Shipping Glossary - Global Source Logistics

Landing Certificate

Certificate issued by consular officials of some importing countries at the point or place of export when the subject goods are exported under bond.

Landing Gear

A support fixed on the front part of a chassis (which is retractable); used to support the front end of a chassis when the tractor has been removed.

A maritime industry abbreviation for “Lighter Aboard Ship.” A specially constructed vessel equipped with an overhead crane for lifting specially designed barges and stowing them into cellular slots in an athwartship position.

LAYCAN

Laydays/Cancelling (date): Range of dates within the hire contract must start.

LCL

Abbreviation for “Less than Container Load.” The quantity of freight which is less than that required for the application of a container load rate. Loose Freight.

Less Than Truckload

Also known as LTL or LCL.

Letter of Credit (LC)

A document, issued by a bank per instructions by a buyer of goods, authorizing the seller to draw a specified sum of money under specified terms, usually the receipt by the bank of certain documents within a given time. Some of the specific descriptions are: –...

Letter of Indemnity

In order to obtain the clean bill of lading, the shipper signs a letter of indemnity to the carrier on the basis of which may be obtained the clean bill of lading, although the dock or mate’s receipt showed that the shipment was damaged or in bad condition.

Licenses

– Some governments require certain commodities to be licensed prior to exportation or importation. Clauses attesting to compliance are often required on the B/L. – Various types issued for export (general, validated) and import as mandated by government(s).

Lien

A legal claim upon goods for the satisfaction of some debt or duty.

Lightening

A vessel discharges part of its cargo at anchor into a lighter to reduce the vessel’s draft so it can then get alongside a pier.

Lighter

An open or covered barge towed by a tugboat and used mainly in harbors and inland waterways to carry cargo to/from alongside a vessel.

Lighterage

Refers to carriage of goods by lighter and the charge assessed therefrom.

Line – Haul

Transportation from one city to another as differentiated from local switching service.

Liner

A vessel sailing between specified ports on a regular basis.

Liquidated Damages

The penalty a seller must pay if the construction project does not meet contractual standards or deadlines.

List

The amount in degrees that a vessel tilts from the vertical.

Liter

1.06 liquid U.S. quarts or 33.9 fluid ounces.

Lloyds’ Registry

An organization maintained for the surveying and classing of ships so that insurance underwriters and others may know the quality and condition of the vessels offered for insurance or employment.

Load Ratio

The ratio of loaded miles to empty miles.

Local Cargo

Cargo delivered to/from the carrier where origin/destination of the cargo is in the local area.

Long Ton

2,240 pounds

Longshoreman

Individual employed in a port to load and unload ships.

Loose

Without packing.

Low-Boy

A trailer or semi-trailer with no sides and with the floor of the unit close to the ground.

M.M.F.B.

Middlewest Motor Freight Bureau.

Malpractice

A carrier giving a customer illegal preference to attract cargo. This can take the form of a money refund (rebate); using lower figures than actual for the assessment of freight charges (undercubing); misdeclaration of the commodity shipped to allow the assessment of...

Mandamus

A writ issued by a court; requires that specific things be done.

Manifest

Document that lists in detail all the bills of lading issued by a carrier or its agent or master for a specific voyage. A detailed summary of the total cargo of a vessel. Used principally for Customs purposes.

Marine Insurance

Broadly, insurance covering loss or damage of goods at sea. Marine insurance typically compensates the owner of merchandise for losses sustained from fire, shipwreck, etc., but excludes losses that can be recovered from the carrier.

Maritime

Business pertaining to commerce or navigation transacted upon the sea or in seaports in such matters as the court of admiralty has jurisdiction.

Marking

Letters, numbers, and other symbols placed on cargo packages to facilitate identification. Also known as marks.

Marlinespike

A pointed metal spike, used to separate strands of rope in splicing.

Master Inbond

U.S. Customs’ automated program under AMS. It allows for electronic reporting of inbound (foreign) cargoes in the U.S.

Mate’s Receipt

An archaic practice. An acknowledgement of cargo receipt signed by a mate of the vessel. The possessor of the mate’s receipt is entitled to the bill of lading, in exchange for that receipt.

MBM

1,000 board feet. One MBM equals 2,265 C.M.

MCFS

Abbreviation for “Master Container Freight Station.” See CFS.

Measurement Cargo

Freight on which transportation charges are calculated on the basis of volume measurement.

Measurement Ton

40 cubic feet.

Mechanically Ventilated Container

A container fitted with a means of forced air ventilation.

Memorandum Bill of Lading

An in-house bill of lading. A duplicate copy.

Memorandum Freight Bill

See Multiple Containerload Shipment.

Meter

39.37 inches (approximately).

Metric Ton

2,204.6 pounds or 1,000 kilograms.

Microbridge

A cargo movement in which the water carrier provides a through service between an inland point and the port of load/discharge. The carrier is responsible for cargo and costs from origin on to destination. Also known as IPI or Through Service.

Mile

A unit equal to 5,280 feet on land. A nautical mile is 6076.115.

Mini Landbridge

An intermodal system for transporting containers by ocean and then by rail or motor to a port previously served as an allwater move (e.g., Hong Kong to New York over Seattle).

Minimum Bill of Lading

A clause in a Bill of lading which specifies the least charge that the carrier will make for issuing a lading. The charge may be a definite sum or the current charge per ton for any specified quantity.