The first modern energy conversion in marine transportation was the shift from sail to combustion (Shift of human labor
(oars) to wind-driven sail).
The conversion of fleet tonnage to the preferred technology; ships powered by coal-fired boilers that provided steam first to reciprocating steam engines and later to high-speed steam turbines that drove the propeller(s).
Later, the first alternative fuel – petroleum oil – enabled the introduction of modern marine engines.
Globalization motivations to reduce the per-unit cost of shipping were the primary purpose for this conversion to
“alternative fuel” in the early 1900s, rather than energy conservation or even fuel cost savings.
Oil-powered commercial ships required fewer crew and enjoyed a greater range of operations between fueling.
Oil powered ships also accelerated more quickly than coalpowered systems, and could achieve higher speeds.
The core of global freight distribution in terms of its unparallel physical capacity
Ability to carry freight over long distances and at low costs.
An industry that was always international in its character.
Become a truly global entity with routes that spans across hemispheres, forwarding raw materials, parts and finished goods.
“A Greek owned vessel, built in Korea, may be chartered to a Danish operator, who employs
Philippine seafarers via a Cypriot crewing agent, is registered in Panama, insured in the UK, and transports German made cargo in the name of a
Swiss freight forwarder from a Dutch port to
Argentina, through terminals that are concessioned to port operators from Hong Kong and Australia”
(Kumar and Hoffmann, 2002, p. 36)
The maritime industry has been transformed by more than 50 years of containerization.
First containerized maritime shipment set sail from Port
Newark, New Jersey in 1956.
Maritime transportation was the first mode to pursue containerization.
Containerization permits the mechanized handling of cargoes of diverse types and dimensions that are placed into boxes of standard size.
Labor intensive transshipment activities becomes standardized with time consuming and costly stevedoring reduced.
Containerization has been brought about in part by technology and has substantially impacted maritime design with the creation of the containership.
While the first containerships were converted cargo vessels, by the late 1960s the containerized market has grown enough to justify the creation of ships entirely designed for such a purpose.
The construction of containerships has followed incremental improvements in design with economies of scale being the main rationale; the larger the ship, the cheaper the transport costs per TEU.
Standardized the shipping package, reducing the perunit cost of transporting most finished goods.
In a globalized economy, containerization offers the advantage of integrated freight transportation across all modes.
Container shipping represents significant increase in global transport of finished and semi-finished products from regions with inexpensive skilled labor to consumer markets.
Ports have become elements in global commodity chains controlled by logistics companies, maritime shipping lines, freight forwarders and transport operators.
Intermodal transport has become a global phenomenon as mechanized handling and containerization have reduced handling costs between modes and promoted their efficiency.
Ports strategies and the allocation of their assets have shaped the structure of maritime transport networks in terms of ports of call, hierarchy and frequency of services.
Post-Panamax container ships encourage pendulum services and the setting of high capacity inland corridors.
BASIC TERMS & DEFINITIONS
Aframax. All vessels designed for the carriage of liquid bulk cargoes
80,000 - 119,999 dwt, including oil and products, chemical and other specialised.
ALONGSIDE.
A phrase referring to the side of a ship.
Anchor Handling Tug (AHT). Tug designed for offshore rig anchorhandling.
AIR DRAFT This term has various meanings the most common being: The maximum height from the water line to the top-most point of a ship.
Bareboat charter . A bareboat charter involves the use of a vessel usually over longer periods of time ranging over several years. In this case, all voyage related costs, mainly vessel fuel and port dues, as well as all vesseloperating expenses, such as day-to-day operations, maintenance, crewing and insurance, are for the charterer’s account. The owner of the vessel receives monthly charter hire payments on a U.S. dollar per day basis and is responsible only for the payment of capital costs related to the vessel. A bareboat charter is also known as a “demise charter” or a “time charter by demise.”
BASIC TERMS & DEFINITIONS
BACK FREIGHT freight charged for the return of goods which have not been accepted at the port of destination. Also applied to goods discharged at another convenient port.
