Bulk carriers
A vessel carrying dry, liquid, grain, not packaged, bundled or bottled cargo, and is loaded without marks & number or count.

Bull rings
Cargo-securing devices mounted in the floor of containers; allow lashing and securing of cargo.

Bunker surcharge (BAF, BSC)
Bunker Adjustment factor (BAF), or Bunker Surcharge (BSC) are surcharges assessed by the carrier to freight rates to reflect current cost of bunker.

Bunkers
Heavy oil used as fuel for ocean vessels.

C.A.F.
Currency Adjustment Factor. Surcharge percentage applied to freight rates to reflect currency fluctuations.

C.B.M. (C.M.)
Cubic meter.

C.K.D.
Abbreviation for Cars Knocked Down. Automobile parts and subassemblies manufactured abroad and transported to a designated assembly plant. A classification of Third Party International shippers. See Knocked Down.

C.O.D.
Collect (cash) on Delivery; Carried on Docket (pricing); Change of Destination.

Cargo manifest
A manifest that lists only cargo, without freight and charges.

Carrier
Any individual, company or corporation engaged in transporting goods.

Cells
The construction system employed in container vessels; permits below ship containers to be stowed in a vertical line with each container supporting the one above it.

Cellular vessel
A vessel designed with internal ribbing to permit the support of stacked containers.

Certificate of origin
Document certifying the country of origin of goods which is normally issued or signed by a Chamber of Commerce or Embassy.

CFC's (Chlorofluorocarbons)
Chemical compounds containing mixtures of carbon, chlorine and fluorine molecules. Because of their stability, lack of flammability and ability to absorb and give up heat readily, CFC's have in the past been popular refrigerants. However, CFC's have been found to contribute to the deterioration of the ozone layer of the upper atmosphere, which is a condition believed to be hazardous to global health. These compounds should not be released into the atmosphere, but should be carefully collected for recycling. Production of CFC's is being phased out by an international convention, the Montreal Protocol.

CFS/CFS
A kind of cargo movement by container. Delivered loose at origin point with vanning by carrier, devanned by carrier at destination, and picked up loose at destination.

Chassis
A wheeled flat bed or a trailer constructed to accommodate containers moved over the road.

Closing date
Last day on which export cargo can be accepted for a nominated sailing.

Consolidated cargo
Cargo containing shipments of two or more shippers, usually shipped by a firm called a consolidator. The consolidator takes advantage of lower F.C.L. rates, and savings are passed on to shippers.

Consolidation
The combination of many small shipments into one container.

Consolidator
A person or firm performing a consolidation service for others.

Consortium
Group of carriers pooling resources in a trade lane to maximize their resources efficiently.

Container
A receptacle designed to transport cargo of many types in continuous transportation.

Container freight station (CFS, C.F.S.)
Consolidation depots where parcels of cargo are grouped and loaded into containers.

Container gross weight
Please refer to Gross Weight.

Container load plan (CLP)
A document prepared to show all details of cargo loaded in a container, e.g. weight (individual and total), measurement, markings, shippers, consignees, the origin & destination of goods, and location of cargo within the container.