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“What does that mean?” … Freight Glossary
When you first get interested or involved in the freight / cargo world, the terminology and documents may appear a bit daunting.
To assist you with understanding and communicating with those in the industry, we have compiled a small glossary to assist you with some of those terms. ukimports.org
A
Airwaybill
- Document raised for each airfreight shipment, outlining all the shipment's details, along with an 'Airwaybill Number', allowing trackability during transit. ukimports.org
AEO (Authorised Econonic Operator)
- Approved Company/Organization within a recognised secure supply chain ukimports.org
ASM
- Airfreight Computer System supplied by Agency Sector Management (UK) Ltd ukimports.org
ATR1
- Taken from Wikipedia "... is a customs document used in trade between EU members and Turkey, to benefit from cheaper rates of duty." ukimports.org
AWRS (Alcohol Wholesaler Registration Scheme)
- Approved Company/Organization within a recognised secure supply chai ukimports.org
B
Bill of Lading
– Document raised for each Seafreight shipment, outlining all the shipment’s details, along with an ‘Bill of Lading Number’, allowing trackability during transit. ukimports.org
BIP (Border Inspection Post)
– Control post operated by the Port Health Authorities ukimports.org
Bond (also known as a ‘T1’)
– Authorised movement of goods without Customs clearance. ukimports.org
Brexit
– Not necessarily a shipping term, but this is the name used when the UK was leaving the European Union (EU). ukimports.org
Bunker Adjustment Factor (BAF)
– The Bunker Adjustment Factor, or BAF, as it is more commonly known, is one of the charges levied on goods transported via Sea Freight. This particular charge represents the fluctuating costs to the shipping, caused by the varying global oil prices. ukimports.org
BTI (Binding Tariff Information)
– Confirmation, direct from Customs, of the exact classification/commodity code for your goods. ukimports.org
C
CBV (Courier Baggage Voucher)
– Document raised for each courier shipment, outlining all the shipment’s details, along with an ‘Airwaybill Number’, allowing trackability during transit. ukimports.org
CDS (Customs Declaration Service)
– This is the name of the new computer system from UK Customs, replacing the 25 year old CHIEF system. ukimports.org
C of O (Certificate of Origin)
– Stamped official document declaring Country of Origin. ukimports.org
CHIEF (Customs Handling of Import and Export Freight)
– HM Revenue & Customs computer system. ukimports.org
CNS (Community Network Services Ltd)
– Port Computer System. ukimports.org
Currency Adjustment Factor (CAF)
– The Currency Adjustment Factor, or CAF, as it is also known, is one of the charges levied during shipping. This charge covers changes to the differing currency exchange rates. ukimports.org
D
Deferment Account
– Bank account held with Customs to pay Duty and / or VAT (DAN – Deferment Account Number) ukimports.org
Destin8
– Port Computer system operated by MCP (Maritime Cargo Processing PLC) ukimports.org
Demurrage
– taken from Wikipedia “… the industry refers to this container usage beyond the time allowed as Container Demurrage” ukimports.org
Devan (Devanned, Devanning)
– Unloading of Sea Freight Container ukimports.org
DG Cert (Dangerous Goods Certificate)
– Document which must accompany hazardous cargo during transit ukimports.org
E
End-Use
– Term used for exemption from duty and/or VAT on aircraft or Ships spares, in transit ukimports.org
EORI (Economic Operator Registration Identification)
– Identifying number for all Commercial importers and exporters ukimports.org
ERTS (Enhanced Remote Transit Shed)
– Warehouse where goods are moved under Bond for Clearance ukimports.org
EUR1
– taken from the London Chamber of Commerce (www.londonchamber.co.uk/): “The EUR1 form entitles originating UK or EU goods to lower import duties – usually zero – when shipped into twenty five foreign markets.” ukimports.org
F
FCL (Full Container Load)
– Relating to a full Sea Freight Container (Opp. LCL) ukimports.org
Fumigation
– The process of expelling any possible dangerous gases from a sea freight container ukimports.org
G
Groupage
– A mixed container packed with different importers goods, is known as a ‘Groupage’ container. ukimports.org
GSP (Generalised System of Preferences)
– Document relating to trade agreement to give preferential rates of duty to developing countries ukimports.org
