MARITIME ACRONYMS

Here is a list of acronyms commonly used in the maritime industry. Many of these are not used in the
modules but may be useful in your further research.

AAAA Always Afloat, Always Accessible

AB Able-Bodied Seaman
ABCU Automated Bridge Control System for Unattended Engine Room
ABS American Bureau of Shipping
ACCU Automatic Control System Certified for Unattended Engine Room
ADB Asian Development Bank
AFRA Average Freight Rate Assessment
AFRAMAX A tanker of such size as to take commercial advantage under Worldscale (generally,
tankers 80,000-119,000 DWT)
AHTS Anchor Handling Tug Supply Vessel
AIGSS Annual Inert Gas System Survey
ALLI Annual Load Line Inspection
AMS Annual Machinery Survey
AMVER Automated Mutual – Assistance Vessel Rescue System
APEC Asia Pacific Economic Co-Operation
APS Arrival Pilot Station
ARCS Admiralty Raster Chart Service (U.K. Hydrographic Office)
ARPAS Automatic Radar Plotting Aid
ATDNSHINC Any Time Day/Night Sundays and Holidays Included
AUX(AX) Auxiliary
AUX KW Auxiliary/Generators Kilowatts (total)
BAC Blood Alcohol Content
BAF Bunker Adjustment Factor
BBB Before Breaking Bulk (i.e. before discharge of cargo commences)
BBLS Barrels
BDI Both Dates Inclusive
BFI Baltic Freight Index
BI Both Inclusive
BIMCO Baltic and International Maritime Council
B/L or BL Bill of Lading
BLG Subcommittee on Bulk Liquids and Gases (IMO)
BLK Bulk
BLU Code International Code for Safe Loading and Unloading of Bulk Carriers 1997 (IMO)
B/N Booking Note
BOB Bunkers on Board
BOFFER Best Offer
BRM Bridge Resources Management
BROB Bunkers Remaining On Board
BS Boiler Survey

Maritime Acronyms [Type here] 1

BT Bow Thruster
BTM Bottom
BTU British Thermal Unit – 0.252 kcal
BWM International Convention for the Control and Management of Ships’ Ballast Water and
Sediments
C&F Cost, Insurance & Freight
C&F FO Cost and Freight Free Out
CAD Computer Assisted Design
CAF Currency Adjustment Factor
CAM Computer Assisted Manufacture
CAPESIZE Bulk Carrier 100,000-180,000 DWT
CAS Condition Assessment Survey
CBFT Cubic Feet
CBM/cu.m. Cubic Meters
CBP U S Customs and Border Patrol
C.B.T./CBT Clean Ballast Tanks
c.ft./cuft Cubic Feet (ft3)
CFR Cost and Freight
CFS Container Freight Station
CHOPT Charterer's Option
CHS Continuous Survey of Hull
CHTRS Charterers
CIF Cost Insurance Freight
CIP Carriage and Insurance Paid To
CIRM International Radio-Maritime Committee
CMI Committee Maritime International (Maritime Law Association)
CMS Continuous Survey of Machinery
CNG Compressed Natural Gas
CO Cargo Oil
CO2 Carbon Dioxide
COA Contract Of Affreightment
COB Closing of Business
COD Cash On Delivery
COGSA Carriage of Goods by Sea Act(s)
COI Certificate of Insurance
COLREGS Collision Regulations (IMO)
COP Custom of the Port
COSWEP Code of Safe Working Practices
COT Cargo Oil Tank
COW Crude Oil Washing
C/P (CP) Charterparty or Charter Party
CPT Carriage Paid To
CR Current Rate
CSI Container Security Initiative
CSO Company Security Officer

