Glossary of Shipping Terms

M/RÂ
Mate's Receipt.Â

M/TÂ
Metric Ton (2204 Ibs).Â

M/TÂ
Metric tons (2,250 lbs.).Â

M/V OR MVÂ
Motor Vessel.Â

MAIN DECKÂ
The main continuous deck of a ship running from fore to aft; the principle deck; the deck from which the freeboard is determined.Â

MAINTENANCE OF WAYÂ
The process of maintaining roadbed (rail, ties, ballast, bridges etc.) These materials are hauled in special maintenance of way cars, which also include cars that are equipped with heavy equipment, such as cranes and tie replacing machinesÂ

MANIFESTÂ
A document containing a full list of the ship's cargo, extracted from the bills of lading.Â

MANNING SCALESÂ
The minimum number of officers and crew members that can be engaged on a ship to be considered as sufficient hands with practical ability to meet every possible eventuality at sea.Â

MAQUILADORAÂ
A foreign plant operating under an in-bond program whereby components may be shipped into Mexico duty-free for assembly and subsequent re-export. Maquiladora plants are also known as Twin Plants.Â

MARITIME ADMINISTRATION (MARAD)Â
A U.S. government agency, while not actively involved in vessel operation, that administers laws for maintenance of merchant marine for the purposes of defense and commerce.Â

MARITIME LIENÂ
A claim which attaches to the res, i.e., the ship, freight, or cargo.Â

MARITIME SUBSIDY BOARD (MSB)Â
A branch within the Maritime Administration which deals with Operating Differential Subsidy and Construction Differential Subsidy.Â

MARKÂ
(See Consignee Mark, Markings, Port Marks)Â

MARKINGSÂ
The physical markings on a product indicating the country of origin where the article was produced.Â

MARPOL 73/78Â
The International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships, 1973, as modified by the Protocol of 1978.Â

MASTER (CAPTAIN)Â
Highest officer aboard ship. Oversees all ship operations. Keeps ships records. Handles accounting and bookkeeping. Takes command of vessel in inclement weather and in crowded or narrow waters. Handles communications. Receives and implements instructions from home office.Â

MATE'S RECEIPTÂ
Receipt of cargo by the vessel, signed by the mate (similar to a dock receipt).Â

MEASUREMENT TONÂ
The measurement ton (also known as the cargo ton or freight ton) is a space measurement, usually 40 cubic feet or one cubic meter. Cargo is assessed a certain rate for every 40 cubic feet or one cubic meter it occupies.Â

MERCOSURÂ
A trade alliance between Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay, with Chile and Bolivia as associate members.Â

MICROBRIDGEÂ
A system of through rates and service offered by a carrier for cargo shipments from any inland U.S. location to a port, by sea to a foreign port and finally overland to foreign inland destination.Â

MIN. B/LÂ
Minimum Bill of Lading.Â

MINILAND BRIDGEÂ
The process of taking inland cargo bound for export to the coast by rail and loading it directly to the ship.Â

MINI-LANDBRIDGEÂ
Imported traffic movement from an origin port to an inland point that is not a port on an ocean bill of ladingÂ

MIRAIDÂ
Maritime Institute for Research and Industrial Development.Â

MIXED SHIPMENTÂ
A shipment consisting of more than one commodity, articles described under more than one class or commodity rate item in a tariff.Â

MMÂ
Mercantile Marine.Â

MOAÂ
Memorandum of agreementÂ

MODUÂ
Mobile Offshore Drilling Unit.Â

MOORING LINEÂ
A cable or line to tie up a ship.Â

MORTGAGEÂ
Loan issued against some securityÂ

MSBÂ
Maritime Subsidy Board.Â

MT.Â
Empty.Â

MTCÂ
Maritime Transport Committee, OECDÂ

MULTIPURPOSE SHIPÂ
Any ship capable of carrying different types of cargo which require different methods of handling. There are several types of ships falling into this category, for example, ships which can carry roll on/roll off cargo together with containers.Â

MWÂ
Minimum Weight Factor.

Glossary of Shipping Terms

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Glossary of Shipping Terms