ACRONYMS

Following is a list of acronyms commonly used in the maritime and petroleum

industries.

A
A1 ABS Class of Vessel
A/F All Fast
AAAA Always Afloat, Always Accessible
AAPA American Association of Port Authority
AAS Annual Automation Control Survey
AASO Association of American Ship owners
ABC Activity-Based Costing
ABCU Automated Bridge Control System
For Unattended Engine Room
ABN Abandoned
ABS American Bureau of Shipping
AC Alternating Current
ACC Automatic Control System Certified
ACCU Automatic Control System Certified For
Unattended
Engine Room
ACFN American Committee for Flags of
Necessity
ACG Annual Cargo Gear Survey
ACP Alternative Compliance Program
ACS American Chemical Society
ACS Arab Classification Society
ADA Americans with Disabilities Act
ADEC Alaska Department of Environmental
Conservation
AFL-CIO American Federation of Labor and
Congress of Industrial Organizations
AFRA Average Freight Rate Assessment
AFRAMAX A tanker of such size as to take
commercial advantage under
World scale (generally, tankers 80,000-119,000
DWT)
AG Accessibility Guidelines
AG Algeria (Flag)
AG Arabian/Persian Gulf (Middle East)
AHS Annual Hull Survey
AI Artificial Intelligence
AID Agency for International Development
AIGSS Annual Inert Gas System Survey
AIM Accountable Item Management System
AIMS American Institute of Merchant Shipping
AIMU American Institute of Marine Underwriters
ALLI Annual Load Line Inspection
A.M.C. American Maritime Cases
AMS Annual Machinery Survey
AMVER Automated Mutual Assistance Vessel
Rescue System

AMWELSH 93 Americanized Welsh Coal Charter

(1993)
ANPRM Advanced Notice of Proposed
Rulemaking
ANSI American National Standards Institute
ANT Netherlands Antilles (Flag)
APA Administrative Procedure Act
APF Afloat Prepositioning Force
API American Petroleum Institute
APL American President Lines
ARA Antwerp, Rotterdam, Amsterdam (range)
ARCS Admiralty Raster Chart Service (U.K.
Hydrographic Office)
ARE United Arab Emirates (Flag)
ARMSAutomated Requisition Management
System
ARO Agreement on Rules of Origin (GATT 1994)
ARPA Advanced Research Projects Agency
ARPAS Automatic Radar Plotting Aid
ARS Annual Cargo Refrigeration System Survey
AS Annual Survey
ASBA Association of Shipbrokers and Agents
(U.S.A.) Inc.
ASEE American Society for Engineering
Education
ASF Asian Ship owners Forum
ASME Association of Mechanical Engineers
ASTM American Society for Testing and
Materials
AT Attached
ATC Affordability through Commonality (NAVSEA
Program)
ATONIS Aids to Navigation Information System
AUS Australia (Flag)
AUTODAM Automated Damage Control
AUX(AX) Auxiliary
AUX KW Auxiliary/ Generators Kilowatts (total)
AUXMIS Auxiliary Management Information
System
AXBS Auxiliary Boiler Survey
AXFTBS Auxiliary Eire-Tube Boiler Survey
AXWHBS Auxiliary/ Waste Heat Boiler Survey
AXWTBS Auxiliary Water-Tube Boiler Survey
AZE Azerbaijan (Flag)

