Shipping acronyms:

(Courtesy of Mr. Kevin Stephens - Managing Director / Owner of Plimsoll Shipping Pty Ltd Brisbane)

AA AAAA AGW APS ASPW ATDNSHINC A/S BAF BBB BDI BENDS BI BIMCO BL BOB BROB B S S 1/1 BT

Always Afloat Always Afloat Always Accessible All Going Well Arrival Pilot Station Any Safe Port in the World Any Time Day/Night Sundays and Holidays INCluded AlongSide Bunker adjusting factor (freight) Before Breaking Bulk Both Dates Inclusive Both Ends ( Load and discharge ports) Both Inclusive. The Baltic and International Maritime Council BaLe Bunker On Board. Bunkers Remaining On Board. Basis 1 port to 1 port Berth Terms.

BWAD CAF CFT CFR CHOPT CIF CIP COA COACP COBLDN COGSA C/P (CP) CPT CPD CQD COD COP CR CROB CST CUFT (or CFT) D/A DAF DAP DBL SKIN

Brackish Water Arrival Draft. Currency adjusting factor (freight) Cubic FeeT. Cost and Freight CHarterer's OPTion Costs Insurance and Freight Carriage and Insurance paid to..... Contract Of Affreightment. Contract Of Affreightment Charter Party. Closing Of Business LoDoN. Carriage of Goods by Sea Act. CharterParty. Carriage Paid To Charterers Pay Dues Customary Quick Despatch Cash On Delivery Custom Of Port Current Rate Cargo Remaining Onboard. CentiSToke. CubicFeeT Disbursement Account Delivered At Frontier Days All Purposes (Total days for loading and disch.). DouBLe SKINned

DDP/(U) DEM DES DEQ DESP DHDATSBE DHDWTSBE DK DLOSP DO DOLSP DOP DOT EC EIU ETA ETC ETD ETS EXW FA FAC FAS FCA

Delivered Duty Paid (Unpaid) DEMurrage Delivered Ex Ship Delivered Ex Quay DESPatch Despatch Half Demurrage on All Time Saved Both Ends. Detpatch Half Demurrage on Working Time Saved Both Ends. DecK Dropping Last Outwards Sea Pilot (Norway). Diesel Oil. Dropping Off Last Sea Pilot ( Norway). Dropping Outward Pilot. Department Of Transport. East Coast Even If Used. Expected Time of Arrival. Expected Time of Completion. Expected Time of Departure. Expected Time of Sailing. EX Works Free Alongside Fast As Can. Free Alongside Ship Free Carrier

FDD F.DESP (FD) F.DIS FDEDANRSAOCLONL FHEX FHINC FIO FIOST FIOT FIT FIW FMC FMS FO FO (IFO) FOB FOG FOR FOQ FOT FOW FOW Free Exins FWAD

Freight Demurrage Deadfreight Free DESPatch. Free DIScharge. Freight Deemed Earned Discountless & NonRefundable Ship and Or Cargo Lost Or Not Lost Friday Holidays EXcluded. (Muslim Countries) Friday Holidays INCluded. (Muslim Countries) Free In and Out. Free In and Out Stowed and Trimmed. Free In and Out Trimmed. Free In Trimmed. Free in Wagon Federal Maritime Commission. FathoMS For Orders Fuel Oil/Intermediate FO. Free On Board For Our Guidance. Free On Rail Free On Quay Free On Truck First Open Water Free On Wharf (owners) FREE of any EXtra INSurance. Fresh water Arrival Draft.

FWDD FYG FYI GA GASBEND GD/GD GLESS GO GNS GR GMDSS GRD GTEE HA HDLTSBENDS HBF HDWTS HHDW HMS HO HW IMDG IU IMO IUHTAUTC

Fresh Water Departure Draft. For Your Guidance. For Your Information. General Average Good And Safe (Port) Both ENDs. GDynia/GDansk GearLESS Gas Oil. German North Sea GRain Global Maritime Distress Safety System GeaRed GuaranTEE. HAtch Half Despatch Lay Time Saved Both Ends Harmless Bulk Fertilizer. Half Demurrage Weather Time Saved Handy Heavy d.w. (scrap) Heavy Metal Scraps. HOld High Water International Maritime Dangerous Code. If Used International Maritime Organisation. If Used, Half Time ActUally To Count.

