Conventional International Abbreviations

Major abbreviations for sea transportation between ports:

  • FICY – Free in/Container yard (no loading at the port - up to a container terminal)
  • FILO – Free in/Liner out (loading paid by the sender, unloading paid by the line)
  • FIOS / FIFO – Free in/out (loading and unloading paid by the sender)
  • LI-Door – Liner in / Door (loading at the port paid by the line - the "door" paid by the client)
  • LIFO – Liner in/Free out (loading paid by the line, unloading paid by the sender)
  • LILO – Liner in/out (loading and unloading paid by the line - full linear conditions)
  • FCL - Full Container Load - full container load by one consignor to one consignee
  • LCL - Less Container Loading - loading by one sender with its subsequent delivery to various recipients, general cargo
  • LI - Last In - forwarder provides the following services, which cost is included in the freight rate: removal of the container of the vehicle (car, train), accommodation at the terminal (CY), loading to a ship
  • LO - Last Out - forwarder provides the following services, which cost is included in the freight rate: unloading from the ship, placing the terminal (CY), loading of the vehicle (car, train)

Adjustments to the rate of a specific line or port:

  • BAF (Bunker Adjustment Factor) –indexed changes in fuel prices
  • BFR – marine freight
  • CAF (Currency Adjustment Factor) – exchange rate fluctuations
  • CUC (Chassis Using Charge) – fee for use of the chassis
  • Documentation Fee – fee for the registration of documents
  • PSS Peak Season Surcharge – in summer-autumn period is introduced PSS due to the increasing volume of freights
  • WNS Winter Surcharge – surcharge for wiring in the ice freezing ports 
  • Wharfage – port fees

Fees:

  • ALL IN - All Inclusive - means that the cost of carriage includes all additional fees, provided by the conditions of carriage
  • BAS Base Rate – main, base rate
  • CUC (Chassis Using Charge) – chassis using charge
  • DDF Documentation Fee - Destination - fee for paperwork and other in the port of destination
  • DOCS (documentation) - fee for the registration of documents
  • EMF Equipment Management Fee – equipment management fee
  • ERS Emergency Risk Surcharge – emergency risk surcharge
  • IHE Export Inland Rate – export inland rate
  • ISPS - fee for the security in the port
  • ODF Documentation Fee - Origin - fee for paperwork and other in the country of origin
  • OHC Handling Charge - Origin - the costs of unloading at the port of origin
  • ORC - Origin receiving charges - the official fee of the province in China
  • OTA Transport Arbitrary - Origin - incidental travel expenses at the port of origin
  • PAE Port Additionals / Port Dues - Export - additional export duties in port
  • PSI Port Security Charge - Import - security costs at the port for import
  • SER Carrier Security Charge - security costs of cargo while in transit

Abbreviations:

  • BL -Bill of Lading – bill of lading
  • CC - Customs Clearance - Customs procedure for export or import good
  • CFS - Container Freight Station – consolidation warehouse
  • CGO – Cargo – cargo
  • CNEE – Consignee - the person who receives the cargo at the destination
  • CNTR – Container - standard-size container
  • COC (Сarrier's Оwned Container) - container is owned by the carrier, the cost of container is included in the charter
  • CY- Container Yard – container yard
  • DC - Dry Container – dry container – type of the container
  • DIM – Dimentions – dimentions
  • DHC Handling Charge - Destination – the costs of unloading at the port of destination
  • DTA Transport Arbitrary - Destination - incidental travel expenses at the port of destination
  • ETD (Estimated Time of Departure) – estimated time of departure
  • ETA (Estimeted Time of Arrival) – estimated time of arrival
  • EX1 - Export Declaration – export declaration
  • HBL - House Bill of Lading – house bill of lading (for “from door to door” transportation)
  • INV. - Commercial Invoice - Account created by the seller and is used to specify the value of goods for various purposes
  • LT - Local Time – local time
  • Manifest - A document describing all the cargo of the ship
  • MBL - Master Bill of Lading – master bill of lading
  • MV - Mother Vessel - Linear large-vessel, serving the ports with a large turnover
  • NVOCC - The carrier, which owns a certain amount of cargo space on the ship, which he does not own or control, has the right edition of Board Bill of Lading
  • OBL - Ocean Bill of Lading – ocean bill of lading
  • PACK - Packing List – packing list
  • POL (Port of Loading) – port of loading;
  • POD (Port of Delivery) – port of destination
  • SEA (seafreight), O/F(oceanfreight) – marine freight
  • SOC (Shipper's Owned Container) – container is owned by the client
  • T/T - Transit Time – transit time of the transportation
  • TEU - Twentyfeets Equivslent Unit - The equivalent of twenty-foot container
  • THC (Terminal Handling Charges) - terminal handling cargo: loading / unloading from a ship, moving in the stack, nomination for production work, etc