance of a ship

TTL
Total

TW
Tween Decker

UNDERWRITER
The party who agrees to compensate another firm, usually a cargo owner or Shipowner, for loss from an insured peril in consideration of payment of a premium.

UNSEAWORTHINESS
Unfitness of a ship for a particular voyage with a particular cargo. This can be a function of many variables, including but not limited to insufficient crew stores or fuel, machinery or equipment failure, or unfitness (unclean tanks) to receive or carry the cargo.

USC
Unless Sooner Commenced

UU
Unless Used

UUIWCTAUTC
Unless Used In Which Case Time Actually Used To Count

VOYAGE CHARTER
A contract of carriage in which the charterer engages a Shipowner for the use of a ship’s cargo space for one voyage.

VPD
Vessel Pays Dues