BALE CAPACITY The cubic capacity of a ship's holds below deck, expressed in cubic feet or cubic metres, available for the carriage of breakbulk type of cargoes, e.g.., packages, bales, cartons, cartons, drums, pallets, etc., which are not capable of filling the space between the ship's frames.
BALLAST Heavy weight, often sea water, necessary for the stability and safety of a ship which is not carrying cargo.
BALLAST BONUS Sum of money paid by a time charterer to a shipowner
(in a good market) to compensate him for not finding a cargo near the place of re- delivery of the ship at the end of the charter. The bonus serves as an incentive for the ballast (empty) trip to cover up the cost of fuel and time.
At times a shipowner pay pat the charterer a ballast bonus when the vessel is being re- delivered at the end of time charter, specially when market is not good for the shipowner.
BASIC TERMS & DEFINITIONS
BEFORE BREAKING BULK Refers to the time when freight is paid. In this case freight is to be paid any time before commencement of discharge.
BAR DRAFT This relates to the maximum draft enabling a vessel to pass over a bar, e.g., Martin Garcia bar in the River Plate. In case the vessel has too great a draft, it will have to discharge part of the cargo into barges and then reload it after passing the bar. A similar situation exists at Yangon
(formerly Rangoon). Such ports are called bar-ports.
BELOW BRIDGES If a ship has to pass under a bridge across a canal to reach the port or berth it has to ensure that its draft permits the vessel to have sufficient clearance above its highest point to pass under the bridge with ease.
BENEFICIARY BERTH The person in whose favor a draft is issued or a letter of credit opened. The specific place where ships are anchored for loading and/or discharging at the docks in a port.
BASIC TERMS & DEFINITIONS
BERTH CHARTER If a vessel chartered for loading on a particular berth, the contract is called berth charter. The term berth charter implies that notice of readiness cannot be given until the vessel is in the designated berth as required by the charterers.
BERTH TERMS Also referred to as quot;liner termsquot;. The Shipowner pays for loading and discharging subject to the custom of the port or as fast as the ship can handle the cargo or under customary dispatch.
BILL OF LADING The document issued on behalf of the carrier describing the kind and quantity of goods being shipped, the shipper, the consignee, the ports of loading and discharge and the carrying vessel. It serves as a document of title, a contract of carriage, and a receipt for goods.
BIMCO ( The Baltic and International Maritime Council).
The largest of the international shipping associations representing shipowners; it controls around 65 percent of the world’s tonnage and it has members in more than 120 countries, including managers, brokers and agents.
BASIC TERMS & DEFINITIONS
BLACK LIST List of countries published by a government which will not allow ships to trade at its ports if they have traded at ports in the countries on that list.
BOTH ENDS The term means that the arrangements agreed upon hold true both at loading and discharging ports, e.g., rate of loading and discharging; appointment of agents, etc.
Boxship . Containership.
BREAK BULK Loose cargo, such as cartons, stowed directly in the ship's hold as opposed to containerized or bulk cargo. See quot;Containerization.quot;
BREAKBULK Describes loose cargo, such as cartons, bales, boxes, packages, etc stowed directly in the ship's hold as opposed to containerised or bulk cargo.
BREAKING BULK The expression means quot;to start the discharge.quot;
BROKEN STOWAGE The space wasted in a ship's holds when stowing general cargo which is uneven and packed.
BASIC TERMS & DEFINITIONS
BROKER (SHIP).
A shipbroker acts as a middleman between the shipowner and the charterer and negotiates the terms of a C/P. He represents one party
(say, shipowner) and negotiates with the other party (charterer) directly or with another broker who represents the charterer. (A sale and purchase broker negotiates for the sale of a ship and represents the shipowner).
BROKERAGE.
Brokerage is a commission paid to the shipbroker by the shipowner for the broker's time, effort and expenses in concluding a
(successful) fixture, normally a certain percentage of the hire of freight earned by the shipowner.