B
B/L (blading) Bill of Lading
B/n booking note

bbb before breaking bulk (i.e. before discharge

of cargo commences)
BBLS Barrels
BCM Bow to Center Manifold
BECU Billion ECU
BEL Belgium (Flag)
BFI Baltic Freight Index
BH Belize (Flag)
BHD Bulkhead
BHS Bahamas (Flag)
BIA Best Information Available
BIIBA British Insurance and Investment Brokers
Association
BIMCO Baltic and International Maritime Council
BISD Basic Instruments and Selected
Documents (GATT)
BK Book
BKI Biro Klasifikasi Indonesia (Indonesian Class
Society)
BKN Broken Up
BL Bulgarian Lloyd (Class Society)
BLG Subcommittee on Bulk Liquids and Gases
(IMO)
BLK Bulk
BLKCAR (B/C) Bulk Carrier
BLR Boiler
BLRHS Boiler Heating Surface (Combined)
BM Boom
BM Mayanmar (Burma) (Flag)
BMLABritish Maritime Law Association
BMP Best Manufacturing Practices (U.S. Navy
Program)
BMU Bermuda (Flag)
BNM Broadcast Notice to Mariners
BR Brazil (Flag)
BR Brazilian Class Society
BRG Bearing
BRM Bridge Resources Management
BRN Burned
BS Boiler Survey
B.S.&.W. Sediment and Water (see S&W)
BT Bow Thruster
BTM Bottom
BTU British Thermal Unit 0.252 kcal
BV Bureau Veritas (French Class Society)
BWT (Vessel) To Be Used AsBreakwater

C
C Center (CNTR)
C&F Cost, Insurance & Freight
c/p (CP) charterparty
C/V Consecutive Voyage
CA Center Aft
CA Controlled Atmosphere

CAC Regional Citizens Advisory Council

CAD Computer Assisted Design
CAM Computer Assisted Manufacture
CAP Condition Assessment Program
CAPESIZE Bulk Carrier 100,000-180,000 DWT
CAS Condition Assessment Survey
CAS Continuous Automatic Control System
Survey
CASP Computer Assisted Search Planning
System
CAXBS Composite Auxiliary Boiler Survey
CBS Cyprus Bureau of Shipping (Class Society)
C.B.T./CBT Clean Ballast Tanks
cbm./cu.m. cubic meters
CCC Clean Caribbean Cooperative
CCC Commodity Credit Corp.
ccc Customs Co-Operation Council
CCF Capital Construction Fund (U.S.)
CCS or CS China Class Society (Formerly ZC)
CDS Construction-Differential Subsidy (46 USC
Title V)
CE-CAD Civil Engineering CAD
CEC Commission of the European Communities
CEDS Civil Engineering Data System
CENSA Council of European & Japanese
National Shipowners Associations
CERCLA Comprehensive Environmental
Response Compensation and
Liability Act ("Superfund")
CERT Certificate
c.ft./cuft cubic feet
CF Center Forward
CFE/TLE Conventional Forces in Europe Treaty
Implementation
CFR Code of Federal Regulations (U.S.)
CFTBS Cylindrical Fire-Tube Boiler Survey
CGDDMS CG Digital Data Management System
CH China (Flag)
CHCP Cargo Handling Cooperative Program
CHS Continuous Survey of Hull
CIF (c.i.f.) Cost Insurance and Freight (See
IOPC)
CIP Carriage and Insurance Paid To
CIRC Circulating
CIRM International Radio-Maritime Committee
CIRRS Commercial Interest Reference Rates
CIT U.S. Court of International Trade
CL Continuous Liner
CLC Civil Liability Convention (And 1992
Protocols)
CLPR Czech Register of Shipping (Class
Society)
CMA Companie d'Affretement
CME Assessment Model for Coastal and Marine
Environments

CMF Composite Meter Factor

CMI Committee Maritime International (Maritime
Law Association)
CMS Continuous Survey of Machinery
CNG Compressed Natural Gas
CO Cargo Oil
COA Contract Of Affreightment
COB Container/Oil/Bulk Carrier
COBRA Consolidated Omnibus Budget
Reconciliation Act of 1985
COE U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
COFR Certificate of Financial Responsibility
(OPA 90)
COGSA Carriage of Goods by Sea Act(s)
COI Certificate of Inspection (Coast Guard)
COI Certificate of Insurance
COL Column
COLREGS Collision Regulations (IMO)
COMB Combination
COMM Commenced
COMP Compound
CONS Construction (CONSTR)
CONT Continued
CONVER Conversion
COR Certificate of Registry
(U.S. Coast Guard)
COR Correction
CORE National Contingency Response
COSCO China Ocean Shipping Co.
COTP Captain Of The Port
COW Crude Oil Washing
CPT Carriage Paid To
CPY Cargo Preference Year
CR China Corporation Register of Shipping
(Taiwan Class Society)
CRF Construction Reserve Fund
CRISTAL Contract Regarding an Interim
Supplement to Tanker Liability
CRS Croatian Register of Shipping (Class
Society)
CRS Continuous Refrigeration Survey
CSA Caribbean Shipping Association
CSM Closed System Measurement
CT Cargo Tank
CTAC Chemical Transportation Advisory
Committee
CTC Cargo Tank, Center
CTL Constructive Total Loss
CTW Cargo Tank, Wing
CTX Cargo Tank, Common
CV Cape Verde Islands (Flag)
CVM Contingent Valuation Method
CWA Clean Water Act
CWA Cooperative Working Agreements
CWTBS Cylindrical Water-Tube Boiler Survey

