Glossary Of International Shipping Terms: B

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Berth

The place beside a pier, quay or wharf where a vessel can be loaded or unloaded.

Bill of Lading (B/L)

The official legal document representing ownership of cargo. It is a negotiable document confirming the receipt of cargoes, and the contract for the carriage of cargoes between the shipper and the carrier.

Block Train

Railcars grouped in a train by destination so that segments (blocks) can be uncoupled and routed to different destinations as the train moves through various junctions. This eliminates the need to break up a train and sort individual railcars at each junction.

Bona fide

In good faith.

Bonded Carrier

A carrier licensed by U.S. Customs to carry Customs-controlled merchandise between Customs points. Old Dominion is a bonded carrier.

Bonded Warehouse

A warehouse authorized by Customs for storage of goods on which payment of duties is deferred until the goods are removed.

Booking

Arrangement with a steamship company for the acceptance and cartage of freight.

Booking Number

A reference number for bookings registered with a carrier. It should be unique without duplication for a three-year period.

Bow

The front of a vessel.

Box

Common term for an ocean-going freight container.

Broker

An individual, partnership or corporation which arranges transportation service for client companies.

Break-bulk Cargo

Goods shipped loose in the vessel hold and not in a container.

Broken Stowage

The spare volume of a container or the cargo hold of a vessel where no cargoes are stowed. It is a reflection of the bad stowage of the container or the vessel.

Bulk Carriers

A vessel carrying dry, liquid, grain, not packaged, bundled or bottled cargo, and is loaded without marks and number or count.

Bull Rings

Cargo-securing devices mounted in the floor of containers which allow lashing and securing of cargoes.

Bunker Surcharge (BAF, BSC)

Bunker Adjustment Factor (BAF), or Bunker Surcharge (BSC) are surcharges assessed by the carrier to freight rates to reflect current cost of bunker.

Bunkers

Heavy oil used as fuel for ocean vessels.

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