Glossary of Shipping Terms

ICC (2) (INTERNATIONAL CHAMBER OF COMMERCE OR )Â
A non-governmental organization serving as a policy advocate on world business.Â

ICTF (INTERMODAL CONTAINER TRANSFER FACILITY)Â
An on-dock facility for moving containers from ship to rail or truck.Â

IMOÂ
International Maritime Organization: Formerly known as the Inter-Governmental Maritime Consultative Organization (IMCO), was established in 1958 through the United Nations to coordinate international maritime safety and related practices.Â

IMPORT LICENSEÂ
A certificate issued by countries exercising import controls that permits importation of the articles stated in the license. The issuance of such a permit frequently is collected with the release of foreign exchange needed to pay for the shipment for which the import license has been requested.Â

IN-BONDÂ
A customs program for inland ports that provides for cargo arriving at a seaport to be shipped under a customs bond to a more conveniently located inland port where the entry documents have been filed. Customs clears the shipment there and the cargo is trucked to its destination, which normally is close to the inland port.Â

INDEPENDENT ACTIONÂ
A move whereby a member of a shipping conference elects to depart from the specific freight rates, terms, or conditions set forth by the conference. No prior approval of the conference is needed.Â

INDUCEMENTÂ
When steamship lines publish in their schedules the name of a port and the words "by inducement" in parentheses, this means the vessel will call at the port if there is a sufficient amount of profitable cargo available and booked.Â

INERT GAS SYSTEMÂ
A system of preventing any explosion in the cargo tanks of a tanker by replacing the cargo, as it is pumped out, by an inert gas, often the exhaust of the ship's engine. Gas-freeing must be carried out subsequently if worker have to enter the empty tanks.Â

INFLAMMABLE LIQUIDSÂ
Liquids liable to spontaneous combustion which give off inflammable vapors at or below 80 degrees F. For example, ether, ethyl, benzine, gasoline, paints, enamels, carbon disulfide, etc.Â

INLAND CARRIERÂ
A transportation company which hauls export or import traffic between ports and inland pointsÂ

INLAND WATERSÂ
Term referring to lakes, streams, rivers, canals, waterways, inlets, bays, and the like.Â

INMARSATÂ
International Maritime Satellite System.Â

INSPECTION CERTIFICATEÂ
A document certifying that merchandise (such as perishable goods) was in good condition immediately prior to shipment.Â

INTEGRATED TUG BARGEÂ
A large barge of about 600 feet and 22,000 tons cargo capacity, integrated from the rear on to the bow of a tug purposely constructed to push the barge.Â

INTELLECTUAL PROPERTYÂ
Ownership of the legal rights to possess, use, or dispose of products created by human ingenuity, including patents, trademarks and copyrights.Â

INTERCHANGE AGREEMENTÂ
Agreement with a drayage company for use of railroad-controlled equipmentÂ

INTERCOASTALÂ
Domestic shipping routes serving more than one coast.Â

INTERLINEÂ
A mutual agreement between airlines to link their route network.Â

INTERLINE HAULÂ
Move involving more than one rail carrierÂ

INTERLINE PRICEÂ
The price published for an origin/destination pair that uses more than one carrier and results in one bill for the whole move; see "through price."Â

INTERMODALÂ
(1) This refers to the capacity to go from ship to train to truck or the like. The adjective generally refers to containerized shipping or the capacity to handle the same. (2) Transport by more than one transportation mode, usually truck and railÂ

INTERMODALISMÂ
The concept of transportation as a door-to-door service rather than port-to-port. Thus efficiency is enhanced by having a single carrier coordinating the movement and documentation among different modes of transportation.Â

INTERNATIONAL LOAD LINE CERTIFICATEÂ
A certificate which gives details of a ship's freeboards and states that the ship has been surveyed and the appropriate load lines marked on her sides. This certificate is issued by a classification society or the Coast Guard.Â

INTERNATIONAL OIL POLLUTION COMPENSATION FUNDÂ
An inter-governmental agency designed to pay compensation for oil pollution damage, exceeding the shipowner's liability. It was created by an IMO Convention in 1971 and started its operations in October 1978. Contributions come mainly from the oil companies of member states.Â

INTERNATIONAL TONNAGE CERTIFICATEÂ
A certificate issued to a shipowner by a government department in the case of a ship whose gross and net tonnages have been determined in accordance with the International Convention of Tonnage Measurement of Ships. The certificate states the gross and net tonnages together with details of the spaces attributed to each.Â

INTERNATIONAL WATERWAYSÂ
Consist of international straits, inland and interocean canals and rivers where they separate the territories of two or more nations. Provided no treaty is enforced both merchant ships and warships have the right of free and unrestricted navigation through these waterways.Â

INTRACOASTALÂ
Domestic shipping routes along a single coast.Â

ISO 9000Â
A series of voluntary international quality standards.Â

ITFÂ
International Transport Workers Federation (Trade Unions)Â

Glossary of Shipping Terms

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Glossary of Shipping Terms