CY Calendar Year
CY Cyprus (Flag)
CYCLD Cycloidal Propeller
CYL Cylinder

D
D&O Directors And Officers (Insurance Policy)
DA Double-Acting
DAF Delivered At Frontier Cargo
DAM Damage
DB Double-Bottom
DBH Destroyed By Hurricane
DBS Destroyed By Storm
DC Direct Current
DD Dry-Docking
DDP Delivered Duty Paid
DDU Delivered Duty Unpaid
DE Subcommittee on Ship Design and
Equipment (IMO)
DEM Demolished
DEN (See HSE)
DEQ Delivered Ex Quay (Duty Paid)
DES Delivered Ex Ship
DEU Germany (Flag)
DF Direction-Finder
DGPS Differential Global Positioning System
DIES Diesel
DIR Direct
DIS Danish International Ship Register
DLA Defense Logistics Agency
DNK Denmark (Flag)
DNV Det Norske Veritas (Norwegian Class
Society)
DO Diesel Oil
DOC Document Of Compliance (Part of ISM
Code)
DOD Department Of Defense
DOE Department Of Energy
DOI Department Of the Interior
DOT Department Of Transportation
d.p.p. dirty petroleum products
DR Dead Reckoning
DR Double Reduction
DRLL Drill
DSB Dispute Settlement Body
DSC Subcommittee on the Carriage of
Dangerous Goods, Solid
Cargoes, and Containers (IMO)
DSU Dispute Settlement Understanding
DTS Defense Transportation System
DUN Disposition Unknown
DW Distilled Water
DW Drill Water
DWCTDeadweight Cargo Tons, or the weight of

to be transported under a charter party

DWT Deadweight Tons

E
E&P Exploration And Production
EA Environmental Assessment
EAA Export Administration Act
EATA Europe Asia Trades Agreement
(Conference)
EC European Community
ECC Environmental Coordinating Committee
ECDIS Electronic Chart Display and Information
Systems
ECJ European Court of Justice
ECSA European Community Shipowners
Associations
ECU European Currency Unit
EDI Electronic Data Interchange
EEE "European-Economic-Ecological" Tanker
Design
EEZ Exclusive Economic Zone
ELEC Electric
EMER Emergency
EMSIS Emergency Shipping Information System
EMT Emergency Medical Technicians
EMU Economic and Monetary Union
ENC Electronic Navigation Chart
ENG Engine
EPA Environmental Protection Agency
EQS Environmental Quality Standard
EQUIP Equipment
EQUIV Equivalent
ER Engine Room
ESFRS Electronic Supply Fund Reporting
System
ESP Spain (Flag)
ESP Enhanced Survey Program
EST Estonia (Flag)
ETA Estimated Time of Arrival
ETD Estimated Time of Departure
EU European Union
EURO European Vessel
EUROS European Community Ship Register
EUSC Effective United States Control Vessels
EXIMBANK Export-Import Bank
EXP Expires
EXT Extension

