SHIPPING ABREVIATIONS

D&H

Abbreviation for "Dangerous and Hazardous" cargo.

Devanning

The unloading of a container or cargo van.

Documents Against Acceptance (D/A)

Instructions given by a shipper to a bank indicating that documents transferring title to goods should be delivered to the buyer only upon the buyer's acceptance of the attached draft.

Documents Against Payment (D/P)

An indication on a draft that the documents attached are to be released to the drawee only on payment.

Door-to-Door

Through transportation of a container and its contents from consignor to consignee. Also known as House to House. Not necessarily a through rate.

ETA

- Estimated Time of Availability. That time when a tractor/partner carrier is available for dispatch. - Estimated time of arrival.

EXIM Bank

Abbreviation for Export-Import Bank of the United States. An independent U.S. Government Agency which facilitates exports of U.S. goods by providing loan guarantees and insurance for repayment of bank-provided export credit.

Export Declaration

A government document declaring designated goods to be shipped out of the country. To  be completed by the exporter and filed with the U.S. Government.

Export License

A government document which permits the "Licensee" to engage in the export of designated goods to certain destinations

FAS

Abbreviation for "Free Alongside Ship."

FCL

Abbreviation for "Full Container Load."

Feeder Vessel

A short-sea vessel which transfers cargo between a central   "hub" port and smaller "spoke" ports.

FEU

Abbreviation for "Forty-Foot Equivalent Units." Refers to container size standard of forty feet. Two twenty-foot containers or TEU's equal one FEU.

Flat Rack/Flat Bed Container

A container with no sides and frame members at the front and rear. Container can be loaded from the sides and top.

FOB

See Free On Board. See also Terms of Sale, FOB.

Force Majeure

The title of a common clause in contracts, exempting the parties for non-fulfillment of their obligations as a result of conditions beyond their control, such as earthquakes, floods or war.

Free Alongside (FAS)

The seller must deliver the goods to a pier and place them within reach of the ship's loading equipment. See Terms of Sale.

Free on Board (FOB - U.S. Domestic Use)

Shipped under a rate that includes costs of delivery to and the loading onto a carrier at a specified point.

- FOB Freight Allowed: The same as FOB named inland carrier, except the buyer pays the transportation charge and the seller reduces the invoice by a like amount.

- FOB Freight Prepaid: The same as FOB named inland carrier, except the seller pays the freight charges of the inland carrier.

- FOB Named Point of Exportation: Seller is responsible for the cost of placing the goods at a named point of exportation. Some European buyers use this form when they actually mean FOB vessel.

- FOB Vessel: Seller is responsible for goods and preparation of export documentation until actually placed aboard the vessel.

Freight Bill

A document issued by the carrier based on the bill of lading and other information; used to account for a shipment operationally, statistically, and financially.  An Invoice.

Freight Forwarder

A person whose business is to act as an agent on behalf of the shipper. A freight forwarder frequently makes the booking reservation.