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CSP Company Security Plan
CSR Continuous Synopsis Record
CST Centistokes
CT Cargo Tank
CTL Constructive Total Loss
C-TPAT Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism
C/V Consecutive Voyage
CV Caloric Value (Heat Value)
DA Double-Acting
DAF Delivered At Frontier Cargo
DAT Delivered at Terminal
DAP Delivered at Place
DAPS Days All Purposes
DB Double-Bottom
DD Dry-Docking
DDP Delivered Duty Paid
DDU Delivered Duty Unpaid
DE Subcommittee on Ship Design and Equipment (IMO)
DEM Demurrage
DEQ Delivered Ex Quay (Duty Paid)
DES Delivered Ex Ship
DF Direction-Finder
DGPS Differential Global Positioning System
DHDATSBE Dispatch Half Demurrage on All Time Saved Both Ends
DHDWTSBE Dispatch Half Demurrage on Working Time Saved Both Ends
DHS U.S. Department for Homeland Security
DISCH Discharge
DNV Det Norske Veritas (Norwegian Class Society)
DO Diesel Oil
DOC Document Of Compliance (Part of ISM Code)
DOP Dropping Outward Pilot
DOS Declaration of Security
DR Dead Reckoning
DRA Designated Restricted Area
DSC Subcommittee on the Carriage of Dangerous Goods, Solid Cargoes, and Containers (IMO)
DWCT Deadweight Cargo Tons, or the weight of to be transported under a charter party
DWT Deadweight Tons
ECA Emission Control Areas
ECC Environmental Coordinating Committee
ECDIS Electronic Chart Display and Information Systems
ECJ European Court of Justice
EDI Electronic Data Interchange
EEDI Energy Efficiency Design Index
EEOI Energy Efficiency Operational Index
EIU Even If Used

Maritime Acronyms [Type here] 3

ENC Electronic Navigation Chart
EPC Electronic Port Clearance
EPIRB Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon
EQS Environmental Quality Standard
EQUIP Equipment
EQUIV Equivalent
ER - E/R Engine Room
ESD Emergency Shut Down (System)
ETA Estimated Time of Arrival
ETC Estimated Time of Completion
ETD Estimated Time of Departure
ETS Estimated Time of Sailing
EU European Union
EXP Expires
EXT Extension
EXW Ex Works
FAQ Frequently Asked Questions
FAS Free Alongside Ship
FC Facilitation Committee (IMO)
FCA Free Carrier
FD Free Discharge
FD&D/FDD Freight, Demurrage, And Deadfreight
FDESP Free Dispatch
FDIS Free Discharge
FEU Forty-Foot Equivalent Unit (Container)
FHEX Fridays, Holidays Excepted (Muslim Countries)
FHINC Fridays, Holidays Included (Muslim Countries)
FILO Free In/Liner Out
FIO Free In and Out
FLO/FLO Float On / Float Off
FND Foundered
FO Fuel Oil
FOB Free On Board
FOQ Free On Quay
FOW First Open Water
FOW Free On Warf
FP Subcommittee on Fire Protection (IMO)
FPA Free of Particular Average
FPS Floating Production and Storage
FPSO Floating Production, Storage & Offloading
FSI Subcommittee on Flag State Implementation (IMO)
FSRU Floating Storage & Re-Gasification Unit
FT3 Cubic Feet
FWAD Fresh Water Draft On Arrival
FWD Forward

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FWDD Fresh Water Departure Draft
FYG For Your Guidance
FYI For Your Information
G12 MEPC 2012 Guidelines on Design and Construction to Facilitate Sediment Control on
Ships
G.A./GA General Average
GATT General Agreement On Tariffs and Trade 1994 (now WTO)
GDP Gross Domestic Product
GeSI Global eSustainability Initiative
GHG Greenhouse Gas
GISIS Global Integrated Shipping Information System
GL Germanischer Lloyd (German Class Society)
GLS Gearless
GMDSS Global Maritime Distress and Safety System (IMO)
GMT Greenwich Mean Time (Universal/Zulu Time)
GNSS Global Navigational Satellite System
GO Gas Oil
GPS Global Positioning System
GRD Geared (i.e. Vessel can load and discharge with its own gear (cranes etc.)
GRN Grounded
GRT Gross Registered Tonnage
GSB Guaranteed Safe Berth
GT Gross Tons
HANDYMAX Bulk Carrier 35,000-50,000 DWT
HANDYSIZE Bulk Carrier 10,000-35,000 DWT
HAZMAT Hazardous Materials
HCPV High Capacity Passenger Vessel
HDLTSBENDS Half Dispatch Lay Time Saved Both Ends
HDWTS Half Dispatch Working Time Saved
HE Human Element
HF High Frequency
HFO Heavy Fuel Oil
HNS Hazardous and Noxious Substances
HO Heavy Oil
HP Horsepower
HPTB High Pressure Turbine
HSC High Speed Craft Code (IMO)
HUET Helicopter Underwater Egress Training
HVR Hague-Visby Rules
HW Heavy Weather
HW High Water
IACS International Association of Classification Societies
IAW In Accordance With
IBC International Code for Vessels Carrying Chemicals in Bulk (IMO)
ICS International Chamber of Shipping