F
F/V Fishing Vessel

FACS Federation of American Controlled

Shipping
FAR Federal Acquisition Regulations
FAS Free Alongside Ship
FASA Federal Acquisition Streamlining Act of
1994
FASA Federation of ASIAN Shipowners
Association
FC Facilitation Committee (IMO)
FCA Free Carrier
FCIS Finance Center Imaging System
FD Free Discharge
FD&D Freight, Demurrage, And Defense
FEA Finite Element Analysis
FEM Finite Element Method
FEMSS Facility Engineering Management
Support System
FEPORT Federation of European Private
Terminal Operator
FEU Forty-Foot Equivalent Unit.
FIATA Federation of Freight Forwarders
Associations
FIN Finland (Flag)
FIO Free In and Out
FLO/FLO Float On / Float Off
FMC Federal Maritime Commission
FMF Foreign Military Financing
FMIS Facility Management Information System
FN Fidenavis S.A. (Spanish Class Society)
FND Foundered
FO Fuel Oil
FOB Free On Board
FOM Flag/Ownership/Management
FON Freedom Of Navigation
FONASBA Federation Of National Associations
of Shipbrokers & Agents
FONSI Finding Of No Significant Impact
(Environmental Assessment)
FOS Full Operational Status
FOSC Federal On-Scene Coordinator
f.o.w. first open water
FP Subcommittee on Fire Protection (IMO)
f.p.a. free of particular average
FPS Floating Production System
FPSO Floating Production Storage Offloading
Facility
FPSO Floating Production Storage and
Offloading
FR Federal Register (U.S.)
FR Frame (FRM)
FRA France (Flag)
FRN Foreign Vessel
FRP Facility Response Plan
FSH Fishing Vessel
FSI Subcommittee on Flag State Implementation

FTBS Fire-Tube Boiler Survey

FUND Ship Financing Revolving Fund
FV First Visit
FW Free Water
FW Fresh Water
FWD Forward
FWE Finished With Engines
FWPCA Federal Water Pollution Control Act
FY Fiscal Year

G
G7 Group of Seven Nations (United States,
Canada, Japan, Britain, France, Germany, and
Italy)
G.A./GA General Average
GAA General Agency Agreement
GATS General Agreement on Trade in Services
GATT General Agreement On Tariffs and Trade
1994
GBR United Kingdom (Flag)
GCBS General Council of British Shipping
GEN General Cargo
GFP Government-Furnished Property
GIFA Governing International Fisheries
Agreements
GIS Geographic Information System
GIS German International Ship Register
GL Germanischer Lloyd (German Class Society)
GMDSS Global Maritime Distress and Safety
System (IMO)
G-MSC Maritime Safety Center (U.S. Coast
Guard)
GMT Greenwich Mean Time (Now "Universal
Time")
GNSS Global Navigational Satellite System
GOM Gulf Of Mexico
GOV Gross Observed Volume
GPA GATT Procurement Agreement
GPG General Policy Group (IACS)
GPS Global Positioning System
GRC Greece (Flag)
GRN Grounded
GRS Gears
GRT Gross Registered Tonnage
GSV Gross Standard Volume
GT Gross Tons

H
HANDYMAX Bulk Carrier 35,000-50,000 DWT

HANDYSIZE Bulk Carrier 10,000-35,000 DWT

HAZMAT Hazardous Materials
HAZMAT NOAA's Hazardous Materials
Response and Assessment Division
HBL Hydrostatically Balanced Loading
HC Hydraulic Coupling
HCPV High Capacity Passenger Vessel
HE Human Element
HF High Frequency
HFO Heavy Fuel Oil
HMT Harbor Maintenance Tax
HNS Hazardous and Noxious Substances
HO Heavy Oil
HO Honduras (Flag)
HO Hydrographic Office (UK)
HOR Horizontal
HP Horsepower or High-Pressure
HPTB High Pressure Turbine
HR Hellenic Register (Greek Class Society)
HS Harmonized Commodity Description and
Coding System
HSC High Speed Craft Code (IMO)
HSE Health, Safety and Environmental Group
(U.K.)
HSE Health & Safety Executive (UK)
HTS Harmonized Tariff Schedule
HTSUS Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United
States
HVR Hague-Visby Rules
HW Heavy Weather
HW High Water
HYPOT High Potential Test for Electric
Equipment

