Glossary of Shipping Terms

D.W. (DEADWEIGHT)Â
The maximum carrying capacity of a ship expressed in tons of cargo, stores, provisions, and bunker fuel.Â

D.W.C. (DEADWEIGHT CARGO)Â
Cargo of such weight and volume that a long ton (2,240 lbs) is stowed in an area of less than 70 cubic feet.Â

DANGEROUS CARGOÂ
All substances of an inflammable nature which are liable to spontaneous combustion either in themselves or when stowed adjacent to other substances and, when mixed with air, are liable to generate explosive gases or produce suffocation or poisoning or tainting of foodstuffs.Â

DANGEROUS GOODSÂ
Articles or substances capable of posing a significant risk to health, safety or property and that ordinarily require special attention when being transported.Â

DAVITSÂ
Two radial cranes on a ship which hold the lifeboats. They are constructed in such a way as to lower and lift the lifeboats the easiest way possible and are unobstructed in case of an emergency.Â

DCA (DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL AVIATION)Â
Denotes the government department of any foreign country that is responsible for aviation regulation and granting traffic rights.Â

DDU (DELIVERED DUTY UNPAID)Â
This reflects the emergence of "door-to-door" intermodal or courier contracts or carriage where only the destination customs duty and taxes (if any) are paid by consignee.Â

DEAD FREIGHTÂ
Freight charges paid by the charterer of a vessel for the contracted space that is left partially unoccupied.Â

DEADFREICHTÂ
Space booked by shipper or charterer on a vessel but not usedÂ

DEADFREIGHT FACTORÂ
Percentage of a ship's carrying capacity that is not utilized.Â

DEADWEIGHT/DWAT/DWCCÂ
A common measure of ship carrying capacity. The number of tons (2240 lbs.) of cargo, stores and bunkers that a vessel can transport. It is the difference between the number of tons of water a vessel displaces "light" and the number of tons it displaces "when submerged to the 'deep load lineÃ†". A vessel's cargo capacity is less than its total deadweight tonnage. The difference in weight between a vessel when it is fully loaded and when it is empty (in general transportation terms, the net) measured by the water it displaces. This is the most common, and useful, measurement for shipping as it measures cargo capacity.Â

DECK CARGOÂ
Cargo carried on deck rather than stowed under deck. On-deck carriage is required for certain commodities, such as explosives.Â

DECK GANGÂ
The officers and seamen comprising the deck department aboard ship. Also called deck crew, deck department, or just deck.Â

DECK HOUSEÂ
Small superstructure on the top deck of a vessel that contains the helm and other navigational instruments.Â

DECK LOGÂ
Also called Captain's Log. A full nautical record of a ship's voyage, written up at the end of each watch by the deck officer on watch. The principal entries are: courses steered; distance run; compass variations, sea and weather conditions; ship's position, principal headlands passed; names of lookouts, and any unusual position, principal headlands passed; names of lookouts, and any unusual happenings such as fire, collision, and the like..Â

DECK OFFICERÂ
As distinguished from engineer officer, refers to all officers who assist the master in navigating the vessel when at sea, and supervise the handling of cargo when in port.Â

DECKHANDÂ
Seaman who works on the deck of a ship and remains in the wheelhouse attending to the orders of the duty officers during navigation and maneuvering. He also comes under the direct orders of the bosun.Â

DEDICATED TRAINÂ
One that exclusively carries intermodal equipment (containers and trailers)Â

DEEP SEA TRADESÂ
The traffic routes of both cargo and passenger vessels which are regularly engaged on the high seas or on long voyages.Â

DEEP STOWAGEÂ
Any bulk, bagged or other type of cargo stowed in single hold ships.Â

DEFERRED REBATEÂ
The return of a portion of the freight charges by a carrier or a conference shipper in exchange for the shipper giving all or most of his shipments to the carrier or conference over a specified period of time (usually six months). Payment of the rate is deferred for a further similar period, during which the shipper must continue to give all or most of his shipments to the rebating carrier or conference. The shipper thus earns a further rebate that will not, however, be paid without an additional period of exclusive or almost exclusive patronage with the carrier of conference. In this way, the shipper becomes tied to the rebating carrier or conference. Although the deferred rebate system is illegal in U.S. foreign commerce, it generally is accepted in the ocean trade between other countries.Â

