The period during which a vessel is detained in isolation until free from any contagious disease among the passengers or crew. The word is now applied to the sanitary regulations which are the modern substitute for quarantine. During the quarantine period, the Q flag is hoisted.

Quarantine buoy
One of the yellow buoys at the entrance of a harbor indicating the place where vessel must anchor for the exercise of quarantine regulations.

Quarantine declaration
A document signed by the captain and the ship抯 doctor before the port health officer when a ship arrives at the quarantine station. It gives the name of the ship, tonnage, number of crew, first port of voyage and date of sailing, intermediate ports called at, number of passengers for the port at which the vessel is arriving, number of transit passengers, cases of infectious diseases during voyage, deaths, nature of cargo, name of agents. The port health officer then proceeds with the medical inspection of passengers and crew. Also called entry declaration.


Quarantine dues
A charge against all vessels entering a harbor to provide for the maintenance of medical control service. Also called quarantine fees.

Quarantine flag
A yellow flag used as a sanitary signal. It is displayed by all vessels entering a harbor; also when a contagious or infectious disease exists on board or when the vessel has been placed in quarantine.

Quarantine harbor
A place where vessels in quarantine are stationed when arriving from contaminated ports.

Quarantine signal
Signals flown by vessels required to show their state of health. By day "Q" of the international code signifies "Ship is healthy-free pratique requested". Flag "Q" over first substitutes signifies that the ship has had cases of infectious diseases or that there has been unusual mortality among rats on board. Flag "Q" over "L" signifies "Ship is infected". By night a vessel entering harbor exhibits a red light over a white light more than 6 feet apart which signifies that the ship is awaiting free pratique.

Quarantine station
A medical control center located in an isolated spot ashore where patients with contagious diseases from vessel in quarantine are taken. It is also used for passengers and crews of vessel arriving from suspected ports while fumigation or any other disinfection is carried out on board ship.

Rail Onboard B/L
This is unique practice in NAT having the similar function as onboard vessel B/L. In the event of multimodal B/L is prepared, shipper can request a clause on the B/L to satisfy their commercial transaction as LADEN ONBOARD RAIL MMDDYY. The date on the B/L is on which containers are loaded onboard rail flat car. However, the word RAIL is not necessary.

Receipt for shipment B/L
A term used in contradistinction to shipped bill of lading, which is the standard document. Some bankers object to such bill of lading on the ground that the security they offer is imperfect. This kind of bill of lading is normally issued to acknowledge receipt of shipment before cargo loading or before official original bill of lading is issued. Nowadays, not many shippers ask for this kind of bill of lading.

Reefer
In the industry, it is the generic name for a temperature controlled container. The containers, which are insulated, are specially designed to allow temperature controlled air circulation within the container. A refrigeration plant is built into the rear of the container. For OOCL's reefers, power for this plant needs to be provided from an external source.


Relative Humidity
(%) The ratio of the actual amount of water vapor in the air to the maximum it can hold at a given temperature, multiplied by 100.

Relay
To transfer goods from one ship to another of the same ownership. More frequently used by OOCL as T/S (Transshipment).

Release note
Receipt signed by customer acknowledging delivery of goods.

Return air
Air warmed by the container cargo delivered to the evaporator. The temperature of return air often controls the operation of the refrigeration unit.

Revenue ton (R/T)
The greater weight or measurement of goods where 1 ton is either 1000 kilos or 1 cubic meter (for metric system). Also known as bill of lading ton or freight ton. It is used to calculate freight charge.

Roll-On/Roll-Off (Ro/Ro)
A feature designed in a specially constructed vessel in both the loading and discharging ports.

Route (Rte.)
The manner in which a shipment moves, i.e., the carriers handling it and the points via which they handle it.