I
IACS International Association of Classification
Societies
IALA International Association of Lighthouse
Authorities
IAPH International Association of Ports and
Harbors
IAW In Accordance With
IBC International Code for Vessels Carrying
Chemicals in Bulk (IMO)
ICC International Chamber of Commerce
ICCL International Council of Cruise Lines
ICJ International Court of Justice
ICS International Chamber of Shipping
ID Owner Identification Number
IEC Electrotechnical Commission
IEEE Institute of Electrical and Electronics
Engineers
IEU Independent Economic Unit (Employed
Person)

IFR Interim Final Rule

IG Inert Gas
IGC Intergovernmental Conference (EU)
IGC International Code for Vessels Carrying
Liquefied Gases (IMO)
IGS Inert Gas System
IHB International Hydrographic Bureau
IHO International Hydrographic Organization
ILA International Longshoremens Association
ILO International Labor Organization
ILU Institute of London Underwriters
ILWA International Longshoremens and
Warehousemens Union
IMB International Maritime Bureau
IMF International Monetary Fund
IMHO In My Humble Opinion
IMIF International Maritime Industries Forum
IMLI International Maritime Law Institute (IMO)
IMO International Maritime Organization (UN)
IMPA International Maritime Pilots Association
IN India (Flag)
INBD Inboard
INJCT Injection
INMARSAT International Maritime Convention on
Communication by Satellite
INT Intermediate Survey or Interval
INTERCARGO International Association of Dry
Cargo Shipowners
INTERTANKO International Association of
Independent Tanker Owners
IOPC International Oil Pollution Compensation
Fund (See CLC)
IP Institute of Petroleum
IRIS Incident Reporting Information System
IRL Republic of Ireland (Flag)
IRM Information Resources Management
IRN Iran (Flag)
IRQS Indian Register Quality Systems
IRS Indian Register of Shipping (Class Society)
IS Intact Stability Code (IMO)
ISF International Shipping Federation
ISGOTT International Safety Guide for Oil
Tankers and Terminals
ISM International Safety Management Code (ISM
Code)International Management Code for the
Safe Operation of Ships and for Pollution
Prevention.
ISMA International Ship Managers Association
ISO International Standards Organization
ISOA International Support Vessel Owners
Association
ISR Israel (Flag)
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
ITC International Trade Commission
ITF International Transport Workers Federation
ITGBLInternational Through Government Bill Of
Lading
ITOPF International Tanker Owners Pollution
Federation
ITW Independent Tank, Wing
ITX Independent Tank, Common
IUMI International Union of Marine Insurance

J
JETRO Japan External Trade Organization
JIP Joint Industry Project
JMIE Joint Maritime Information System
JPN Japan (Flag)
JU Jack-Up (MODU)
JV Joint Venture

K
KOR South Korea (Flag)
KR Korean Register of Shipping (Class Society)
KTM Keel To Mast
KW Kilowatt

L
L/C Letter Of Credit
LAMP Large Amlitude Motions and Loads
LAN Local Area Network
LAT Latitude
LAWS Legal Automated Workstation System
LBP Length Between Perpendiculars
LBR Liberian (Flag)
LC Landing Craft
LCAC Landing Craft Air Cushion
LCI Landing Craft Infantry
LCL Less than Container Load
LCV Landing Craft Vehicle
LDGINST Loading Instrument
LDGMANUAL Loading Manual
LDRS Legal Document Research System
LDT Light Displacement Ton
LEIS Law Enforcement Information System
LEV Level (LEVL)
LG/NECDR Logistics Naval Engineering CDROM
LGC Liquefied Gas Carrier

LHD Amphibious Assault Ship (Multipurpose)

LHG Liquefied Hazardous Gas
LHWCA Longshore and Harbor Workers
Compensation Act
LIBOR London Interbank Offered Rate
LIQD Liquid
LIQDLEVL Liquid Level
LIST London Institute of Shipping and Transport
LL Loadline (International Convention On Load
Lines)
LLP Lloyd's of London Press
LNG Liquefied Natural Gas
LO Lubricating Oil
LO/LO Lift On/Lift Off
LOA Length Overall
LOC Location
LOF (95) Lloyds Open Form (of Salvage
Agreement) (1995)
LOIS LORAN-C Operations Information System
LONG Longitude
LONG Longitudinal
LOT Load On Top
LOTS Logistics Over The Shore
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
LSC Liberian Shipping Council
LSI Life-Saving Index (Coast Guard)
LST Landing Ship Tank
LTM Long Ton/Miles
LU Laid-Up
LUFS Large Unit Financial System
LUST Leaking, Underground
LV Last Visit
LVA Latvia (Flag)
LW Lower

