Freight Forwarding Terminology

International Air Transport Association - the peak body for airfreight.

International Chamber of Commerce.

International Labor Organization; Based in Geneva, it is one of the oldest components of the UN system of specialized agencies and has been involved over the years in appraising and seeking to improve and regulate conditions for seafarers. In its unusual tripartite way, involving official representatives of government, employer and employee interests, its joint Maritime Commission have had in hand moves on the employment of foreign seafarers to urge the application of minimum labor standards, on crew accommodation, accident prevention, medical examination and medical care, food and catering and officers competency.

International Maritime Dangerous Goods Code. See also HAZCHEM.

International Monetary Fund.

International Maritime Organization. This specialized agency of the United Nations is devoted exclusively to maritime matters and operations for international shipping to coordinate maritime safety and related practices. Important IMO conventions include SOLAS (the International Convention for Safety of Life At Sea), MARPOL (the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships) and the International Safety Management (ISM Code).

A Set of internationally accepted, fully defined trading terms, devised by the ICC in order to minimize differences of interpretation of such terms, for use by any company, person, etc. When used in a Contract of Sale it normally is followed by the revision date to ensure the parties are aware of the correct edition (E.G.: FAS Rotterdam Incoterms 2000).

A system of preventing any explosion in the cargo tanks of a tanker by replacing the cargo, as it is pumped out, by an inert gas, often the exhaust of the ship's engine. Gas-freeing must be carried out subsequently if worker have to enter the empty tanks.

Liquids liable to spontaneous combustion which give off inflammable vapors at or below 80 degrees F. For example, ether, ethyl, benzene, gasoline, paints, enamels, carbon disulfide, etc. See also HAZCHEM.

Term referring to lakes, streams, rivers, canals, waterways, inlets, bays and the like.

International Maritime Satellite System.

A large barge of about 600 feet and 22,000 tons cargo capacity, integrated from the rear on to the bow of a tug purposely constructed to push the barge.

Domestic shipping routes serving more than one coast.

Given when the goods are received by the ship prior to the issue of a bill of lading. It used to be given by on on behalf of the Mate and is sometimes called a Mates Receipt.

The concept of transportation as a door-to-door service rather than port-to-port. Thus efficiency is enhanced by having a single carrier coordinating the movement and documentation among different modes of transportation.

A certificate which gives details of a ship's freeboards and states that the ship has been surveyed and the appropriate load lines marked on her sides. This certificate is issued by a classification society (or the Coast Guard USA).

An inter-governmental agency designed to pay compensation for oil pollution damage, exceeding the shipowner's liability. It was created by an IMO Convention in 1971 and started its operations in October 1978. Contributions come mainly from the oil companies of member states.

A certificate issued to a shipowner by a government department in the case of a ship whose gross and net tonnages have been determined in accordance with the International Convention of Tonnage Measurement of Ships. The certificate states the gross and net tonnages together with details of the spaces attributed to each.

Consist of international straits, inland and interocean canals and rivers where they separate the territories of two or more nations. Provided no treaty is enforced both merchant ships and warships have the right of free and unrestricted navigation through these waterways.

An association of independent tanker owners whose aims are to represent the views of its members internationally.

Domestic shipping routes along a single coast.

International Safety Management Code. Mandates a Safety Management System (SMS) aboard all cruise ships that comprehensively addresses operations and procedures to ensure the safe and clean operation of vessels, established and effective communications procedures (on board and shoreside), maintenance procedures and responsibilities, reporting requirements in the event of an incident, and other policies. This formalized system also requires both internal and external audit procedures to ensure compliance.

International Standards organization

A comprehensive set of measures to enhance the security of ships and port facilities, developed in response to the perceived threats in the wake of the 9/11 attacks in the U.S. The purpose of the Code is to provide a standardized, consistent framework for evaluating risk and the flexibility that enables governments to determine appropriate security levels and corresponding security measures.

International Transport Workers Federation (Trade Unions)

Route/Schedule

Institute Warrant Limits