ISPS: rules have been imposed on the carriers and terminals in order to strengthen security on ships and in ports against international terrorism. These have given rise to additional costs (for the evaluation of risk, the introduction of additional security measures, as well as the associated administrative and operational costs and ISPS certification).

LCL: Less than a Container Load, or requirement for grouping/ degrouping.

LCL/FCL: container loaded with several lots from different suppliers but intended for the same recipient.

FCL/LCL: container loaded with several lots from different suppliers intended for different recipients.

Liner-terms: standardised terms establishing the part of the loading/unloading operations included in a maritime freight operation.

Maritime bill of lading or Bill of Lading: (or B/L) A maritime transportation document, which is a negotiable ownership deed and an attestation of responsibility for goods.

NVOCC: Non-Vessel Operating Common Carrier: a maritime transportation intermediary who acts as a shipowner, but who has no ship of his own (he rents space on ships belonging to real shipowners).

Pallet: a platform used for easier handling of the merchandise. The standardised dimensions are: 100 mm x 1200 mm (ISO) and 800 mm x 1200 mm (CEN).

Panamax: a ship whose size allows passage through the Panama canal: maximum length of 295 metres, maximum overall width of 32.25 metres, and maximum draught of 13.50 metres.

Reservations: a term designating disparities noted between the documents presented to the bank and the documentary instructions contained in the CREDOC (documentary credit).

Ro/Ro (Roll on/roll off): a combined transportation technique that allows a road vehicle to drive onto a ship that is specially designed for this type of freight.

Standby letter of credit: guarantee of the payment of a fixed amount where the debtor has not met its payment obligations.

Surestaries (Demurrage): additional time accorded by the shipowner for loading or unloading in the event that the laytime on board has been exceeded. – This extra time gives rise to the payment of compensation..

THC: terminal handling charge that appears in the quotations, corresponding to the handling services provided during the operations of loading and unloading at the port and airport terminals.

UP: Payment Unit for the pricing of maritime freight - 1 ton or 1 m 3, to the advantage of the ship.

WAR RISK: surcharge for any risk of war.