Maritime Acronyms [Type here] 5

ICT Information and Communication Technology
ID No. Owner Identification Number (IMO)
IFO Intermediate Fuel Oil
IG Inert Gas
IGC International Code for Vessels Carrying Liquefied Gases (IMO)
IGS Inert Gas System
ILO International Labour Organization
IMB International Maritime Bureau
IMDG International Maritime Dangerous Goods Code (IMO)
IMF International Monetary Fund
IMLI International Maritime Law Institute (IMO)
IMO International Maritime Organization (Part of UN)
INCOTERMS International Commercial Terms
IND Indication
INMARSAT International Maritime Convention on Communication by Satellite
INT Intermediate Survey or Interval
IOPP International Oil Pollution Certificate
IS Intact Stability Code (IMO)
ISF International Shipping Federation
ISM (Code) International Safety Management Code; International Management Code for the Safe
Operation of Ships and for Pollution Prevention
ISO International Standards Organization
ISPS International Ship and Port Facility Code and SOLAS Amendments 2002
ISSC International Ship Security Certificate
ISTEA Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act
IT Independent Tank
IT Information Technology
IT Italy (Flag)
ITB Integrated Tug Barge
ITC Independent Tank Center
ITC International Tonnage Convention
ITF International Transport Federation
IUHTAUTC If Used, Half Time Actually to Count
JIT Just In Time
JU Jack-Up (MODU)
KPI Key Performance Indicators
KW Kilowatt
LAMP Large Amplitude Motions and Loads
LASH Lighter Aboard Ship (barge carrier)
LAT Latitude
LBP Length Between Perpendiculars
L/C or LOC Letter Of Credit
LEZ Low Emission Zone
LL Load Line (International Convention On Load Lines) (IMO)
LNG Liquefied Natural Gas

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LNGC LNG Carrier
LO/LO Lift On/Lift Off
LOA Length Overall
LOC Location
LOF (95) Lloyd’s Open Form (of Salvage Agreement) (1995)
LOI Letter of Indemnity
LOP Letter of Protest (See NOP)
LOT Load On Top
LOW Last Open Water
LP Low Pressure
LPG Liquefied Petroleum Gas
LPTB Low Pressure Turbine
LR Lloyd's Register of Shipping (British Class Society)
LR1 (Large Range 1) Vessels 50,000-79,999 DWT
LR2 (Large Range 2) Vessels 80,000-159,000 DWT
LT Local Time
LU Laid-Up
LV Last Visit
LYCN Laycan (Layday Cancelling Date)
MARPOL Marine Pollution Prevention (International Convention) (IMO)
MAS Mandatory Annual Survey (SOLAS, MARPOL)
MAYDAY Distress Signal (Spoken Word)
MC Mutual Consent
MCA Maritime and Coastguard Agency (UK)
MDO Marine Diesel Oil
ME Main Engine
MEHRA Marine Environmentally High Risk Areas
MEPC Marine Environmental Protection Committee (IMO)
MGO Marine Gas Oil
MHW Mean High Water
MHWS Mean High Water Springs
MLC Maritime Labour Convention. (ILO)
MLLW Mean Lower Low Water
MLW Mean Low Water
MLWS Mean Low Water Springs
MOC Memorandum Of Consultation
MODU Mobile Offshore Drilling Unit
MOLCHOPT More Or Less Charterer's Option (see MOLCO)
MOLCO More Or Less Charterers’ Option (see MOLCHOPT)
MOLOO More Or Less Owners’ Option
MOPU Mobile Offshore Production Unit
MOU Memorandum of Understanding (Port State Control)
MPA Marine Protection Area
MSC Marine Safety Committee (IMO)
M/T or MT Motor Tanker

