Useful Info

Shipping Glossary

icon COMMON SHIPPING TERMS
icon P & I Club
  A mutual association of shipowners who provide protection against liabilities by means of contributions.

  Any physical piece of cargo in relation to transport consisting of the contents and its packing for the purpose of ease of handling by manual or mechanical means

  The final product of the packing operation consisting of the packing and its contents to facilitate manual or mechanical handling

   
icon Packaging
  Materials used for the containment, protection, handling, delivery and presentation of goods and the activities of placing and securing goods in those materials.

   
icon Packing Instruction
  Document issued within an enterprise giving instructions on how goods are to be packed.

   
icon Packing List
  Document specifying the contents of each individual package.

   
icon Pallet
  A platform on which goods can be stacked in order to facilitate the movement by a fork lift or sling.

   
icon Panamax Size
  The maximum measurements and dimensions of a vessel capable to pass the Panama Canal.

   
icon Payload
  The revenue-producing load carried by a means of transport.

   
icon Payment Against Documents
  Instructions given by a seller to a bank to the effect that the buyer may collect the documents necessary to obtain delivery of the goods only upon actual payment of the invoice.

   
icon Physical Distribution
  Those activities related to the flow of goods from the end of conversion to the customer.

   
icon Pier
  That part of a wharf which is intended for the mooring of vessels.

   
icon Pilferage
  Petty stealing of goods from a ship's hold, cargo shed or warehouse.

   
icon Place of Acceptance
  The location where a consignment (shipment) is received by the carrier from the shipper viz. the place where the carrier's liability for transport venture commences.

   
icon Place of Delivery
  The location where a consignment (shipment) is delivered to the consignee viz. the place where the carrier's liability ends for the transport venture.

   
icon Place of Despatch
  Name and address specifying where goods are collected or taken over by the carrier (i.e. if other than consignor).

   
icon Place of Receipt
  The location where a consignment (shipment) is received by the carrier from the shipper viz. the place where the carrier's liability for transport venture commences.

   
icon Port of Call
  Place where a vessel actually drops anchor or moors during a certain voyage.

   
icon Port of Discharge
  The port where the cargo is actually loaded on board the sea (ocean) going vessel.

   
icon Precarriage
  The carriage of goods (containers) by any mode of transport from the place of receipt to the port (place) of loading into the ocean vessel (main means of transport).

   
icon Precarrier
  The carrier by which the goods are moved prior to the main transport.

   
icon Preshipment Inspection
  Abbreviation: PSI

  The checking of goods before shipment for the purpose of determining the quantity and/or quality of said goods by an independent surveyor (inspection company) for phytosanitary, sanitary and veterinary controls.

  Presently there is a tendency by developing countries to use the inspection also for the purpose of determining whether the price charged for certain goods is correct.

   
icon Principal
  Person for whom another acts as agent.
   
icon Pro Forma Invoice
  Draft invoice sent to an importer by the exporter prior to order confirmation and shipment to assist in matters relating to obtaining import licences or foreign exchange allocations, or simply to advise the value of a consignment so that letters of credit can be opened.

   
icon Project Cargo
  Quantity of goods connected to the same project and often carried on different moments and from various places.
   
icon Proof of Delivery
  The receipt signed by the consignee upon delivery.
   
icon Proper Shipping Name
  A name to be used to describe particular goods on all documents and notifications and, if appropriate, on the goods. basis (air cargo).
 
icon Protection and Indemnity Club
  Abbreviation: P & I club
  A mutual association of shipowners who provide protection against liabilities by means of contributions