20'

Standard Twenty Foot long shipping container

40'

Standard Forty Foot long shipping container

ACS

Australian Customs Service

APSC

Australian Port Service Charges

AQIS

Australian Quarantine Inspection Service

AVE

Abbreviation for Aircraft container (there many variations in size)

BAF

Bunker Adjustment Factor - charged by shipping companies to alleviate fluctuating Bunkering costs (Ship's fuel oil ).

BSRA

Basic Service Rate Additional - usually an unpacking charge

C&F

Cost and Freight - Seller is responsible for cost of goods, transport to vessel and ocean freight to named destination e.g. C&F Singapore

C.I.F

Cost, Insurance and Freight ( named port ) - Seller is responsible for all costs as in C&F plus Marine Insurance of the cargo.

CAF

Currency Adjustment Factor - charged by shipping companies to alleviate exchange rate deficiencies.

CBM / M3

Cubic Metre

CFS

Container Freight Station - usually applies to LCL cargo where cargo is packed and then despatched overseas and then has to be unpacked at destination before delivery to consignee. Some FCL traffic is also handled this way. e.g. Term would be shown as CFS Melbourne to CFS Singapore

COLLECTION FEE

Charge related to converting foreign currency to Australian dollars

CU FT

Cubic Feet - 33.315 cubic feet = 1 cubic metre

CY

Container Yard - usually shown as CY / CY or CY Melbourne / CY Singapore and applies to FCL's moving through the system.

D.O.

Delivery Order - a cargo release document given in exchange for an original Bill of Lading. Issued by Shipping companies and Freight Forwarders to enable Consignees to collect cargo/containers ex wharf or depot.

ECN

Export Clearance Number - permit required for all exports over the value of A$500.00 per consignment

ERA

Export Receival Advice - mandatory documentation for receival of Full Container Loads into export terminal / wharf

Ex Works

Buyer bears all costs of transport from Sellers premises to Buyers premises.

FAK

Freight All Kinds - mixed cargoes packed in the one container. Mostly used by Freight Forwarders consolidating a number of LCL shipments to form FCL.

FCL

Full Container Load

FEU

Forty Foot Equivalent Unit i.e. 1x 40' Container

F.I.S / DDP

Free Into Store - Sellers responsibility for all costs as in CIF/C&F plus Customs Duty, Landing Costs and all transport charges delivered into the Buyers store. e.g. FIS Bangkok.

F.O.B

Seller is responsible for all costs up to Free On Board ship at a named Port. e.g. FOB Melbourne. Buyer is responsible from "Ship's rail".

HAWB

House Airway Bill - is the freight document issued by the Forwarder. Although similar to the Bill of Lading it does not confer title in the goods and therefore does not have the legal standing of a Bill of Lading.

HBL

House Bill of Lading (Bill of Lading issued by a Freight Forwarder)

ITF / IDF

Air cargo charges. International Terminal Fee / International Documentation Fee

KG

Kilogram - 1000 = 1 Tonne

LBS / lbs

Pounds - 2.204 lbs = 1kilogram

LCL

Less than Container Load

LETTER OF CREDIT

Commercial instrument for organising payments - some forms offer security and minimise risk. Available through the Banks

LO / LO

Lift On / Lift Off - charges levied by Terminal operators

MAWB

Master Airway Bill - is the Airway Bill issued by the Airline or principal carrier.

OBL

Ocean Bill of Lading - issued by the Shipping Line / Owners

PSC or APCA

Port Service Charges / Australian Port Charges Applicable.

SHIPPER'S LETTER INSTRUCTION (SLI)

Forwarding Instructions to Air or Sea Carrier

TEU

Twenty Foot Equivalent Unit i.e. 1x 20' Container

THC

Terminal Handling Charge - levied by shipping companies and reflects the local port costs of stevedoring.

TRC

Terminal Receival Charge - levied by some ports and/or shipping companies to reflect cost of cargo stevedoring for receivals.

ULD

Generic term for Air cargo containers