Useful Info

Shipping Glossary

icon COMMON SHIPPING TERMS
icon Damaged Cargo Report
  Written statement concerning established damages to cargo and/or equipment.

   
icon Dangerous Goods
  Goods are to be considered dangerous if the transport of such goods might cause harm, risk, peril, or other evil to people, environment, equipment or any property whatsoever.

   
icon Dangerous Goods Declaration
  Document issued by a consignor in accordance with applicable conventions or regulations, describing hazardous goods or materials for transport purposes, and stating that the latter have been packed and labelled in accordance with the provisions of the relevant conventions or regulations.

   
icon Dangerous Goods Packing Certificate
  A document as part of the dangerous goods declaration in which the responsible party declares that the cargo has been stowed in accordance with the rules in a clean container in compliance with the IMDG regulations and properly secured.

   
icon Deadfreight
  Slots paid for but not used.

   
icon Deadweight
  Abbreviation: DWT

  The total weight of cargo, cargo equipment, bunkers, provisions, water, stores and spare parts which a vessel can lift when loaded to her maximum draught as applicable under the circumstances. The dead-weight is expressed in tons.

   
icon Degroupage
  The ability, in a given time, of a resource measured in quality and quantity

  The quantity of goods which can be stored in or loaded into a warehouse, store and/or loaded into a means of transport at a particular time

   
icon Delivered Duty Paid (...named place of destination)

  Abbreviation: DDP

   
icon Delivered Duty Unpaid (...named place of destination)

  Abbreviation: DDU

   
icon Delivered Ex Quay (...named port of destination)

  Abbreviation: DEQ

   
icon Delivered Ex Ship (...named port of destination)

  Abbreviation: DES

   
icon Delivery Instruction
  Document issued by a buyer giving instructions regarding the details of the delivery of goods ordered.

   
icon Delivery Note
  A document recording the delivery of products to a consignee (customer).

   
icon Delivery Order
  A carrier's delivery order (negotiable document) is used for splitting a B/L (after surrender) in different parcels and have the same function as a B/L.

  The authorisation of the entitled party for the shipment to a party other than the consignee showed on the Air Waybill (air cargo)

   
icon

Demurrage

  A variable fee charged to carriers and/or customers for the use of Unit Load Devices (ULD's) owned by a carrier beyond the free time of shipment

  Additional charge imposed for exceeding the free time, which is included in the rate and allowed for the use of certain equipment at the terminal

   
icon Despatch Advice
  Information send by shippers to the recipient of goods informing that specified goods are sent or ready to be sent advising the detailed contents of the consignment.

 
icon Destination
 
  • Place for which goods or a vehicle is bound

  •  
  • The ultimate stopping place according to the contract of carriage (air cargo)

  •    
    icon Detention
      Keeping equipment beyond the time allowed.

       
    icon Detention Charge
      Charges levied on usage of equipment exceeding free time period as stipulated in the pertinent inland rules and conditions.

       
    icon Devanning
      See Stripping, UnpackingDeviation from a Route

       
      A divergence from the agreed or customary route.

       
    icon Dimensions
      Measurements in length, width and height, regarding cargo.

       
    icon Direct Delivery
      The conveyance of goods directly from the vendor to the buyer. Frequently used if a third party acts as intermediary agent between vendor and buyer

      Direct discharge from vessel onto railroad car, road vehicle or barge with the purpose of immediate transport from the port area (usually occurs when ports lack adequate storage space or when ports are not equipped to handle a specific cargo)

       
    icon Direct Interchange

      Transfer of leased equipment from one lessee to another (container).

       
    icon Direct Route
      The shortest operated route between two points.

       
    icon Discharge
      The unloading of a vehicle, a vessel or an aircraft

      The landing of cargo

       
    icon Discrepancy
      Difference between the particulars given and the particulars found.

     
    icon Distribution Centre
      A warehouse for the receipt, the storage and the dispersal of goods among customers.

       
    icon Distribution Channel
      The route by which a company distributes goods.

     
    icon Door to Door Transport
      The transport of cargo from the premises of the consignor to the premises of the consignee.
    Note: In the United States the term 'Point to Point Transport' is used instead of the term 'Door to Door Transport', because the term 'house' may mean 'customs house' or 'brokers house', which are usually located in the port.

     
    icon Double Stack Train
      A number of railway wagons, usually a block train, on which containers can be stacked two- high.

     
    icon Draft
      The draft of a vessel is the vertical distance between the waterline and the underside of the keel of the vessel. During the construction of a vessel the marks showing the draft are welded on each side of the vessel near the stem, the stern and amidships.

       
    icon Drawback
      Repayment of any part of customs or excise duties previously collected on imported goods, when those goods are exported again.

     
    icon Drayage
      The hauling of a load by a cart with detachable sides (dray)

      Road transportation between the nearest railway terminal and the stuffing place

       
    icon Drop off Charge
      Charge made by container owner and/or terminal operators for delivery of a leased, or pool container into depot stock. The drop-off charge may be a combination of actual handling and storage charges with surcharges.

       
    icon Dunnage
      Stowage material, mainly timber or board, used to prevent damage to cargo during carriage.

       
    icon Duty Free Zone
      An area where goods or cargo can be stored without paying import customs duties awaiting further transport or manufacturing.