Understanding some of the shipping abbreviations and terms can be difficult when you get shipping documents in your hand. Here are some shipping abbreviations/ terms simplified for your convenience.
| Shipping Abbreviations/Terms | Definition |
| ETA | Estimated Time of Arrival |
| ETB | Estimated Time of Berthing |
| ETD | Estimated Time of Departure |
| ETC | Estimated Time of Completion |
| ETS | Estimate Time of Sailing; similar that of ETD. |
| FCL | Full Container Load
Container Service Type of Shipment, where there is a full shipment whereby it is shipped by one shipper to one consignee. |
| LCL | Less than Container Load
Container Service Type of Shipment, where there is are there are several cargos boxes to multiple recipients/consignees. |
| Groupage | Process of collection of LCL cargo from different shippers and packing into consolidating into one container. Groupage Operators or Consolidators handles these operations. |
| Port and Starboard | Port – Left Side of Ship
Starboard – Right Side of Ship |
| MSDS | Material Safety Data Sheet
Form containing information of hazardous cargo, with guidance in handling and all properties and compositions in question. |
| MBL | Master Bill of Lading
Used in Freight Forwarding. |
| HBL | House Bill of Lading
Used in Freight Forwarding. |
| SLAC | Shippers Load Stow and Count
Used in Containerized Shipping. |
| NVOCC | Non Vessel Operating Common Carrier |
| STC | Said To Contain
Used in Bills of Lading for Containerized cargo, whereby shipping line declare that the container contains cargo but cannot verify the contents. |
| BAF | Bunker Adjustment Factor
The charges levied by the shipping lines to cover the costs of the fuel of the ship |
| CAF | Currency Adjustment Factor
The surcharges implemented by certain countries on their trade routes to cover the volatility of their currency against the major currencies used in trade. |
| ISPS | International Ship and Port Facilities Security Code
governments require port facility security asssements to be carried out whereby ISPS Codes compliances are in line with security plans developed and implemented accordingly. |
| VGM | SOLAS Verified Gross Mass
The weight of each container that is checked and declared before loaded and exported. |
| SOLAS | SOLAS Convention
Conventions of the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) |
| MARPOL | International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from |
| BCO | Beneficial Cargo Owner |
| Smart Container | Container equipped with real-time tracking equipped sensors |