Part IX — Reference
Glossary & Quick Reference
The terms, codes and numbers from across this handbook in one place — for fast lookup on the job.
A working reference to the terms, abbreviations and key numbers used throughout this book. Use it to settle a definition quickly; the chapter reference points you to the full explanation.
Quick numbers to memorise
- Weight/volume ratios: sea 1:1 (1 t = 1 CBM) · land 1:3 · air 1:6 (1 CBM = 167 kg) — Ch. 3
- Container capacity: 20’ ≈ 33.2 CBM · 40’ ≈ 67.7 CBM · max gross ≈ 30.5 t — Ch. 11
- TEU: 20’ = 1 TEU · 40’ = 2 TEU — Ch. 11
- Insurance value: CIF + 10% (up to 20%) — Ch. 7
- UAE transhipment duty deposit: 5% of CIF, refunded if re-exported within 45 days — Ch. 20
- GCC common external tariff: generally ~5% + VAT — Ch. 10
- Tonnes: short = 2,000 lb · long = 2,240 lb · metric = 1,000 kg — Ch. 3
Glossary of terms
AOG (Aircraft On Ground) — the top-priority air-freight tier: emergency movement of aircraft spares to return a grounded aircraft to service; speed beats cost (next flight out / on-board courier / charter), often dangerous goods. Ch. 19
AWB (Air Waybill) — air-freight contract/receipt; non-negotiable, not a document of title. Ch. 8, 15
BAF / CAF — Bunker / Currency Adjustment Factor: fuel and exchange surcharges. Ch. 5
Bill of Lading (B/L) — ocean document that is receipt + contract of carriage + document of title; “clean” vs claused; “to order” = negotiable. Ch. 8
Bonded warehouse — premises under customs custody where duty is deferred until goods enter the local market. Ch. 10, 19
Break-bulk — cargo loaded piece-by-piece, not containerised or bulk. Ch. 14
Carnet (TIR / ATA) — customs document for duty-free transit (TIR) or temporary import (ATA). Ch. 10
CBM (cubic metre) — L × W × H in metres; the unit of cargo volume. Ch. 3
Chargeable weight — the greater of actual gross weight and volumetric weight. Ch. 3
CFS (Container Freight Station) — where LCL cargo is consolidated/de-consolidated. Ch. 13
Consolidation / Groupage — combining LCL loads into one FCL box; the forwarder’s best-margin business. Ch. 13
Document of title — a document whose lawful holder controls the goods (the ocean B/L; not the AWB). Ch. 8
e-B/L / e-AWB — electronic bill of lading / air waybill. Ch. 25
EDI / EDIFACT — electronic data interchange; the UN cross-industry standard. Ch. 25
FCL / LCL — Full / Less-than Container Load. Ch. 13
Forwarder (freight forwarder) — the “architect of transport”; coordinates carriers on the customer’s behalf, as agent or principal. Ch. 2
Free zone — duty-suspended area enabling storage/re-export without local duty (e.g. Jafza). Ch. 10, 19
General Average — cargo owners’ proportional contribution to a sacrifice made to save ship and cargo. Ch. 7
GRI / PSS — General Rate Increase / Peak Season Surcharge. Ch. 5
HS code (Harmonised System) — international goods classification driving duty and statistics. Ch. 10
Incoterms® 2020 — ICC trade terms splitting cost and risk: EXW, FCA, FAS, FOB, CFR, CIF, CPT, CIP, DAP, DPU, DDP. Ch. 4
Institute Cargo Clauses (A/B/C) — marine insurance cover: A = all-risks, B = named perils, C = major casualties. Ch. 7
Letter of Credit (L/C) — bank undertaking to pay against strictly compliant documents. Ch. 6
Master B/L vs House B/L — carrier’s B/L to the forwarder vs forwarder’s B/L to each shipper (NVOCC). Ch. 13
MTO — Multimodal Transport Operator: forwarder taking carrier responsibility across modes (FIATA FBL). Ch. 20
NVOCC / VOCC — Non-Vessel-Operating / Vessel-Operating Common Carrier. Ch. 2
Pre-carriage / On-carriage — inland leg before the port / after the port. Ch. 24
Reefer — refrigerated container or vessel. Ch. 11, 12
Ro-Ro — roll-on/roll-off vessel for wheeled cargo. Ch. 12
Sea-Air — sea long-haul + air final leg; faster than sea, cheaper than air; Dubai is a hub. Ch. 20
Subrogation — insurer taking over the insured’s right of recovery after paying a claim. Ch. 7
TEU — Twenty-foot Equivalent Unit. Ch. 11
THC — Terminal Handling Charge (origin/destination). Ch. 5
3PL / 4PL — integrated logistics provider / supply-chain orchestrator. Ch. 27
ULD — Unit Load Device: standard air pallet/container. Ch. 19
UN Dangerous Goods classes 1–9 — explosives, gases, flammable liquids, flammable solids, oxidisers, toxic/infectious, radioactive, corrosive, miscellaneous. Ch. 21
Volumetric weight — volume converted to weight by the modal factor (air 1 CBM = 167 kg). Ch. 3
W/M (Weight or Measure) — LCL/sea charging on weight or volume, whichever is greater. Ch. 3, 13
The shipment sequence (quick reference)
Enquiry → Incoterm → chargeable unit → FCL/LCL & consolidation → all-in quote (with validity) → L/C check → book + stuff → documents (consistent!) → vessel / main leg → insurance (CIF+10%, w-to-w) → customs (HS, duty/free-zone) → delivery + invoice. Ch. 31
Keep this chapter bookmarked. In your first weeks you’ll reach for the quick numbers and the shipment sequence constantly — they’re the scaffolding everything else hangs on. The rest of the glossary is here for the moment a document or a colleague uses a term you haven’t met yet. Everything in WorldZone’s core services (Chapter 28) is built from these building blocks.
This completes the WorldZone Book. Everything in the original NAFL handbook is contained here — brought up to date — together with the modern industry, technology and WorldZone-specific knowledge the old book never covered. One World, One Zone.