Operations Vocabulary
Shipping Terms
Complete maritime shipping vocabulary reference with searchable terms used in operations, compliance, and port logistics.
Showing 25 of 392 terms
| Term | Description |
|---|---|
| PREAMBLE | Introduction to a Charter Party |
| PRODUCT CARRIER | A tanker which is generally below 70,000 deadweight tons and used to carry refined oil products from the refinery to the consumer. In many cases, four different grades of oil can be handled simultaneously. |
| Production unit | Equipped to extract petroleum, e.g. oil production ship. |
| PROFORMA ACC | Estimated account |
| PROPANE CARRIER | A ship designed to carry propane in liquid form. The propane is carried in tanks within the holds; it remains in liquid form by means of pressure and refrigeration. Such ships are also suitable for the carriage of butane. |
| PSV (Platform Supply Vessel) | Carries supplies to drilling units or installations during field de-velopment or production. |
| PUMPMAN | A rating who tends to the pumps of an oil tanker. |
| PURSER | A ship's officer who is in charge of accounts, especially on a passenger ship. |
| QUALIFIED MEMBER OF THE ENGINE DEPARTMENT(OMED) | - Unlicensed members of the engine department who attend to a fully automated engine room. |
| RADIO OPERATOR | An officer who operates and controls the shipboard communication equipment. |
| RECAP | Recapitulation of the terms and conditions agreed |
| REEFER | Refrigerator ship; a vessel designed to carry goods requiring refrigeration, such as meat and fruit. A reefer ship has insulated holds into which cold air is passed at the temperature appropriate to the goods being carried. |
| REEFER BOX | An insulated shipping container designed to carry cargoes requiring temperature control. It is fitted with a refrigeration unit which is connected to the carrying ship's electrical power supply. |
| RETURN CARGO | A cargo which enables a ship to return loaded to the port or area where her previous cargo was loaded. |
| REVERSIBLE | TIME - Option for charterers to add together time allowed for loading & discharging relative to terms of a particular charter party |
| RO/RO SHIP | Freight ship or ferry with facilities for vehicles to drive on and off (roll-on roll-off); a system of loading and discharging a ship whereby the cargo is driven on and off on ramps. Equipped with large openings at bow and stern and sometimes also in the side, the ship permits rapid loading and discharge with hydraulically operated ramps providing easy access. Fully loaded trucks or trailers carrying containers are accommodated on the deck. |
| ROLLING CARGO | Cargo which is on wheels, such as truck or trailers, and which can be driven or towed on to a ship. |
| S.S. | Steamship. |
| S/T | Short tons (2,000 lbs.) |
| SALVAGE | The property which has been recovered from a wrecked vessel, or the recovery of the vessel herself. |
| SB | Safe berth |
| SEA TRIALS | A series of trials conducted by the builders during which the owner's representatives on board act in a consulting and checking capacity to determine if the vessel has met the specifications. |
| SEA WORTHINESS | The sufficiency of a vessel in materials construction,equipment, crew and outfit for the trade in which it is employed.Any sort of disrepair to the vessel by which the cargo may suffer -- overloading, untrained officers, etc., may constitute a vessel unseaworthy. |
| SEABEE | Sea-barge, a barge carrier design similar to 'LASH' but which uses rollers to move the barges aboard the ship; the self-propelled loaded barges are themselves loaded on board as cargo and are considerably larger than those loaded on LASH ships. |
| SEAWORTHINESS | Statement on the condition of the vessel . It has valid certificates, is fully equipped and manned |