Ports and Port Services Industry Terminology

AIS (Automatic Identification System)

A VHF-based transponder system that broadcasts a vessel’s identity, position, course, and speed to improve maritime safety and traffic management. Used by ships, pilots, VTS, and ports for situational awareness and planning.

Check the AIS feed for the tanker’s ETA.

Ballast Water Management

Policies, equipment, and procedures to control the uptake and discharge of ballast water to prevent invasive species transfer; governed by the IMO Ballast Water Management Convention. Often involves onboard ballast water treatment systems.

PSC asked for the vessel’s ballast water record book.

Berth

A designated mooring location alongside a quay where a vessel is secured for cargo operations; defined by length, depth, fendering, and mooring points.

The carrier requested a deep-water berth.

Bill of Lading (B/L)

A transport document serving as receipt of goods, evidence of contract of carriage, and document of title. Includes straight, order, and sea waybill variants.

Release against original B/L only.

Breakbulk

Non-containerized general cargo handled as individual pieces or unitized loads (e.g., steel coils, timber, project cargo). Requires specialized gear and stowage planning.

The terminal specializes in breakbulk and project cargo.

Bunkering

The supply of marine fuel (e.g., VLSFO, MGO, LNG) to a vessel by barge, truck, or pipeline, including measurement and documentation (BDN).

STS bunkering is scheduled at anchorage.

Cold Ironing (Shore Power)

Supplying a berthed vessel with electrical power from shore so onboard generators can be shut down, cutting noise and emissions. Requires compatible voltage/frequency and standardized connectors.

Cruise terminal now offers shore power.

Containerization

The use of standardized ISO containers enabling intermodal movement across sea, rail, and road with minimal handling of cargo contents. Revolutionized port operations and global trade.

The port handled 1.2 million TEU last year.

Demurrage

A time-based charge applied when containers remain within a terminal beyond the free time allowed by the carrier. Distinct from detention, which applies outside the terminal.

Import demurrage accrues after day 5.

Detention

A charge for keeping a carrier’s container outside the terminal beyond the agreed free days, covering equipment usage.

Detention applies after gate-out for exports.

Dredging

The excavation of seabed sediments to deepen or maintain navigational channels and berths; includes capital and maintenance dredging. Requires environmental permits and disposal plans.

Channel dredged to 16.5 m.

Dwell Time

The average time cargo or containers spend in the terminal from discharge to gate-out (imports) or gate-in to loading (exports). A key indicator of yard fluidity.

Import dwell time reduced to 3.2 days.

ECA (Emission Control Area)

Designated sea areas with stricter limits on air pollutants (SOx, NOx, PM) from ships; includes North American, Baltic, and North Sea ECAs, and certain Chinese zones.

Fuel switch to 0.1% sulfur on ECA entry.

EDI (Electronic Data Interchange)

Standardized electronic exchange of business documents (e.g., manifests, gate moves, bay plans) between port community stakeholders. Often uses UN/EDIFACT or ANSI X12.

EDIFACT IFTMCS message transmitted to the line.

ETA/ETD/ATA

Estimated Time of Arrival/Estimated Time of Departure/Actual Time of Arrival; timestamps used to plan and measure vessel calls and terminal operations.

Update ETA for Pilot Station at 0500.

Feeder Service

Short-sea or regional vessel service that collects or distributes containers between smaller ports and mainline hub ports for transshipment.

Feeder connects to the mother vessel at the hub.

Free Trade Zone (FTZ)

A designated area within or near a port where goods can be landed, stored, processed, or re-exported under special customs rules with deferred or reduced duties.

The FTZ allows value-added processing.

Gross Tonnage (GT)

A dimensionless measure of a ship’s overall internal volume, calculated under the 1969 Tonnage Convention; often used to assess port dues and regulatory thresholds.

Port charges are based on GT.

IMDG Code

The International Maritime Dangerous Goods Code governing classification, packing, marking, documentation, and stowage of hazardous cargo at sea and in ports.

Class 3 cargo requires special segregation.

Incoterms

International commercial terms published by ICC defining responsibilities, risks, and costs between seller and buyer in global trade (e.g., FOB, CIF, DDP). They affect who pays THC and arranges carriage.

Under FOB, buyer books the ocean leg.

Intermodal Transport

Movement of goods in the same loading unit (typically a container) across multiple transport modes without handling the cargo itself. Enables efficient port-to-hinterland flows.

On-dock rail enables intermodal transfers.

ISPS Code

The International Ship and Port Facility Security Code establishing security measures for ships and port facilities, including security levels, PFSPs, and PFSO roles.

Security level raised under ISPS.

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

Quantitative metrics used to monitor and improve port and terminal performance, such as crane moves per hour, berth productivity, truck turn time, and dwell time.

Berth productivity KPI improved to 90 GMPH.

Lashing

Securing cargo or containers on deck or in holds using twistlocks, lashing bars, chains, and turnbuckles to prevent movement at sea.