I.W.L. LAT LAYCAN LCR LOI LOW L.S. LSD L.T. LT (LTONS) LW MB MDO (DO) MIN/MAX MOLCHOP MOLOO MOT MOT MT (MTONS) NAABSA NCB n.E. n.N. NOR n.S

Institute Warranty Limits. LATitude LAYday CANcelling date. Lowest Current Rate Letter Of Indemnity. Last Open Water Lump Sum. Lashed Secured Dunnage. Liner Terms. Long TONS. Low Water Merchant Broker Marine Diesel Oil. Minimum/Maximum (cargo quantity). More Or Less CHarterers OPtion. More Or Less Owners (Masters) Option. Ministry Of Transport Monthly OverTime Metric Tonnes. Not Always Afloat But Safely Aground. National Cargo Bureau. not East of not North of Notice Of Readiness. not South of

n.W OO OSH OT PDPR PHPD PWWD RNR ROB ROC ROTLX RPM RYC RYTLX SSHEX or SATSHEX SSHINC or SATSHINC SB SELFD SF SHEX SHINC SID SOF SOM

not West of Owners Option Open Shelter Deck On Truck Per Day Pro-rated Per Hatch Per Day Per Weather Working day Rate Not Reported Remaining On Board. Reference Our Cable....(date). Reference Our TeLeX ...(date). Revs. Per Minute. Reference Your Cable...(date). Reference Your TeLeX...(date). SATurdays, Sundays, Holidays EXcluded. SATurdays, Sundays, Holidays INCluded. Safe Berth. SELFDischarger Superficial Feet Sundays, Holidays Excluded. Sundays, Holidays Included. Single Deck Statement Of Facts. Swedish Official Measure

SP S/R B/L SS and C ST STEM SWAD SWDD TC ( T/C) TCP TEU TIP TL TOP USC UU UUIWCTAUTC VPD WC WCCON WIBON WIFPON WIPON WLTOHC WOG

Safe Ports. Signing and Releasing Bill(s) of Lading. Same Sea and Country coast Short Tons. Subject To Enough Merchandise. Salt Water Arrival Draft. Salt Water Departure Draft. Time Charter. Time Charter Party. Standard 20' container Taking Inbound Cargo. Total Loss Taking Outbound Pilot. Unless Sooner Commenced. Unless Used. Unless Used In Which Case Time Actually Used To Count. Vessel Pay Dues West Coast Whether Custom Cleared Or Not. Whether In Berth Or Not. Whether In Free Praqtique Or Not. Whether In Port Or Not. (distance) WaterLine-TO-HatchCoaming. WithOut Guarantee.

Working Copy WP WRD WRIC WWD WWR WWWW YAR YC Z

(Copy of Charter Party - not being signed and may contain unchecked errors. Weather Permitting. Wide Range Destillate. Wire Rods in Coils. Weather Working Days. When, Where Ready. Wibon Wccon Wifpon Wipon. York Antwerp Rules Your Cable. UTC = GMT.

INTERNATIONAL TERMS OF PAYMENT

Method Usual Time of Payment Goods Available To Buyer Risk to Seller Risk to Buyer Comments

CASH IN ADVANCE

Before shipment

After payment

None

Seller's goods must be special in Complete one way or relies on seller another, or special to ship exactly circumstances the goods prevail over normal expected, as trade practices quoted and (example, goods ordered manufactured to buyer-only specification). Letters of Credit require total accuracy in conforming to terms, conditions, and documentation. Consult your United Shipping Associate member for determining feasibility of terms and conditions.

LETTER OF CREDIT (See next two items.)

Commercial Invoice must match the Letter of Credit exactly. Dates must be carefully headed "Stale" documents are unacceptable for collection.

Confirmed Irrevocable Credit

After shipment is After made, documents payment presented to the Bank.

Assures shipment is made but relies on exporter to Gives the seller ship goods as a double described in assurance of documents. payments Terms may be Depends on the negotiated terms of the prior to letter letter of credit. of credit agreement, alleviating buyer's degree of risk. Seller has single bank assurance of payment and seller remains dependent on foreign bank. Seller should Same as contact his above banker to determine whether or not the issuing bank has sufficient assets to cover the amount.

The inclusion of a second assurance of payment (usually a U.S. Bank) prevents surprises, adds assurance that issuing bank has been deemed acceptable by confirming bank. Adds cost and an additional requirement to seller.

Unconfirmed Same as Irrevocable above Credit

Same as above

Credit can be changed only by mutual agreement, as stipulated in a sales agreement. Becomes open account with buyer's bank as collection agent. Foreign bank may have problems making payment in sum or timeliness.