Bulk cargo. Oil and products tanker, bulkcarrierm combined ore/oil or bulk/oil carrier.
BULK SHIPMENTS Shipments which are not packaged, but are loaded directly into the vessel's holds. Examples of commodities that can be shipped in bulk are ores, coal, scrap, iron, grain, rice, vegetable oil, tallow, fuel oil, fertilizers, and similar commodities.
BASIC TERMS & DEFINITIONS
BUNDLING.
This is the assembly of pieces of cargo, secured into one manageable unit. This is relevant to items such as Structural Steel, Handrails,
Stairways etc. Whilst this is a very flexible description, a rule of thumb is to present cargo at a size easily handled by a large (20 tonne) fork lift truck.
BUNKER ADJUSTMENT FACTOR(BAF).
A Fuel Surcharge expressed as a percentage added or subtracted from the freight amount, reflecting the movement in the market place price for bunkers.
Bunkers . Fuel, consisting of fuel oil and diesel, burned in a vessel’s engines.
(Originates from coal bunkers)
Capesize. A drybulk carrier with a cargo-carrying capacity exceeding
100,000 dwt. These vessels generally operate along long-haul iron ore and coal trade routes.
CARGO.
Goods, merchandise or commodities of every description which may be carried aboard a vessel, in consideration of the freight charged; does not include provisions and stores for use on board.
BASIC TERMS & DEFINITIONS
CERTIFICATE OF INSPECTION: A document often required with shipments of perishable or other goods, when certification notes the good condition of the merchandise immediately prior to shipment.
CERTIFICATE OF MANUFACTURE: A statement sometimes notarized by a producer, usually also the seller, or merchandiser that indicates the goods have been manufactured and are at the disposal of the buyer.
CERTIFICATE OF ORIGIN: A specified document, required by certain foreign countries for tariff purposes, certifying the country of origin of the merchandise. Sometimes requires the signature of the consul of the country to which it is destined.
CHART DATUM: Water level calculated on the lowest tide that can ever occur and used as a basis for chart measurements.
Charter . The hire of a vessel for the transportation of a cargo. The contract for a charter is commonly called a “charterparty”(c/p).
Charterer . The party that hires a vessel under the charterpart y.
BASIC TERMS & DEFINITIONS
Charter-in. A lease of a vessel by which the owners of a vessel sublet or let the entire vessel, or some principal part of the vessel, to another party that uses the vessel for its own account under its charge.
Charter owner. Owners of containerships that charter vessels to shipping service operators, known as liner companies, rather than directly operating container shipping services for shippers.
CHARTER PARTY(C/P) : A written contract between the owner of a vessel and the one (the charterer) desiring to empty the vessel, setting forth the terms of the arrangement, i.e., freight rate and ports involved in the contemplated trip.
Classification society . An independent society that certifies that a vessel has been built and maintained according to the society’s rules for that type of vessel and complies with the applicable rules and regulations of the country of the vessel’s registry and the international conventions of which that country is a signatory. A vessel that receives its certification is referred to as being “in-class.” A vessel may be classified by more than one class at any one time.
BASIC TERMS & DEFINITIONS
Combined carrier. Combined carriers, also known as Combos, are vessel which can carry either a full load of dry or liquid bulk
(usually oil). Some Combos have reinforced hulls so that they are able to carry extremely dense iron ore. Theoretically, this ability to carry both liquid and dry cargoes enables owners to switch between the dry and wet markets, optimising profits when one market is poor.
Compensated Gross Tonnage (CGT). This measures the level of shipbuilding output, taking account of the work content of the ship.
Shipbuilding output was based solely on the carrying capacity a vessel, and therefore output was seen to be higher on a large tanker than a smaller passenger ferry. They had become unreliable, and so the Compensated Gross Tonnage unit was devised, a formula that was more accurate and reliable than the old, and takes into account the influence of both the ship type and size, as well as the ships'
Gross Tonnage.
