Terms commonly used in Cargo Handling

Apron- the area between the transit shed and quay-wall that is used for
working cargo.
Berth- the part of the pier/wharf that is occupied by a vessel, or any place in
which a vessel may lie at anchor or at a dock.
Berthing- means the maneuvering of a vessel from the anchorage or pilot
station to a berth, including the action to make fast the vessel alongside.
Bollard- means a strong post on a ship or dock for holding a hawser fast.
Bow- means the extreme forward end of a vessel.
Buoy- means floating object moored to the bottom to mark a channel,
anchor, shoal, rock, etc.
Bulk Cargo- liquid or dry goods shipped in bulk, not packed or bundled in
separate units. These include commodities that are loose or in mass and
require to be pumped, shoveled, scooped, grabbed or forked during loading
or unloading.
Channel- means a natural or artificial waterway of perceptible extend which
either periodically or continuously contains moving water or which forms a
connecting link between two bodies of water; or part of a body of water deep
enough to be used for navigation through the area otherwise too low for
navigation.
Chassis-means equipment used to carry containers from one place to another
under the tow by prime movers or tractors as an extension of ships gear
unless declared as an importation.
Container Berth- means berthing space especially designed and constructed
to accommodate containership.
Container Equipment Receipts- means shipping receipt issued by container
operators, agents or shipping companies relative to bringing in and taking out
of containers in the Port/Customs zone, this document (in/out) shows, among
others, the inspections conducted on the container at the time of receipt and
of delivery.
Container Freight Station- means normally a warehouse or a transit shed
adjacent to the Container Yard (CY) used for sorting and storage of container
cargo both for import and export.
Containership- means a cargo vessel designed and constructed primarily to
carry containers.
Container Tally sheet- cargo receipt issued by the ships checker or agent and
acknowledge by the arrastre checker as evidence of receipt of the containers.
It also indicates the physical condition of the container.
Container Terminal- a port facility designed to provide an integrated use of
berthing facilities for containership and harbor transport system for
containers and their contents.
Containerized/ Container Cargo- Cargo stuffed inside a container van with the
external dimensions and ratings enumerated in series 1 of ISO 668-1976
which are specially designed to facilitate ready handling particularly their

transfer from one mode of transport to another without intermediate

reloading.
Cubic Meter- Calculation: Length x Width x Height divided by 1728 = cubic
feet divided by 35 = cubic meters.
Dangerous Cargo- cargo, on which account of their nature, cannot be stowed
in general cargo space nor handled at the same time as innocuous cargo as
they may expose people and property to harm or destruction by fire,
explosion, poisoning and similar danger.
Deck- a platform or roof over which a section of ship holds, serving as a floor.
Dock- includes locks, cuts, entrances, graving docks, inclined planes,
slipways, quays, and other works and things appertaining to any dock.
Dock work- all or any part of the work or those duties associated with the
work performed on shore or onboard a vessel/ship, of loading and discharging
to/from a vessel, weather engage in maritime or inland port, harbor, dock,
wharf, quay or similar place which such work is carried out.
Dolphin- means a buoy or spar used in mooring a boat.
Draft- means the depth/level of the vessel below the water line, measured
vertically from this water line to the lowest part of the hull.
Dry-dock- means a dock from which the water can be temporarily excluded,
in order to effect repairs to hulls and kneels of ships or vessels.
Dues- includes harbor fees, tonnage and wharfage dues, berthing charges
and port dues and any other dues or fees imposed by virtue of existing law or
Decree.
Dunnage- Loose packing or any bulky material put around or under cargo for
protection to prevent it from mobbing or being damaged.
Excreta- means waste matter excreted from the body as sweat or urine or
feces.
Fairway- part of a waterway kept open and unobstructed for navigation.
Fender- means a pad or cushion of rope, wood, etc., hung over a ships side
to protect it in docking.
Full Container Load- means a container loaded with cargoes belonging to a
single consignee and/ or covered by only one bill of loading.
Funnel- means a cylindrical chimney or smoke stick.
Gang- a group of cargo workers employed to work on board a ship or ashore
for loading and unloading of cargoes to or from the ship or vise-versa.
General Cargo- Cargo listed in a numbers of bills of lading, each consisting of
different commodities. These include, but not limited to bagged cargo, crates,
cylinders, cases, baskets, bales, rolls, drums and other similar types of
packing, including vehicles, live animals, crated or uncrated livestock and
other types of loose cargo.
Grit- means rough, hard particles of sand, stone, etc.
Harbor- means a protected part of a sea, lake or other body of water used by
vessels as a place of safety.
Hatch- an opening in ships deck through which cargo can be lowered.

