Glossary of Shipping Terms

T.E.U.Â
Twenty Foot Equivalent Unit (containers): A measurement of cargo-carrying capacity on a containership, referring to a common container size of 20 ft in length.Â

T/CÂ
Time charterÂ

T/C EQUIVALENTÂ
Revenue per dayÂ

TAIL SHAFTÂ
The extreme section at the aft end of a ship's propeller shaft.Â

TALLY SHEETÂ
A list of incoming and outgoing cargo checked by the tally clerk on the dock.Â

TANK-BARGEÂ
A river barge designed for the carriage of liquid bulk cargoes.Â

TANKERÂ
A tanker is a bulk carrier designed to transport liquid cargo, most often petroleum products. Oil tankers vary in size from small coastal vessels of 1,500 tons deadweight, through medium-sized ship of 60,000 tons, to the giant VLCCs (very large crude carriers).Â

TARE WEIGHTÂ
The weight of packing and containers without the goods to be shipped.Â

TARIFFÂ
(1) A general term for any listing of rates or charges. The tariffs most frequently encountered in foreign trade are: tariffs of international transportation companies operating on sea, land, and in the air; tariffs of international cable, radio, and telephone companies; and the customs tariffs of the various countries that list goods that are duty free and those subject to import duty, giving the rate of duty in each case. There are various classes of customs duties.Â

TARIFF ACT OF 1930 (P.L. 361)Â
imposes a 50-percent tariff on maintenance and repair work done on U.S.-flag vessels in foreign shipyards. Also, U.S.-flag vessels either must be built in the United States or have been a U.S.-flag vessel for at least 3 years to be eligible to carry preference cargo.Â

TEMPERATURE CONTROLLED CARGOÂ
Any cargo requiring carriage under controlled temperature.Â

TERRITORIAL WATERSÂ
That portion of the sea up to a limited instance which is immediately adjacent to the shores of any country and over which the sovereignty and exclusive jurisdiction of that country extend.Â

TEUÂ
A twenty-foot equivalent unit (6.1m). A standard unit for counting containers of various lengths and for describing container ship or terminal capacity. A standard 40' container equals 2 TEUs.Â

THC (TERMINAL HANDLING CHARGE)Â
A charge made for certain handling services performed at terminals.Â

THIRD ASSISTANT ENGINEERÂ
In charge of eight to twelve watch. Maintains lighting fixtures. Repairs malfunctioning accessories in living quarters. Assist other engineers as directed.Â

THIRD MATEÂ
In charge of eight to twelve watch. Makes sure emergency survival equipment (lifeboats, life rings, etc.) is in order. Assists other officers as directed.Â

THIRD PARTYÂ
An independent retailer of intermodal transportation, may be a shipper agent or associationÂ

THROUGH PRICEÂ
The price applicable from point of origin to destination; may be a joint price or a combination of two or more pricesÂ

TIB (TEMPORARY IMPORTATION UNDER BOND)Â
A U.S. Customs' temporary admission into the U.S.A. under a conditional bond for articles not imported for sale or for sale on approval.Â

TITLE, PASSINGÂ
The passing of title to exported goods is determined in large measure by the selling terms and must be clearly specified and understood by both parties.Â

TOFCÂ
trailer on flat car, also known as piggyback; a container with chassis or rail trailer transported on a rail carÂ

TONÂ
2,240 pounds - Freight rates for liner cargo generally are quoted based on a certain rate per ton, depending on the nature of the commodity. This ton, however, may be a weight ton or a measurement ton.Â

TON MILEÂ
A measurement used in the economics of transportation to designate one ton being moved one mile. This is useful to the shipper because it includes the distance to move a commodity in the calculation.Â

TON-DEADWEIGHTÂ
The carrying capacity of the ship in terms of the weight in tons of the cargo, fuel, provisions, and passengers which a vessel can carry.Â

TON-DISPLACEMENTÂ
The weight of the volume of water, which the fully loaded ship, displaces.Â

TONNAGEÂ
A quantity of cargo normally expressed as a number of tons.Â

TOP-OFFÂ
To fill a ship which is already partly loaded with cargo.Â

TOWÂ
When one or more vessels are being towed; when a tug is towing one or more floating objects; to pull an object in the water by means of a rope.Â

TOWAGEÂ
Charges for the services of tugs assisting a ship or other vessels in ports or other locations; the act of towing a ship or other objects from one place to another.Â

TRACKINGÂ
A carrier's system of recording movement intervals of shipments from origin to destination.Â

TRADEÂ
A term used to define a geographic area or specific route served by carriers.Â

TRADING LIMITSÂ
Maritime area usually specified by range of ports in which a vessel may operateÂ

TRAMPÂ
A vessel that does not operate along a definite route on a fixed schedule, but calls at any port where cargo is available.Â

TRAMP SERVICEÂ
Vessels operating without a fixed itinerary or schedule or charter contract.Â

TRANSPORT INDEXÂ
The number expressing the maximum radiation level in a package or ULD.Â

TRANSPORTATION DATA COORDINATION COMMITTEEÂ
Sets the standards for interchange of transportation dataÂ

TRANSSHIPMENTÂ
The transfer of a shipment from one carrier to another in international trade, most frequently from one ship to another. Because the unloading and reloading of delicate merchandise is likely to cause damage, transshipments are avoided whenever possible.Â

TRIMÂ
The relationship between a ship's draughts forward and aft.Â

TRUCKLOADÂ
Truckload rates apply where the tariff shows a truckload minimum weight. Charges will be at the truckload minimum weight unless weight is higher.

TRUST RECEIPTÂ
The release of merchandise by a bank to a buyer for manufacturing or sales purposes in which the bank retains title to the merchandise.Â

TUGÂ
A small vessel designed to tow or push large ships or barges. Tugs have powerful diesel engines and are essential to docks and ports to maneuver large ships into their berths. Pusher tugs are also used to push enormous trains of barges on the rivers and inland waterways of the U.S. Oceangoing salvage tugs provide assistance to ships in distress and engage in such work as towing drilling rigs and oil production platforms.Â

Glossary of Shipping Terms

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Glossary of Shipping Terms