BASIC TERMS & DEFINITIONS
Cubic Feet (Cu. Ft). Cubic feet is the older version of cubic metres, and because of precedence, it is only really used in long established reefer market. The largest cargo for the reefer market is food, particularly fruit such as bananas. Such cargo has a light density, and therefore uses a measurement of size rather than weight in describing the carrying capacity of the vessel.
Cubic Meters (CBM,Cu.M). Cubic metres are another measure of the amount of cargo that a vessel can carry, but in terms of the cargo’s volume rather than weight. CBM is mostly used for vessels carrying light density material including LPG and
LNG, where size rather than carrying capacity will become the limiting factor on how much cargo can be carried.
BASIC TERMS & DEFINITIONS
Deadweight ton or “dwt.” A unit of a vessel’s carrying capacity, including cargo, fuel, oil, water, stores and crew; measured in metric tons of 1,000 kilograms.
Dredgers . A vessel equipped for the removal of sand or sediment from the seabed. The main types of specialised dredgers are backhoe/dipper/grab, cutter suction/bucket wheel and trailing suction hopper .
Drill Ship As semi-sub, but greater capacity and mobility makes drillships well suited to offshore drilling in remote areas (operates in depths up to 3,650 metres).
Drybulk. Non-liquid cargoes of commodities shipped in an unpackaged state, such as coal, iron ore and grain, etc. that is loaded in bulk and not in bags, packages or containers.
BASIC TERMS & DEFINITIONS
Drybulk carriers. Vessels designed and built to carry large volume bulk cargo.
Feeder. A vessel which is part of a cargo network in which the larger, faster vessels only call at the major ports at both ends of the area being covered and the smaller ports are served by the smaller feeder vessels which transfer the cargo to and from the major port terminals. This process keeps the larger vessels filled closer to capacity and spares them the expense and loss of time loading and unloading cargo in the smaller ports.
FEU .Fourty-foot Equivalent Unit
Fixture . A shipping industry term used to denote the agreement of a new charter.
Flag state . The country where a vessel is registered.
BASIC TERMS & DEFINITIONS
Freight . A sum of money paid to the shipowner by the charterer under a voyage charter, usually calculated either per ton loaded or as a lump-sum amount.
Fully cellular containership. A vessel specifically designed to carry
ISO standard containers, with cell-guides under deck and necessary fittings and equipment on deck.
Gear. On-board equipment used to load and unload vessels, a vessel can be geared or gearless.
General cargo ship. This older type of cargo ship generally has tween decks for mixed general cargo, tanks for liquid cargo, and maybe some refrigerated capacity. Also has deep holds for bulk cargo. Usually the hatch openings are too small for below deck container stowage, but containers can be stacked on the deck. The general cargo ship often has its own cranes and derricks for loading and discharging cargo.
BASIC TERMS & DEFINITIONS
Gross ton . A unit of measurement of the volume of all ship's enclosed spaces measured to the outside of the hull framing.
One gross ton is equal to 100 cubic feet or 2.831 cubic meters.
Handy.
An “Intermediate” fully cellular containership with a
TEU capacity between 1,000 TEU and 1,999 TEU.
Handymax. Handymax vessels are drybulk vessels that have a cargo carrying capacity of approximately 40,000 to 59,999 dwt. These vessels operate on a large number of geographically dispersed global trade routes, carrying primarily grains and minor bulks. Vessels below 60,000 dwt are usually built with on-board cranes enabling them to load and discharge cargo in countries and ports with limited infrastructure.
BASIC TERMS & DEFINITIONS
Handysize. Handysize (drybulk) vessels have a cargo carrying capacity of approximately 10,000 to 39,999 dwt.
These vessels carry generally minor bulk cargo.
Handysize vessels are well suited for small ports with length and draft restrictions that may lack the infrastructure for cargo loading and unloading.
Handysize. (Tanker) All vessels designed for the carriage of liquid bulk cargoes 30,000 - 59,999 dwt, including oil and products, chemical and other specialised.