M
M(MN) Main
M&R Maintenance And Repair
M/F Made Fast
M/V Motor Vessel (Diesel)
MANTECH Manufacturing Technology Program
MAP Military Assistance Program
MARAD Maritime Administration (U.S.)
MARBS Marine Assistance Request Broadcasts
MARDEZ Maritime Defense Zones

MARIENV International Conference on

Technologies for Marine
Environment Preservation
MARITECH Maritime Systems Technology
Program (U.S.)
MARPOL Marine Pollution Prevention
(International Convention)
MARS Nautical Institute Marine Accident
Reporting System
MAS Mandatory Annual Survey (SOLAS,
MARPOL)
MAT Materials
MAYDAY Distress Signal (Spoken Word)
MB Main Bearing
MCDSModular Cargo Delivery System
MCHYMachinery
MCRCMarine Casualty Response Center
(ABS Marine Services)
MCT Marine Custody Transfer
MCTM Marine Custody Transfer Measurement
MDO Marine Diesel Oil
ME Main Engine
MEHRA Marine Environmentally High Risk Areas
MEP Marine Environmental Protection
MEPC Marine Environmental Protection
Committee (IMO)
MERCOSUR South American Common Market
MERPAC Merchant Marine Personnel Advisory
Committee
MF Meter Factor
MFCMA Magnuson Fishery Conservation and
Management Act
MFN Most Favored Nation
MIS Missing
MISC Malaysian International Shipping
Corporation
MISC Miscellaneous
MIT Massachusetts Institute of Technology
MLM International Convention On Maritime Liens
and Mortgages, 1993
MMD Merchant Marines Document (USCG)
MMLDMerchant Marine Licensing & Document
System
MMPA Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972
MMS Minerals Management Service (U.S.)
MO Month
MOC Memorandum Of Consultation
MODU Mobile Offshore Drilling Unit
molco more or less, Charterers option
moloo more or less, Owners option
MOPU Mobile Offshore Production Unit
MOT Motor
MOU Memorandum of Understanding Services
(See GATS)
MPA Marine Protection Area

MPG Miles Per Gallon

MPMS Manual of Petroleum Measurement
Standards (API)
MRR Maritime Regulatory Reform
MRS Mobility Requirements Study
MS Marshall Islands (Flag)
MSB Maritime Subsidy Board
MSC Marine Safety Committee (IMO)
MSC Maritime Safety Committee
MSC Military Sealift Command
MSIS Marine Safety Information System
MSNAP Merchant Ship Naval Augmentation
Program
MSO Marine Safety Office
MSRCMarine Spill Response Corporation
MSS Mobile Satellite Services
MT Malta (Flag)
MT Meters
MTMCMilitary Transportation Management
Command
MX Mexico (Flag)

N
N New
N/B New Building
NA Not Applicable
NA&ME Naval Architecture and Marine
Engineering
naabsa not always afloat but safe aground
NAFO Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organization
NAFTA North American Free Trade Agreement
NATO North Atlantic Treaty Organization
NAV Naval Vessel
NAV Subcommittee on Safety of Navigation
(IMO)
NAVIC Navigation and Inspection Circular (U.S.
Coast Guard)
NAVSEA Naval Sea System Command
NBS National Bureau of Standards (see NIST
renamed in 1989)
NBSAC National Boating Safety Advisory
Council
NC Non-Continuous Liner on Tailshaft
NC Numerically Controlled
NCB National Cargo Bureau
NCP National Oil and Hazardous Substances
Pollution Contingency Plan
NDRF National Defense Reserve Fleet
NEC National Economic Council
NECAD Naval Engineering CAD
NGMTS Negotiating Group on Maritime
Transport
NGO Non-Governmental Organization
NIC Newly Industrialized Country

