Landlord Port: At a landlord port, the port authority builds the wharves, which it then rents or leases to a terminal operator (usually a stevedoring company). The operator invests in cargo-handling equipment (forklifts, cranes, etc), hires longshore laborers to operate such lift machinery and negotiates contracts with ocean carriers (steamship services) to handle the unloading and loading of ship cargoes. (See also: operating port.)
Launch Service: Companies that offer "water-taxi" service to ships at anchor.
LCL: The acronym for "less than container load." It refers to a partial container load that is usually consolidated with other goods to fill a container.
Length Overall (LOA): Linear measurement of a vessel from bow to stern.
Lift On-Lift Off (LO/LO): Cargo handling technique involving transfer of commodities to and from the ship using shoreside cranes or ship's gear.
LTL: Means a shipment that is "less than truckload". Cargoes from different sources are usually consolidated to save costs.
Long Ton: A long ton equals 2240 pounds.
Manifest: The ship captain’s list of individual goods that make up the ship’s cargo.
Marine surveyor: Person who inspects a ship hull or its cargo for damage or quality.
Master: The officer in charge of the ship. "Captain" is a courtesy title often given to a master.
Maritime: (adjective) Located on or near the sea. Commerce or navigation by sea. The maritime industry includes people working for transportation (ship, rail, truck and towboat/barge) companies, freight forwarders and customs brokers; stevedoring companies; labor unions; chandlers; warehouses; ship building and repair firms; importers/exporters; pilot associations, etc.
Marshaling yard: This is a container parking lot, or any open area where containers are stored in a precise order according to the ship loading plan. Containers terminals may use a grounded or wheeled layout. If the cargo box is placed directly on the ground, it is called a grounded operation. If the box is on a chassis/trailer, it is a wheeled operation.
Mean Low Water (MLW): Lowest average level water reaches on an outgoing tide.
Mean High Water (MHW): Highest average level water reaches on an outgoing tide.
Mooring Dolphin: A cluster of pilings to which a boat or barge ties up.
Motor Ship (MS) or motor vessel (MV): A ship propelled by internal-combustion engines.
NVOCC: A non-vessel-owning common carrier that buys space aboard a ship to get a lower volume rate. An NVOCC then sells that space to various small shippers, consolidates their freight, issues bills of lading and books space aboard a ship.
Ocean Carrier: Diesel-fueled vessels have replaced the old steamships of the past, although many people still refer to modern diesel ships as steamships. Likewise, the person who represents the ship in port is still often called a steamship agent. (See: steamship agent)
On-Dock Rail: Direct shipside rail service. Includes the ability to load and unload containers/breakbulk directly from rail car to vessel.
On-Terminal Rail: Rail service and trackage provided by a railroad within a designated terminal area.
Operating Port: At an operational port like Charleston, South Carolina, the port authority builds the wharves, owns the cranes and cargo-handling equipment and hires the labor to move cargo in the sheds and yards. A stevedore hires longshore labor to lift cargo between the ship and the dock, where the port’s laborers pick it up and bring it to the storage site. (See landlord port.)
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