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MT Metric Ton
M/V or MV Motor Vessel (Diesel)
NAABSA Not Always Afloat But Safe Aground
NAFTA North American Free Trade Agreement
NATO North Atlantic Treaty Organization
NAV Subcommittee on Safety of Navigation (IMO)
NGL Natural Gas Liquid
NGO Non-Governmental Organization
NLS Noxious Liquid Substance
NM Nautical Mile
NOA Notification of Arrival
NOP Notice of Protest (see LOP)
NOR/N.O.R. Notice Of Readiness
NOx Nitrogen Oxide
NPV Net Present Value
NRT Net Registered Tonnage
NT Net Tons
NVOCC Non-Vessel Operating Common Carrier
OBO Ore/Bulk/Oil
OBQ On-Board Quantity (before loading)
OCIMF Oil Companies International Marine Forum
OECD Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development
OO Owners Option
OPEC Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries
OPRC Convention on Oil Pollution Preparedness, Response and Cooperation
OPRC HNS Protocol to the OPRC relating to hazardous and noxious substances (OPRC-HNS Protocol)
OSH Open Shelter Deck
OSHA Occupational Safety and Health Administration
OSI Offshore Storage Installation
OSR Outstanding Recommendation Against Class
OSV Offshore Supply Vessel
OT Oil Tight
OTBD Outboard
P&I Protection And Indemnity (Insurance Mutual Clubs)
PA Port Aft
PANAMAX A tanker of the maximum size capable of transit of the Panama Canal (approx. 50,000-
80,000 DWT) (breadth normally the limiting factor).
PAX Passenger
pb Per Barrel
PC Period Charter
PCC Pure Car Carrier
PCGO Part Cargo
PDPR Per Day Pro-Rated
PET Portable Electronic Thermometer
PF Port Facility

Maritime Acronyms [Type here] 8

PFD Personal Flotation Device
PFSO Port Facility Security Officer
PFSP Port Facility Security Plan
PIOPIC P and I Oil Pollution Indemnity Clause
PL Public Law
PLS Position Location Systems
PMU Portable Measurement Unit
POB Pilot On Board
PPE Personal Protective Equipment
PPM Parts Per Million
PPP Public-Private partnership
PRES Pressure
PROV Provisional
PSA Port Security Assessment
PSC Port State Control
PSI Pounds Per Square Inch
PSO Port Security Officer
PSU Portable Sampling Unit
P/V Pressure Vacuum (Valve)
PWWD Per Weather Working Day
QRC Quick Release Coupling
QSCS Quality System Certification System
R&D Research And Development
RAP Remedial Action Projects
RB Rubber Stern Bearing
RCC Rescue Coordination Centre
RCVR Receiver(s)
RDF Radio Direction Finder
RE Regulatory Evaluation
REEFER Refrigerated Cargo Ship or Container
REP Reporting System
REV Reversing
REVRPT Revised Report
RGB Return Gas Blower
RINA Royal Institute of Naval Architects
RN Rubber Stern Bearing, Non-Continuous Liner on Tailshaft
ROB Remaining On-Board (after discharge)
RORO Roll On/Roll Off
ROS Reduced Operational Status
S&W Sediment & Water (formerly BS&W)
SA Shipyard Agreement
SAA Security Assessment Audit
SAFE Framework of Standards to Secure and Facilitate Global Trade
SAFCON Safety Construction Certificates
SALM Single Anchor Leg Mooring

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SAR Search And Rescue
SAR Subcommittee on Radio Communication and Search and Rescue (IMO)
SARMIS SAR Management Information System
SARSAT Search and Rescue Satellite
SARSIM SAR Simulation Model
SAS Annual Special Survey of Hull
SATPM Saturday P.M.
SB Safe Berth
SBD System-Based Design
SBM Single Buoy Mooring
SBT Segregated Ballast Tanks
SCA Suez Canal Authority
SCVNG Scavenging
SD Single Decker
SDR Special Drawing Rights
SDWT Summer Deadweight
SEBS Single-Ended Boiler Survey
SELFD Self-Discharging
SEEMP Ship Energy Efficiency Management Plan
SEMI Semi-Submersible (MODU)
SF Stowage Factor
SG Specific Gravity
SH Superheater
SHEX Sundays and Holidays Excluded
SHINC Sundays and Holidays Included
SI International System of Units
SIGTTO Society of International Gas Tanker and Terminal Operators
SIRE Ship Inspection Report Exchange (OCIMF)
SI Statutory Instrument
SIS Special Intermediate Survey
SL Bale (Capacity)
SLC Cargo Ship Safety Construction Certificate
SLE Safety Equipment Certificate
SLF Subcommittee on Stability Load Lines and Fishing Vessel Safety (IMO)
SLP Passenger Ship Safety Certificate
SLR Cargo Ship Safety Radio Telegraphy/Telephony Certificate
SMC Safety Management Certificate (IMO)
SMCP Standard Marine Communication Phrases (IMO)
SMS Safety Management System (ISM)
SMT Ship's Management Team
SNC Survey Not Complete
SOC Shipper Owned Container
SOF Statement of Facts
SOLAS Safety Of Life At Sea (International Convention) (IMO)
SOPEP Shipboard Oil Pollution Emergency Plan