DRAFTS (See next two items.)

Remittance time from buyer's bank to seller's bank may still take one week to one month.

Drafts, by design, should contain terms and conditions mutually agreed upon.

A draft may be written with virtually any term or condition agreeable to both parties. When determining draft tenor (terms and conditions) consult with your banker and freight forwarder to determine the most desirable means of doing business in a given country. Assures shipment but not content, unless inspection or check-in is allowed before payment. A draft can be a collection instrument used to exchange possession and title to goods for payment. Seller is essentially drawing

If draft not honored, goods Sight Draft On After must be (with presentation payment to returned or documents of draft to buyer's resold. Storage, against buyer. bank. handling, return acceptance) freight expenses may

be incurred.

a check against the bank account of the buyer. Buyer's bank must have pre-approval, or seek approval of the buyer prior to honoring the check. Payable upon presentation of documents.

Time Drafts (with On maturity documents of the draft against acceptance)

Payable based upon the Assures acceptance of an shipment but obligation to pay not content, the seller at a Before Relies on buyer time of specified time. payment, to honor draft maturity allows Although a time after upon for draft has more acceptance presentation. adjustments, if collection leverage agreed to by than an invoice, it seller. remains only a promissory note, with conditions. All terms of payment, including extra charges and terms should be mutually understood and agreed upon prior to open account initiation. Companies conducting ongoing business are candidates for open account terms of payment. Seller must measure not only buyer's credit reliability but the country's as well.

OPEN ACCOUNT

As agreed, usually by invoice

Before payment

Relies completely on buyer to pay account as agreed

None

Terms Ranked from LEAST RISK to MOST RISK for the Seller

When establishing international terms of payment, please consult your banker and your WCA member to determine the method most beneficial to you.

INTERNATIONAL COST QUOTES

Seller/Manufacturer Product Cost - Product cost includes seller's overhead, financing of receivable, and profit. Ocean Freight Bank - Bank expense includes fees and commissions assessed by the bank for service including but not limited to assistance in collection, transfer of money, or acting as an escrow agent. EX-FACTORY
Packaging Cost FOB SELLER'S PLANT - FOB Seller's Plant means only freeon-board to the dock of the seller. Although this term has common usage, it is mostly meaningless to the buyer who must now oversee and pay for the entire aspect of shipment. Packaging Cost

Air Freight

Inland Freight and/or Cartage Cost

FOB PORT - FOB Port requires a geographic location, such as FOB Port, Miami, Florida. FOB Port means that the price includes product cost, packaging suitable for international Inland Freight transportation, and the cost of inland transportation from the and/or Cartage seller's dock to the port of location. The goods have not been Cost delivered to the pier but only to a trucker's terminal or staging warehouse in the port. FAS VESSEL - FAS Vessel means free alongside vessel and also requires a geographic location. Included in this term are product cost, cost of packaging for international shipment, inland freight from the seller's dock to the port, reconsignment charges by the inland carrier if bill of lading is not consigned to the ocean carrier, and the cost of cartage from the trucker's terminal to the pier. FOB VESSEL - FOB Vessel, or Free-on-board Vessel includes product cost, packaging cost, inland freight to the port, reconsignment charges, pier delivery, terminal charges by the ocean carrier and any loading changes. FOB Vessel will include freight forwarder's fees and consular fees if applicable.

Reconsignment and/or Pier Delivery Cost

Storage and/or Loading Cost

C&F PORT OF IMPORTATION - C&F stands for cost and Ocean Freight, freight and requires the geographic location of the port of Surcharge, Port importation, for example C&F Buenos Aires, Argentina. Cost Congestion Cost, refers to cost of goods, and freight refers to all other costs etc. relating to all the means of transportation of the goods. CIF PORT OF IMPORTATION - CIF stands for cost, insurance, and freight and as always requires the port of importation. Cost refers to cost of goods, insurance includes the premiums to insure the goods during transportation, and once again freight covers freight changes and all other charges incidental to the transportation of the goods. Freight quotes are often quoted high. The buyer, however, will pay only actual cost and should be made aware of the extra margin built into the quote. EX SHIP EX DOCK

Air Freight Cost

Insurance

Insurance

Unloading Cost Import Duty Cost

Import Duty Cost

Import Brokers Fees Cartage from Pier FOB BUYERS PLANT - FOB, Free-on-board, Buyer Plant Cost location means that all shipping expense, other than buyers bank charges, is controlled by seller and is included in the Inland Freight price. Often the buyer can control cost and efficiency from the Cost port of importation better than the seller, therefore lessening the use of FOB Buyer's Plant. Warehousing Cost