Heavy-lift Cargo- Large and very heavy single unit cargo whose minimum
weight is 5000 kgs. (5T). Heavy-lift charges are exclusive of equipment hire if
the vessels gear is inadequate for stevedoring services.
High-Speed Craft- is a craft capable of a maximum speed expressed in meter
per second (m/s) which is equal to or exceeding = :3.7
0.1667, where
is displacement corresponding to the design waterline (m3)
International Voyage- means a voyage from a country to which the SOLAS
Convention applies to a port outside the coountry or conversely.
Lash Barge- a barge or lighter, which for all intents and purpose, is an
extension of the ships equipment or gears and used purely in such ships
cargo operations.
Lash Ship- a vessel designed and constructed to carry lash barges as
containers of cargoes.
Latrine- means a toilet, or privy for the use of many people.
Length Over All- means the length of a vessel between the extreme end of
the bow and he extreme end of the stern.
Less Container Load- a container loaded with cargoes belonging or more than
one consignee and/ or covered by more than one bill of landing.
Liquid Bulk Cargo- Shall include, but shall not be limited to, diesel oil, bunker
oil, natural coconut oil, gasoline, alcohol, molasses and other similar liquid
products that are loaded in bilk to and from tankers, barges and, similar
carriers via a pipeline system, hose or other similar implements. No cargo
handling charges shall be collected on liquid bulk cargo unless the cargo
handler provides, upon request, special services such as hosing and/ or dehosing or similar services for which charges may be made in accordance with
the tariff schedule.
Marshalling Yard- a place where containers are stacked and arranged
according to the sequence of withdrawal to consignee or transferred to CYCFS or CY inside Port/ Customs Zone. It is also where the containers are
arranged prior to loading to a carrying vessel in accordance with the
sequence of loading on the stowage plan.
Moor- means to secure a vessel alongside the berth by means of mooring
ropes.
Metric Ton- 1,000 kgs.
Mooring- to secure a ship on position.
Palletized/ Unitized Cargo- general or break bulk cargo stacked on a portable
platform or deck called a pallet. A pallet generally measures about five or
six square feet and, not less than 1 metric ton in weight or 1.1326 cu. m. in
measurement and, can be transported my mechanical appliances such as
forklifts.
Port District- means the territorial jurisdiction under the control, supervision
or ownership of the Authority over an area (land or sea) declared as such,
including but not limited to any Port within said District.
Private port- refers to any port within the national territory of the Philippines
that is owned or leased, manage and/ or operated for commercial purposes

by any private entity, juridical or natural person, such as but not limited to oil
companies, manufacturing/mining companies, cargo handling operators
product exporters/ importers, beach/resort owners and\or operators, and
tourism/diving companies; and all other such ports which are not government
ports.
Port facility- means a location as determined by the Philippines government
or by the OTS, whereas ship-port interface takes place. This includes areas
such as anchorages, waiting berths and approaches from seaward, as
appropriate.
Quay- A landing place or prier, usually of solid construction, where vessels
berth to load or unload cargo. Also used for the temporary or short-term
storage of goods in transit, or to be shipped or discharge from a vessel.

A quay, pronounced key, is wharf or bank is constructed parallel to

the bank of a waterway. The word is commonly used in United Kingdom, Ireland,
Canada, Australia and New Zealand.

Rates- means any rates or charges including any toll or rent under existing
law or imposed by the Authority by virtue of P.D 857 for facilities used or
services rendered.
Revenue Ton- 1,000 kgs or 11.1326 cubic meters (40 cu. Ft) or whichever
yields the greater amou8nt of revenue.
Rigging- the fitting of a ships sails or shrouds to the mast or yard.
Roll-on-Roll-off Containership- a containership especially designed and
constructed to carry containers and chassis and allows loading and unloading
of containers on chassis or trailers by providing a ramp over the side, at the
bow or at the stern of the ship.
Semi-Containership/Comboship-cargo vessel designed and constructed to
carry at least fifty percent (50%) of its load in containers.
Shippers Load and Count- a container packed with cargo by one shipper
where the quantity, description and conditions of the cargo is the sole
responsibility of the shipper.
Ships Store- includes ship gears, equipment, parts or its properties not being
goods or merchandise.
Soot- means black substance consisting chiefly of carbon particles formed by
the incomplete combustion of burning matter.
Stand-by-time- After the first hour of vessel operations, the time when
workers are engaged to work but cannot. Stand by charges are paid by the
shipping company/agent.
Stern- means the extreme