NIMIS NPFC Integrated Management System

NIS Newly Independent States
NIS Norwegian International Ship Register
NIST National Institute of Standards and
Technology (formerly NBS)
NK Nippon Kaiji Kyokai (Japanese Class
Society)
NL No Liner On Tailshaft
NLD Netherlands (Flag)
NLRB National Labor Relations Board
NM Nautical Mile
NMD Norwegian Maritime Directorate
NMEI National Maritime Enhancement Institute
NMFS National Marine Fisheries Service
NMREC National Maritime Resource Center
NO Number
NOAA National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration, Department of
Commerce
NONCOND Non-Condensing
NOR Norway (Flag)
NOR/N.O.R. Notice Of Readiness
NOS National Ocean Service (Part of NOAA)
NOTMAR Notice To Mariners
NPDES National Pollutant Discharge Elimination
System
NPFC National Pollution Funds Center
NPRMNotice of Proposed Rulemaking
NPV Net Present Value
NR Not Required
NRC National Research Council
NRC National Response Center
NRDA Natural Resource Damage Assessment
(OPA 90)
NRT Net Registered Tonnage
NSCSA National Shipping Company of Saudi
Arabia
NSF National Science Foundation
NSFCC National Strike Force Coordinator
NSI National Shipbuilding Initiative
NSR Northern Sea Route (Northeast Passage Japan/European
Continent)
NSRP National Shipbuilding Research Program
NSV Net Standard Volume
NSW Net Standard Weight
NT Net Tons
NTIS National Technical Information Service
NTSB National Transportation Safety Board
(U.S.)
NTU Non-Transportation Use
NVIC Navigation and Vessel Inspection Circular
(USCG)
NVOCC Non-Vessel Operating Common Carrier

NYPE New York Produce Exchange (Time

Charter Party)
NYSA New York Shipping Association

O
OB Oil-Lubricated Stern Bearing
OBO Ore/Bulk/Oil
OBQ On-Board Quantity (before loading)
OC Oil-Lubricated Stern Bearing, Continuous
Liner on Tail shaft
OCIMF Oil Companies International Marine
Forum
OCMI Officer in Charge of Marine Inspection
(USCG)
OCS Outer Continental Shelf
ODP Ocean Drilling Program
ODS Operating Differential Subsidy
ODSA Operating Differential Subsidy Agreement
OECD Organization for Economic Cooperation
and Development
OFAC Office of Foreign Assets Control
OMBO One Man Bridge Operation
ONR Office of Naval Research
ONS Offshore Northern Seas Conference
OPA 90 Oil Pollution Act of 1990 (U.S.)
OPBO One Person Bridge Operation
OPDS Offshore Petroleum Discharge System
OPEC Organization of Petroleum Exporting
Countries
ORO Ore/Oil Carrier
OSHA Occupational Safety and Health
Administration
OSR Outstanding Recommendation Against
Class
OSRO Oil Spill Removal Organization
OSV Offshore Supply Vessel
OT Oil Tight
OTBD Outboard
OTC Offshore Technology Conference
OTC Over the Counter
OUPV Operator of Uninspected Passenger
Vessels