Hull. Shell or body of a ship.
IMAREX. International Maritime Exchange
IMO. International Maritime Organization, a U.N. agency that establishes international standards for shipping.
BASIC TERMS & DEFINITIONS
IMO (I,II or III) chemical tanker. Vessels designed to IMO Class
I, II or III specifications respectively.
Intermediate. Containership category of vessels between 1,000
TEU and 2,999 TEU, generally serving intermediate, northsouth and in some cases inter-regional trades.
Jack Up. A self-elevating drilling platform whose legs rest on the sea bed when drilling. These are limited to shallow waters
(operates in depths up to 150 metres).
Lay up: Temporary cessation of trading of a ship by a shipowner, usually during a period when there is a surplus of ships in relation to the level of available cargoes.
Lightweight ton or “LWT.” The actual weight of a vessel without cargo, fuel or stores. A vessel’s lightweight is the physical weight of the vessel and represents the amount of steel recoverable in the vessel. The value of a vessel to a breaker is determined by multiplying the vessel’s lightweight by the price of scrap steel.
BASIC TERMS & DEFINITIONS
carriers that carry many different cargoes on the same voyage on regular schedules (generally in containers).
0C, at which temperature it can then be stored and transported in cryogenic tanks.
commercial gases propane and butane.
Prevention of Pollution from Ships .
BASIC TERMS & DEFINITIONS
Multipurpose ship/vessel or MPV. A newer version of general cargo ship with holds designed for container stowage. The holds generally have tween decks and containers can be stacked and lashed onto the hatch covers. The MPV is still capable of carrying breakbulk cargoes, and bulk cargoes. Some are also equipped with tanks for liquid cargoes. It generally also has its own cranes and derricks, sometimes with heavy lift capability.
Newbuilding. A new vessel under construction or just completed.
Non-delivery. Non-deliveries are the vessels that were scheduled to be delivered according to the start of year orderbook, but due to delays, cancellation, re-negotiations of contracts and new market information have not yet entered the fleet.
Open Hatch Bulker. Bulkers > 10,000 dwt having a hatch width which is 75% or greater than the extreme breadth of the ship.
BASIC TERMS & DEFINITIONS
Orderbook. A reference to outstanding orders for the construction of vessels.
Panamax (Containership). A vessel 3,000 TEU and above, capable of transiting the Panama Canal.
Panamax (Drybulk). Panamax vessels have a cargo carrying capacity of approximately 60,000 to 99,999 dwt, and do not exceed the maximum length, depth and draft capable of passing fully loaded through the Panama Canal. Panamax drybulk carriers carry coal, grains, and, to a lesser extent, minor bulks, including steel products, forest products and fertilizers.
Panamax (Tankers). All vessels designed for the carriage of liquid bulk cargoes 60,000 - 79,999 dwt, including oil and products, chemical and other specialised cargoes.
BASIC TERMS & DEFINITIONS
Platform Supply Vessel or PSV. Offshore supply vessel and/or pipe carrier generally of North Sea design.
Post-Panamax. A vessel with a beam of more than 32.3 meters that cannot transit the Panama Canal.
Products Tanker. Pure Car Carrier or Tankers suitable for products trades 60,000 - 199,999 dwt, inlcuding designated chemical tankers with highest IMO Grade 3 and coated product tankers.
Pure Car Carrier or PCC. A vessel specifically designed for the transportation of vehicles.
Ro-Ro (Roll-On Roll-Off vessels). These vessels are designed for wheeled or tracked cargo that can load itself onboard. Cargo generally drives onto the vessel through decks via ramps, rather than being lifted through hatches.
Scrapping. The sale of a vessel as scrap metal.
BASIC TERMS & DEFINITIONS
Shuttle Tankers. Specialised ships designed to transport crude oil and condensates from offshore oil field installations to onshore terminals and refineries. They are equipped with sophisticated loading systems and dynamic positioning systems.