H
Haulage
– UK Inland Delivery ukimports.org
Haulier
– Person or Company making the UK Inland Delivery ukimports.org
Hi-Ab
– Lorry / Truck with a small crane attached ukimports.org
House Airwaybill (HAWB)
– Transit document issued by a Freight Forwarder for use in consolidated air freight shipments. ukimports.org
HS Code (Harmonised Code)
– Overseas classification / commodity code (similar to EC Code). ukimports.org
I
ICD (Inland Clearance Depot)
– Warehouse where goods are moved under Bond for Clearance ukimports.org
Impatex System
– Import and Export Customs and Duty Management software supplied by Impatex
Computer Systems Ltd. ukimports.org
IPR (Inward Processing Relief)
– Goods being imported temporarily for a process ukimports.org
J
K
L
LCL (Less than a Container Load)
– Small shipment in a shared Container (Opp. FCL) ukimports.org
LO-LO (Load-On, Load-Off)
– A charge for loading and unloading a container ukimports.org
M
Master Airwaybill (MAWB)
– Transit document issued by an airline ukimports.org
Moffitt Truck
– Lorry / Truck with a Fork-lift attached ukimports.org
N
NCTS (The New Computerised Transit System)
– The New Computerised Transit System (NCTS) is a computer system that has been developed to enable traders to submit Community/Common Transit declarations electronically. ukimports.org
NIRU (National Import Relief Unit)
– Temporary Import unit of Revenue & Customs ukimports.org
NOVA (Notification Of Vehicle Arrival)
– The HMRC/DVLA computer system used to register vehicles arriving into the UK ukimports.org
O
Overlanded
– Goods arrived unexpectedly (un-manifested) ukimports.org
P
POD (Proof of Delivery)
– These are usually given verbally or as a hard-copy (copy of the signed delivery note) ukimports.org
Pre-Lodged (Pre-Lodgment)
– Goods entered to Customs prior to goods arrival ukimports.org
Purged
– Record of goods has been removed from a Computer system ukimports.org
PVA – Postponed VAT Accounting
– VAT registered businesses can sign up for PVA, to account for their VAT in their quarterly returns, as opposed to paying the VAT at the time of arrival into the UK ukimports.org
Q
Quota
– The Import Quotas system allows the import of limited amounts of goods at a rate of duty lower than would otherwise apply. Quotas apply to certain goods from particular countries – so they are very specific. ukimports.org
R
Release (Commercial Release)
– Instructions, usually a fax or email instructing the carrier to release the cleared goods to the collecting party ukimports.org
Restitution
– Return of Container to Port (or other designated location as specified by the leasing shipping line) ukimports.org
RO-RO (Roll-on, Roll-Off)
– Non-containerised cargo e.g. Car, Bus ukimports.org
RPA (Rural Payments Agency)
– Taken from the Import licensing Branch (www. berr.gov.uk) “… the Rural Payments Agency (RPA) issues import licence’s for agricultural, horticultural products and certain items of food and drink”. ukimports.org
S
Short-Shipped
– The term sometimes used when goods have not arrived, when they were supposed to. ukimports.org
Shunt
– The short movement of a Container, usually from Port Quayside to a Warehouse, or internally around the dock yard ukimports.org
Status 1
– A term used in air freight, referring to the date and time at which an air cargo shipment was checked in e.g. Status 1 was set at 09:15 on the 9th March. This date starts the clock ticking of the free time, and outlines when storage charges will start. ukimports.org
T
T1 / TAD (Transit Accompanying Document)
– Document accompanying uncleared goods during transit from one authorised location to another ukimports.org
Tremcard (Travel Emergency Card)
– Document used when transporting hazardous cargo ukimports.org
U
UCN
– Unique Consignment Number ukimports.org
UOD (Use of Deferment)
– Charge for an agent paying Duty and/or VAT to Customs ukimports.org
UTL (Unable To Locate)
– Warehouse term meaning that they cannot find some freight. ukimports.org
V
VAT (Value Added Tax)
– UK Tax (currently 20.0%) which applies to most goods imported into the UK – Exemptions and relief’s may apply ukimports.org
VBS (Vehicle Booking System)
– System in place at many UK Ports, whereby vehicles must be booked-in prior to Collection / Delivery of Containers ukimports.org
W
Wet Bond
– Term used to describe a Bonded Warehouse which is authorised to store Alcohol (and other excisable goods) ukimports.org
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