Lashing gangs boarded at 0700.

LCL/FCL

Less-than-Container Load vs. Full-Container Load; LCL shipments are consolidated/deconsolidated at CFS, while FCL is a single shipper’s load.

LCL export cut-off is earlier due to consolidation.

Length Overall (LOA)

The maximum length of a vessel from the foremost to aftmost points, used for berth assignment, tug allocation, and mooring planning.

Berth can accept LOA up to 400 m.

Liner Shipping

Scheduled ocean services with published port rotations and tariffs, typically container carriers. Contrasts with tramp shipping.

The new liner service calls weekly.

Manifest (Cargo Manifest)

A detailed list of cargo carried on a vessel, submitted to customs and other authorities; includes Advance Manifest filings (e.g., AMS, ACI).

Correct the manifest to reflect HS codes.

MARPOL

The International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships; includes Annexes I–VI covering oil, noxious liquids, harmful substances, sewage, garbage, and air pollution.

Port reception facilities comply with MARPOL V.

Mooring

Securing a vessel to a berth using mooring lines and equipment to keep position during operations; may use shore tensioners and mooring dolphins.

Mooring gangs stood by at 0600.

NVOCC

Non-Vessel-Operating Common Carrier: issues its own bills of lading and sells capacity while purchasing slots from ocean carriers; often consolidates cargo.

NVOCC issued a house B/L.

OOG (Out-of-Gauge) Cargo

Cargo exceeding standard container dimensions requiring special equipment (flat racks, open tops) and handling, often with escorts and permits.

OOG moved on a 40FR with over-height.

PCS (Port Community System)

A digital platform enabling secure information sharing among port stakeholders (lines, terminals, customs, agents) via EDI and APIs to streamline processes.

Pre-advice submitted through the PCS.

Pilotage

Compulsory use of licensed pilots to guide vessels in and out of port waters, considering local conditions and navigational hazards.

Pilot boarding time set for 0430.

Port State Control (PSC)

Inspections by a port state’s authorities to verify foreign ships comply with international conventions; deficiencies can lead to detention.

PSC cited lifeboat issues under SOLAS.

Quay Crane (Ship-to-Shore Crane)

Gantry crane positioned on the quay used to load/discharge containers; performance measured in moves per hour; features twin-lift and tandem spreaders.

STS crane outreach 24 rows.

Reefer

A refrigerated container or cargo requiring controlled temperature and power supply; monitored via reefer plugs and telemetry.

Allocate 80 reefer plugs on Berth 2.

Ro-Ro

Roll-on/Roll-off operations for wheeled cargo using ramps; includes PCC/PCTC vehicle carriers and ro-ro terminals.

Stern ramp required a 10 m apron clearance.

SOLAS

The International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea; covers ship safety standards, including the VGM requirement for containers.

SOLAS VGM cut-off at T-12 hours.

Stevedoring

The physical loading and unloading of cargo by terminal labor and equipment, including lashing, crane operation, and yard moves.

Stevedoring contract renegotiated.

STS (Ship-to-Ship Transfer)

Direct transfer of cargo between two vessels alongside each other, commonly for petroleum products or bunkering, in approved areas with specific safety controls.

STS operation scheduled at anchorage.

TEU (Twenty-foot Equivalent Unit)

A standardized measure of containerized cargo capacity based on a 20-foot container; used for throughput, capacity, and fleet sizing.

Yard capacity is 25,000 TEU.

Terminal Handling Charge (THC)

A fee levied for handling containers at the terminal, typically covering lift-on/lift-off, gate, and yard services; charged per box.

THC is payable at destination.

Terminal Operating System (TOS)

Core software managing terminal operations, including planning, yard inventory, equipment control, gate, and EDI interfaces.

TOS optimized crane assignments.

Towage

Harbor tug services assisting vessel maneuvers during berthing and unberthing; pricing often based on bollard pull and time.

Two ASD tugs of 70 TBP each ordered.

Turnaround Time

Total time a vessel spends in port from arrival to departure; a key efficiency metric influenced by berth assignment, crane productivity, and paperwork.

Turnaround cut from 36 to 24 hours.

ULCV (Ultra Large Container Vessel)

Very large container ships, typically above 18,000 TEU, requiring deep drafts, long berths, and high-reach cranes.

ULCV requires 400 m berth and 16 m draft.

Verified Gross Mass (VGM)

The certified total weight of a packed container, mandated by SOLAS before loading; obtained via weighing the packed container or by calculation.

No VGM, no load policy enforced.

Vessel Traffic Service (VTS)

A shore-based service monitoring and managing vessel movements within port/approach areas to enhance safety and efficiency, often integrating radar, AIS, and CCTV.

Call VTS for traffic clearance.

Wharfage

A fee charged by the port for the use of wharf or terminal facilities, often assessed per metric ton or per container.

Wharfage included in port dues.