Spot charter. Generally refers to a voyage charter or a trip charter, which generally last from 10 days to three months.
Under both types of spot charters, the shipowner would pay for vessel operating expenses, which include crew costs, provisions, deck and engine stores, lubricating oil, insurance, maintenance and repairs, and for commissions on gross revenues. The shipowner would also be responsible for each vessel’s intermediate and special survey costs.
Spot market. The market for a vessel for single voyages.
Sub-Panamax. An “Intermediate” fully cellular containership with a TEU capacity between 2,000 TEU and 2,999 TEU.
BASIC TERMS & DEFINITIONS
Suexmax. All vessels designed for the carriage of liquid bulk cargoes 120,000 - 199,999 dwt, including oil and products, chemical and other specialised.
TEU. Twenty-foot equivalent unit, the international standard measure for containers and containership capacity.
Time charter equivalent rate (“TCE”). A shipping industry performance measure used primarily to compare daily earnings generated by vessels on time charters with daily earnings generated by vessels on voyage charters, because charter hire rates for vessels on voyage charters are generally not expressed in per day amounts while charter hire rates for vessels on time charters generally are expressed in such amounts. TCE is expressed as per ship per day rate and is calculated as voyage and time charter revenues less voyage expenses during a period divided by the number of our operating days during the period, which is consistent with industry standards
BASIC TERMS & DEFINITIONS
Time charter. A charter under which the vessel owner is paid charter hire on a per-day basis for a specified period of time.
Typically, the shipowner receives semi-monthly charter hire payments on a U.S. dollar per day basis and is responsible for providing the crew and paying vessel operating expenses while the charterer is responsible for paying the voyage expenses and additional voyage insurance. Under time charters, including trip time charters, the charterer pays voyage expenses such as port, canal and fuel costs and bunkers.
Trip charter or short time charter. A time charter for a trip to carry a specific cargo from a delivery point via load and discharge ports to a redelivery point at a set daily rate.
ULCC(Ultra Large Crude Carrier). Tankers above 320,000 tonnes dwt.
UNCTAD.United Nations Conference on Trade and Development
BASIC TERMS & DEFINITIONS
VLCC (Very Large Crude Carrier). All vessels designed for the carriage of liquid bulk cargoes >200,000 dwt, including oil and products, chemical and other specialised cargoes.
VLGC (Very Large Gas Carrier). LPG Carriers of 60,000cbm and above. A significant number of LPG carriers are also able to transport ammonia and petrochemical gas cargoes, such as ethylene, propylene and butadiene.
VLOC (Very Large Ore Carrier). Bulkcarriers with a capacity of > 220,000dwt, specifically designed to carry very dense iron ore on the long haul voyages of Brazil and Australia to China.
BASIC TERMS & DEFINITIONS
Voyage charter. A voyage charter involves the carriage of a specific amount and type of cargo on a load port-to-discharge port basis, subject to various cargo handling terms. Most of these charters are of a single voyage nature, as trading patterns do not encourage round voyage trading. The owner of the vessel receives one payment derived by multiplying the tonnage of cargo loaded on board by the agreed upon freight rate expressed on a U.S. dollar per ton basis. The owner is responsible for the payment of all voyage and operating expenses, as well as the capital costs of the vessel.
VLGC (Very Large Gas Carrier). LPG Carriers of 60,000cbm and above. A significant number of LPG carriers are also able to transport ammonia and petrochemical gas cargoes, such as ethylene, propylene and butadiene.
VLOC (Very Large Ore Carrier). Bulkcarriers with a capacity of >
220,000dwt, specifically designed to carry very dense iron ore on the long haul voyages of Brazil and Australia to China.
BASIC TERMS & DEFINITIONS
belligerents engaging in hostilities, whether or not there has been a formal declaration of war. Such risks are excluded by the F.C.&S. (Free of Capture and Seizure) Warranty, but may be covered by a separate War Risk Policy, at an additional premium.
owner for handling incoming or outgoing cargo.
are quoted.