Import Broker Fees

Inland Freight Cost Warehousing Cost

Ocean Freight

Buyer's Bank Charges - Buyer's bank charges include payment to seller, fees, and commissions earned. Fees and commissions may be paid by either buyer or seller by mutual agreement. Banks will draft letters of credit and may totally structure payment of the transaction. An example is the use of Air Freight two separate drafts, one for product cost, and one for transportation expense. Buyer Total Product Cost

World Cargo Alliance is a network of independently-owned freight forwarders and custom brokers with one objective in mind: to provide a total transportation/logisitic solution to the importers and exporters around the world through an integrated network of hand-selected professionals. WCA can provide reduced transportation and insurance rates, a uniform level of professional service, and smooth and speedy movement of shipments including two or more cities of origin and destination.

Metric Information
The three basic metric units are the meter (length), the gram (weight), and the liter (volume). The key to metric prefixes are: 1000 = kilo.; 100 = hecto.; 10 = deca.; 0.1 = deci.; 0.01 = centi.; 0.001 milli.

Length
1 kilometer 1 meter 1 centimeter 1 mile 1 foot 1 inch =0.62137 mile =3.2808 feet =0.3937 inch =1.6093 kilometer =0.3048 meter =2.54 centimeters

Weight
1 kilogram 1 gram 1 short ton 1 pound 1 ounce =2.2046 lbs. =0.0353 ounce =907.1847 kilos =0.4536 kilos =28.3495 grams

Volume
1 hectoliter 1 liter 1 gallon (U.S.) 1 cubic inch = 100 liter = 100 centiliter = 3.7853 liters = 16.3871 cubic cm = 0.1 cubic meter = 1 cubic decimeter = 26.4172 gallons = 1.0567 quarts

Area
1 square kilometer 1 hectare 1 square meter 1 square mile 1 square foot = 1 million sq. meters = 10,000 square meters = 10.7639 square feet = 640 acres = 144 square inches = 0.3861 square miles = 2.471 acres = 1550.003 square inches = 258.9988 hectares = 929.0304 sq. centimeters

Symbol mm cm m m Length km in ft yd mi cm m km ha in

If You Know millimeters centimeters meters meters kilometers inches feet yard miles square centimeters square meters square kilometers

Multiply By 0.03937 0.3937 3.3 1.1 0.6 2.54 30.48 0.9 1.6 0.16 1.2 0.4 2.5 6.5

To Find inches inches feet yards miles centimeters centimeters meters kilometers square inches square yards square miles acres sq. centimeters in in ft yd mi cm cm m km in yd mi cm

Symbol

Area

ft yd mi

hectares (10,000 0.09 m2) 0.8 square inches 2.6 square feet square yard square miles grams kilograms tonnes (1,000 kq) ounces pounds milliliters liters liters liters cubic meters cubic meters teaspoons tablespoons fluid ounces cups pints quarts gallons cubic feet cubic yards 0.035 2.2046 1.1 28.3495 0.45 0.03 2.1 1.06 0.26 35.314 1.3 5 15 30 0.24 0.47 0.95 3.8 0.03 0.76

square meters square meters sq. kilomters

m m km

g kg Weight t oz lb ml l l l m m tsp Volume tbsp fl oz c pt qt gal ft yd

ounce pounds short tons grams kilograms fluid ounces pints quarts gallons cubic feet cubic yards millimeters millimeters millimeters liters liters liters liters cubic meters cubic meters

oz lb g kg fl oz pt qt gal ft yd ml ml ml l l l l m m

Checklist For Exporters

The following documents or information are required for exportation: "Ship to" party and complete address Prepaid or collect? Insured or not? If so, what amount? Is cargo considered hazardous material by authorities? Crating required? Commercial invoice with terms of sale Packing list with number of pieces, description, weight and dimensions Banking information and letter of credit if applicable Schedule B, if shipped before Company I.R.S. number or individual social security number

Export permits, if required

Checklist for Importers/Customs Brokers

Customs clearance will require the following documents or information: Company I.R.S. number or individual social security number Transaction is "related" or "non-related" Surety and code Surety bond, expiration date and amount Power of attorney Banking information Tariff classification and rate, if imported before Commercial invoice and transaction value Packing list Duty and/or freight deposits Import license or permit, if required