Shipping Terms Glossary

International Maritime Consultative Organization. A forum in which most major maritime nations participate and through which recommendations for the carriage of dangerous goods, bulk commodities, and maritime regulations become internationally acceptable.

International Maritime Dangerous Goods Code. The regulations published by the IMO for transporting hazardous materials internationally.

International Standards Organization which deals in standards of all sorts, ranging from documentation to equipment packaging and labeling.

Abbreviation for “Immediate Transport.” The document (prepared by the carrier) allows shipment to proceed from the port of entry in the U.S. to Customs clearing at the destination. The shipment clears Customs at its final destination. Also called an “In-Transit”...

Abbreviation for “Independent Action.” The right of a conference member to publish a rate of tariff rule that departs from the Agreement’s common rate or rule.

Abbreviation for (1) “Interstate Commerce Commission,” (2) “International Chamber of Commerce.”

Stands for “Immediate Exit.” In the U.S., Customs IE Form is used when goods are brought into the U.S. and are to be immediately re-exported without being transported within the U.S.

An entry that allows foreign merchandise arriving at one port to be exported from the same port without the payment of duty.

To receive goods from a foreign country.

A document required and issued by some national governments authorizing the importation of goods.

Cargo moving under Customs control where duty has not yet been paid.

The transaction or interchange that occurs at the time a container is received by a rail terminal or water port from another carrier.

In transit, or in passage.

Allows foreign merchandise arriving at one port to be transported in bond to another port, where a superseding entry is filed.

A lower-than-usual tariff rate assessed because a shipper offers a greater volume than specified in the tariff. The incentive rate is assessed for that portion exceeding the normal volume.

The recognized abbreviation for the International Chamber of Commerce Terms of Sale. These terms were last amended, effective July 1, 1990.

An agreement to hold a carrier harmless with regard to a liability.

Setting rate within a conference tariff that is different from the rate(s) for the same items established by other conference members.

Any body of rate tariffs that are not part of an agreement or conference system.

Placing a port on a vessel’s itinerary because the volume of cargo offered at that port justifies the cost of routing the vessel.

An insurance term referring to any defect or other characteristic of a product that could result in damage to the product without external cause (for example, instability in a chemical that could cause it to explode spontaneously). Insurance policies may exclude...

A transportation line that hauls export or import traffic between ports and inland points.

A certificate issued by an independent agent or firm attesting to the quality and/or quantity of the merchandise being shipped. Such a certificate is usually required in a letter of credit for commodity shipments.

Successive shipments are permitted under letters of credit. Usually they must take place within a given period of time.

A container insulated on the walls, roof, floor, and doors, to reduce the effect of external temperatures on the cargo.

The frame of a container constructed to hold one or more thermally insulated tanks for liquids.

This type of clause covers merchandise if the damage amounts to three percent or more of the insured value of the package or cargo. If the vessel burns, sinks, collides, or sinks, all losses are fully covered. In marine insurance, the word average describes partial...

This type of insurance offers the shipper the broadest coverage available, covering against all losses that may occur in transit.

In water transportation, the deliberate sacrifice of cargo to make the vessel safe for the remaining cargo. Those sharing in the spared cargo proportionately cover the loss.

A Marine insurance term to refer to partial loss on an individual shipment from one of the perils insured against, regardless of the balance of the cargo. Particularaverage insurance can usually be obtained, but the loss must be in excess of a certain percentage of...

A location where one carrier delivers freight to another carrier.

Water service between two coasts; in the U.S., this usually refers to water service between the Atlantic and Pacific or Gulf Coasts.

Freight moving from origin to destination over the Freight lines of two or more transportation carriers.

A point located en route between two other points.

Used to denote movements of cargo containers interchangeably between transport modes, i.e., motor, water, and air carriers, and where the equipment is compatible within the multiple systems.

An itemized list of goods shipped to a buyer, stating quantities, prices, shipping charges, etc.

A complete listing of all cargo entering the country of discharge. Required at all world ports and is the primary source of cargo control, against which duty is assessed by the receiving country.

Abbreviation for “Inland Point Intermodal.” Refers to inland points (non-ports) that can be served by carriers on a through bill of lading.

Letter of credit in which the specified payment is guaranteed by the bank if all terms and conditions are met by the drawee and which cannot be revoked without joint agreement of both the buyer and the seller.

Bank that opens a straight or negotiable letter of credit and assumes the obligation to pay the bank or beneficiary if the documents presented are in accordance with the terms of the letter of credit.

The carrier issuing transportation documents or publishing a tariff.