Glossary
A glossary of shipping related terms.
To comment or to add new terms please email glossary@balticexchange.com
A to B |C to D | E to F | G to H | I to L | M to P | Q to Z
AA - always afloat
AAAA - always afloat, always accessible
ABS - America Bureau of Shipping (U.S. classification society/standard)
Abt - about
A/C - air changes (see elvent below) or account
A/D/A (or ADA) - all details about
Adcom - address commission
AG - Arabian gulf
ARA - Amsterdam-Rotterdam-Antwerp
ARAG - Amsterdam-Rotterdam-Antwerp-Ghent
AFSPS - arrival first sea pilot station
Aft - at or towards the stern of a ship
Aground - when the ship touches bottom
AGW - all going well
AHL - Australian hold ladders (ladders in the ships holds meeting the requirements of the Australian trades unions)
Amidships - at or towards to centre of a ship
AOB - as on board
AP - additional premium (insurance) or all purposes
APS - arrival pilot station
Arb - arbitration
ATDNSHINC - any time day/night Sundays & holidays included
ATS - all time saved (laytime)
ATUTC - actual time used to count (in relation to laytime)
AWRI - additional war risk insurance
AWIWL - always within Institute Warranty Limits
BAF - bunker adjustment factor
Bale capacity - cubic capacity of a cargo hold or holds measured as if cargo of bales/pallets
Ballast - weight taken on board by a ship other than cargo for stability purposes when empty or for making the ship lower in the water (ballast is usually sea water)
Ballast bonus - a bonus paid to the ship owner for compensation for ballasting the ship to a delivery place
BBB - before breaking bulk (meaning prior to the commencement of discharging from the ship)
BC (or B/C) - bulkcarrier
Beam or BM - the extreme width of a ship
BENDS - both ends (i.e. load and discharge ports)
BHF - Bulk Harmless Fertiliser
BIMCO - Baltic and International Maritime Council
B/L - bill of lading (document signed by the carrier, which acts as a receipt and evidence of title to the cargo)
BN - booking note (sometimes issued as a contract for a simple voyage)
BOB - bunkers on board
BOffer - best offer
Bow - the forward part of a ship
Brokerage - commission payable to the ship broker
BSS - basis
BT - berth terms
Bulkhead - vertical partition in the ship separating compartments
Bunkers - name given for the fuels used to propel a vessel
BWAD - brackish water arrival draft (brackish is neither fresh water or salt water)
