Words & phrases

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Abbrevation Full designation Description
ATA Actual Time of Arrival Actual time of arrival
ATA-Carnet An international customs and temporary export-import document ATA carnet simplifies the customs clearance and replaces all export, import and transit documents. Read more about ATA-carnet here
ATD Actual Time of Departure Actual time of departure
AWB Air WayBill Freight document for air
B-L Bill of Lading Freight document for shipping
B100 Bio Diesel "B100 is a bio-based fuel according to the standard for Biodiesel (NS-EN14214). B100 consists of 100% rapeseed methyl ester (RME)."
B2B Business to Business Trade between companies
BAF Bunker Adjustement Factor Oil / Fuel Surcharge
Break-bulk Goods that must be loaded individually, and not in intermodal containers nor in bulk as with oil or grain Ships that carry this sort of cargo are called general cargo ships
CAF Currency Adjustment Factor Currency surcharge
Carbon Neutral Carbon Neutral Carbon neutrality specifically refers to the amount of carbon being removed from the atmosphere being equal to the carbon emitted.
Cbm Cubic meter A volume that is made by a cube that is 1 meter on each side
Certificate of Origin Certificate of Origin Certificate of Origin of the goods
CFR Cost and Freight Delivered when goods is loaded onto vessel, harbour for delivery should be named.
Chargeable weight Freight measurement Weight converted out of volume
Chassis Chassis/Semi hanger Trailer for transporting containers
CIF Cost, Insurance and Freight Delivered when goods is loaded onto vessel, harbour for delivery should be named. Consigner is responsible for insurance
Co2 Carbon Dioxide Carbon dioxide is a colourless gas and one of the most important gases linked to global warming
Co2e Carbon Dioxide Equivalent "CO2e essentially describes the global warming potential of all greenhouse gases. In other words, the impact of different greenhouse gases is expressed in terms of the amount of CO2 that would result in the same amount of warming. Put simply, CO2e gathers all greenhouse gases into one place."
COD Change of Destination Change of agreed delivery address
Consignee Consignee Receiver of the goods
Consignor Sender/shipper The sender/shipper of the goods is where the goods is sent/shipped from
DAP Delivered at Place Delivered when goods is ready to be unloaded by the buyer at a named destination. Consignee responsible for cost of importing the goods
DDP Delivered Duty Paid Delivered when goods is loaded onto vessel, harbour for delivery
Demurrage Demurrage Harbour rental fee in regards to containers
Detention Detention Container rental fee
DGR Dangerous Goods Regulations Dangerous goods regulations - rules for handling dangerous goods during transport
EAN European Article Numbering Gives the product an unique number readable by a scanner
EcoVadis EcoVadis EcoVadis provides holistic sustainability ratings service of companies. The EcoVadis Rating covers a broad range of non-financial management systems including Environmental, Labor & Human Rights, Ethics and Sustainable Procurement impacts. Each company is rated on the material issues as they pertain to their company's size, location and industry.
EDI Electronic Data Interchange Electronic Data Interchange between computer systems
eMethanol eMethanol E-methanol is produced by combining green hydrogen and captured carbon dioxide from industrial sources. It still releases some greenhouse gases as it burns, but it emits less carbon dioxide, nitrogen oxides, sulfur oxide and particulate matter than conventional marine fuel.
Emission Calculations Emission Calculations "Emission computations calculate the direct and indirect output of greenhouse gas (GHG) and carbon dioxide emissions committed by an individual, organization, product, or event. It helps to recognize excessive energy usage or other inefficiencies which result in operating cost reduction, and preserve the environment."
ETA Estimated Time of Arrival Estimated time of arrival of goods and cargo
ETD Estimated Time of Departure Estimated time of departure of goods and cargo
EXW Ex Works An international trade term that describes the seller making a product available at a designated location, and the buyer covering the transport costs.
FCA Free Carrier Delivered when goods is loaded onto transport of the consignee
FCL Full Container Load Full container load
Feeder Feeder Feeders collect shipping containers from different ports and transport them to central container terminals where they are loaded to bigger vessels
FEU -/FFU Forty Equivalent Unit/ Forty Foot Unit Forty foot Equivalent Unit/ Container
FOB Free On Board Delivered when goods are loaded onto the vessel
FSC Fuel SurCharge Additional cost for transport according to cost of fuel in the period the goods are transported
FTL Full Truck Load Truck fully loaded with goods
GHG Calculations Greenhouse Gas Calculations "Carbon footprint is only a CO2 measure, where GHG emissions are the calculation of the CO2 equivalent. CO2 gas is part of CO2 equivalent. GHG shows gases other than CO2 that are responsible for global warming of the earth."
GHG emissions Greenhouse gas emissions The emission into the earth's atmosphere of any of various gases, esp carbon dioxide, that contribute to the greenhouse effect.
GSP Certificate General System of Preference Certificate Preferential treatment is given in the form of reduced or zero rates of customs duties for access to the markets of the European Union. The GSP scheme is specifically designed to benefit certain developing countries and integrate them into the world economy
HAWB House Air Way Bill Freight document for air transport, issued by an air freight forwarder
HAZMAT Hazardous Material Goods that are of a concern that may include danger, flammable, corrosive, explosion hazard, etc.
HBL House Bill of Lading Freight document issued by a shipping forwarder to their customers
IATA International Air Transport Association International Air Transport Association
LCL Less than Container Load Less than container load. 1 TEU equals a 20 feet container
MAWB Master Air Way Bill Freight document for air transport issued by an airline carrier
MBL Master Bill of Lading Freight document for shipping, issued by the shipping line
NMHC Non-Methane Hydrocarbons NMHC means the sum of all hydrocarbon air pollutants except methane.
Notify party Notify party Notify party regarding the arrival of goods
NOx Nitric Oxide "NOx is a mixture of gases containing nitrogen, specifically the nitrogen oxides NO, NO2 and N2O3. NOx contributes to air pollution and is a significant component of photochemical smog."
NVOCC Non Vessel Operating Common Carrier Do not own a vessel, but can issue B/L
PDA Scanner Handheld scanner for reading the barcode on the labels
POD (sea freight) Port Of Discharge Port where the goods are delivered
POL Port Of Loading Port where the goods are loaded
Project Cargo Project Cargo A term used to broadly describe the national or international transportation of large, heavy, high value or a critical (to the project they are intended for) pieces of equipment. Also commonly referred to as Heavy lift
Reefer A refrigerated container A temperature regulated container
SBTi Science Based Target initiative The Science Based Target Initiative is a intiative to drive ambitious corporate climate actions.
Shipper Shipper of cargo Sender of the goods
SLA Service Level Agreement Service Level Agreement regarding delivery times
SOx Sulfur Dioxide A major air pollutant, especially in industrial areas. The main sources of emissions are from fossil fuel combustion
SSC Security SurCharge Additional cost according to safety risks involved
Stripping Stripping of container Emptying a container
Stuffing Stuffing of container Loading a container
Sustainability rating Sustainability rating  A sustainability rating is a measure of how well a company is performing in terms of environmental and social responsibility.
TEU Twenty foot Equivalent Unit Twenty foot Equivalent Unit/ Container
THC Terminal Handling Charge Terminal and handling costs
ULD Unit Load Device Container, specially adapted for aircraft and air freight
W-M Weight/Measurement Weight & Measurement of shipment
Zero Emissions Zero Emissions Means No GHG emissions.