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SOS Morse Code Distress Signal (…---…)
SOx Sulphur Oxide
SP Safe Port
SPM Single Point Mooring System
SRA Ship Repair Agreement
SRBL Signing and Releasing Bill of Lading
SS Special Survey
SS Steam Ship
SSA Special Periodical Survey of Automated Control System
SSHEX Saturdays, Sundays, Holidays Excluded
SSHINC Saturdays, Sundays, Holidays Included
SSIGS Special Periodical Survey of Inert Gas System
SSM Special Periodical Survey of Machinery
SSO Ship Security Officer
SSP Ship Security Plan
STBD Starboard
STCW Standards For Training Certification and Watchkeeping (IMO Convention)
STCW-F Standards For Training Certification and Watchkeeping Fishing Vessel Personnel (IMO
Convention)
STD Standard
STEM Subject To Enough Merchandise
STW Subcommittee on Standards of Training and Watchkeeping (IMO)
SUB Subject (To .....)
SUEZMAX A tanker of the maximum size capable of transit of the Suez Canal (approx. 150,000-
200,000 DWT)
SWAD Salt Water Arrival Draft
SWATH Small Waterplane Area Twin Hull
SWDD Salt Water Departure Draft
TBN To Be Nominated
T/C or TC Time Charter
TCV Total Calculated Volume
TDWT Tropical Deadweight
TEU Twenty Foot (Container) Equivalent
TF Tropical Fresh
TLO Total Loss Only
TLP Tension Leg Platform
TNK Tank
TO Tender Offer
TOCA Transfer Of Class Agreement (IACS)
TOT Total Loss
TOV Total Observed Volume
TPI Tons Per Inch (Immersion)
TPC Tons Per Centimeter (Immersion)
TRANS Transverse
TRIM & STAB Trim And Stability Booklet

Maritime Acronyms [Type here] 11

TW Twin Screw
TYP Type
UC Unanimous Consent
ULCC Ultra Large Crude Carrier (over 320,000 DWT)
UN United Nations
UNCITRAL United Nations Commission on International Trade Law
UNCLOS UN Law of the Sea Convention
UNCSD United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development
UNCTAD United Nations Commission on Trade and Development
UNHCR United Nations High Commission on Refugees
USCG United States Coast Guard
UT Universal Time
UU Unless Uses
UUTWCTAUTC Unless Used In Which Case Time Actually Used To Count
VAT Value Added Tax
VCF Volume Correction Factor
VCG Vertical Center of Gravity
VCV Vapor Control Valve
VIDS Vessel Identification System
VLBC Very Large Bulk Carrier (over 180,000 DWT)
VLCC Very Large Crude Carrier (between 160,000 - 320,000 DWT)
VLGC Very Large Gas Carrier
VLLNGC Very Large LNG Carrier
VMRS Vessel Movement Reporting System
VPD Vessel Pays Dues
VPQ Vessel Particulars Questionnaire
VRP Vessel Response Plan
VRS Vapor Recovery System
VSOA Vessel Safety and Operations Audit
VTS Vessel Traffic System
W Waived
WB Water Ballast
WBT Water Ballast Tank
WCCON Whether Customs Cleared Or Not
WCO World Customs Organization
WIBON Whether In Berth Or Not
WIFPON Whether In Free Pratique Or Not
WIPON Whether In Port Or Not
WLTHOHC Water Line-To-Hatch Coaming
WNA Winter North Atlantic
WOG Without Guarantee
WOG Without Guaranty
WP Weather Permitting
WRK Wrecked
WS Worldscale

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WTBS Water-Tube Boiler Survey
WTO World Trade Organization
WTR Water
WWD Weather Working Days
WWR When, Where Ready
XOL Excess Of Loss (Insurance)
YAR York Antwerp Rules
YGS Year of Grace Survey
YRS Years
Z Zulu (GMT/Universal Time)

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