DEMISE CHARTERÂ
See Bareboat Charter.Â

DEMURRAGEÂ
(1) A charge made on cars or other equipment held by or for consignor or consignee for loading or unloading, for forwarding directions or for any other purpose (2) A penalty for exceeding free time allowed for loading or unloading at a pier or freight terminal. Also a charge for undue detention of transportation equipment or carriers in port while loading or unloading.Â

DEMURRAGEÂ
A fee levied by the shipping company upon the port or supplier for not loading or unloading the vessel by a specified date agreed upon by contract. Usually, assessed upon a daily basis after the deadline.Â

DENSITYÂ
Density means pounds per cubic foot. The cubage of loose articles or pieces, or packaged articles of a rectangular, elliptical, or square shape on one plane, shall be determined by multiplying the greatest straight line dimensions of length, width, and depth in inches, including all projections, and dividing the total by 1728 (to obtain cubic feet). The density is the weight of the article divided by the cubic feet thus obtained.Â

DESPATCHÂ
Time saved, reward for quick turnaround - in dry cargo onlyÂ

DETENTIONÂ
Penalty assessed to the consignor or consignee for using railroad-owned equipment more than allotted free timeÂ

DEVIATIONÂ
Vessel departure from specified voyage courseÂ

DIM WEIGHT (DIMENSIONALIZED WEIGHT)Â
An international airfreight formula determined by calculating length x width x height and dividing by 166. It is charged when the actual weight is less than the dimensionalized weight.Â

DISABLED SHIPÂ
When a ship is unable to sail efficiently or in a seaworthy state as a result of engine trouble, lack of officers or crew, damage to the hull or ship's gear.Â

DISCHARGESÂ
An essential document for officers and seamen as it serves an official certificate confirming sea experience in the employment for which he was engaged.Â

DIVERSIONÂ
A change made in the route of a shipment in transitÂ

DOCK RECEIPTÂ
When cargo is delivered to a steamship company at the pier, the receiving clerk issues a dock receipt.Â

DOMESTIC CONTAINERIZATIONÂ
Movement of domestic freight in ocean containers, (to assist in repositioning of those containers) or in dedicated domestic containersÂ

DOMESTIC OFFSHORE TRADESÂ
Domestic shipping routes serving Alaska and non-continental U.S. States and territories.Â

DOT (U.S. DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION)Â
U.S. Department of Transportation, whose purpose is to provide a dynamic federal system of transportation to meet the country's needsÂ

DOUBLE-STACKÂ
The movement of containers on specialized articulated rail cars that enable the vertical stacking of the containers on each platform of the carÂ

DRAFTÂ
(1) An unconditional order in writing from one person (the Drawer) to another (the Drawee), directing the drawee to pay a specified amount to a named drawer on a fixed date. Also known as a Bill of Exchange. (2)The depth of a ship in the water. The vertical distance between the waterline and the keel, in the U.S. expressed in feet, elsewhere in meters.Â

DRAWBACKÂ
A remission of duty or charges paid, in whole or in part, when imported goods are re-exported or used in the manufacture of exported goods.Â

DRAWEEÂ
The individual or firm on whom a draft is drawn and who owes the stated amount to the drawer.Â

DRAYAGEÂ
Synonym: Connecting Road Haulage (1) The hauling of a load by a cart with detachable sides. (dray) (2) Road transportation between the nearest railway terminal and the stuffing place (3) (pick-up and/or delivery) the truck portion of an intermodal moveÂ

DRILL SHIPÂ
: Regular ship shaped vessel, production ship. Positioned by anchors or dynamic positioning. Has its own propulsion machinery.Â

DRILLING UNITÂ
Fitted with drilling rig (oil derrick with rotary drill and a mud pumping system), drilling for petroleum.Â

DRY CARGOÂ
Merchandise other than liquid carried in bulk.Â

DRY CARGO SHIPÂ
Vessel which carriers all merchandise, excluding liquid in bulk.Â

DRY DOCKÂ
An enclosed basin into which a ship is taken for underwater cleaning and repairing. It is fitted with water tight entrance gates which when closed permit the dock to be pumped dry.Â

DST (DOUBLE STACK TRAIN)Â
The transport by rail between two points of a trainload of containers with two containers per chassis, one on top of the other.Â

DUAL PURPOSE SHIPÂ
Specially constructed ship able to carry different types of cargoes such as ore and/or oil.Â

DUNNAGEÂ
The material used to protect or support freight in or on railcars or trailersÂ

DUNNAGEÂ
A term applied to loose wood or other material used in a ship's hold for the protection of cargo.

Glossary of Shipping Terms

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Glossary of Shipping Terms