P
P Port
P&I Protection And Indemnity (Insurance Clubs)
P/V Pressure Vacuum (Valve)
PA Port Aft
PAJ Petroleum Association of Japan
PAK Pakistan (Flag)
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)
PASS Passenger
PBOS Planning Board for Ocean Shipping
PCC Pure Car Carrier
PCD Pacific Coast District
PCTC Pure Car Truck Carrier
PDDS Personnel Data Decision System
PE Peru (Flag)
PET Portable Electronic Thermometer
PF Port Forward
PFD Personal Flotation Device
PFDMA PFD Manufacturers Association
PG See AG
PGE Permanent Group of Experts (In Agreement
on Subsidies and Countervailing Measures)
PHL Philippines (Flag)
PI Port Inboard
PIC Person In Charge
PIMA Petroleum Industries Marine Association
(of Japan)
PIOPIC P and I Oil Pollution Indemnity Clause
PIST Piston
PL Public Law
PLS Position Location Systems
PLTG Plating
PMA Pacific Maritime Association
PMU Portable Measurement Unit
PN Panama (Flag)
POL Poland (Flag)
POSH Port Out Starboard Home
PP Port Prefix (For Survey Report Number)
PPA Personal Property Accounting System
PPM Parts Per Million
PR (See PRS)
PRC Peoples Republic of China
PREP National Preparedness for Response
Exercise Program
PRES Pressure
PROP Propeller
PROV Provisional
PRP Potentially Responsible Party
PRS Polish Register (Class Society)
PS Password for On-Line Access
PSC Port State Control
PSI Port State Initiative (U.S. Coast Guard)
PSI Pounds Per Square Inch
PSIX Port State Information Exchange
PSU Portable Sampling Unit
PTSA Port and Tanker Safety Act
PUF Passenger User Fee
PVA Passenger Vessel Association
PVO Passenger Vessel Operator
PWS Prince William Sound
PWSA Ports and Waterways Safety Act

QAT Qatar (Flag)

QCG Quadrennial Cargo Gear Survey
QD Quadruple Screw
QI Qualified Individual (OPA 90)
QMED Qualified Members of Engine Department
QN Quintuple Screw
QSCS Quality System Certification System

S - STBD Starboard
S&W Sediment & Water
SA Shipyard Agreement
SA Starboard Aft
SAFCON Safety Construction Certificates
SAIL System to Automate and Integrate Logistics
SAR Search and Rescue
SAR Subcommittee on Radio Communication
and Search and Rescue
(IMO)
SARMIS SAR Management Information System
SARSIM SAR Simulation Model
SAS Annual Special Survey of Hull
SAU Saudi Arabia (Flag)
SBD System-Based Design
SBM Single Buoy Mooring
SBT Segregated Ballast Tanks
SCA Suez Canal Authority
SCAMP Shipboard Computer-Aided
Maintenance Program
SCM Subsidies and Countervailing Measures
SCRS Croatian Register of Shipping (Class
Society)
SCVNG Scavenging
SDR Special Drawing Rights
SDWT Summer Deadweight
SEBS Single-Ended Boiler Survey
SEMI Semi-Submersible (MODU)
SERV Service
SF Starboard Forward
SH Superheater
SHC Shipping Coordination Committee
SHEX Sundays and Holidays Excluded
SHINC Sundays and Holidays Included
SI Starboard Inboard
SI International System of Units
SIS Special Intermediate Survey
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)
SML Small
SMS Safety Management System (ISM)
SNAME Society of Naval Architects and Marine
Engineers
SNC Survey Not Complete
SNK Sunk

R
R Reconditioned
R&D Research And Development
RAP Remedial Action Projects
RB Rubber Stern Bearing
RBS Recreational Boating Safety
RC Rubber Stern Bearing, Continuous Liner on
Tail shaft
RCRA Resource Conservation and Recovery Act
RDF Radio Direction Finder
RE Regulatory Evaluation
REEFER Refrigerated Cargo Ship or Container
REF Refrigeration
REP Reporting System
REV Reversing
REVRPT Revised Report
RFG Reformulated Gasoline (Clean Air Act)
RI (See Rina)
RINA Registro Italiano Navale (Italian Class
Society)
RINA Royal Institute of Naval Architects
RM Room
RN Rubber Stern Bearing, Non-Continuous Liner
on Tailshaft
RNR Rumanian Register (Class Society)
RO Rumania (Flag)
ROB Remaining On-Board (after discharge)
RORO Roll On/Roll Off
ROS Reduced Operational Status
RP Rinave Portuguesa (Portuguese Class
Society)
RPR Repairs
RPT Report
RR (See RNR)
RRF Ready Reserve Force
RRS Russian Register of Shipping (Class
Society)
RS Russia (Flag)
RS Russian Maritime Register of Shipping
RSPA Research and Special Programs
Administration
RVP Reid Vapor Pressure

SNPRM Supplemental Notice of Proposed

Rulemaking
SNUBA Surface Nexus Underwater Breathing
Apparatus
SOC Society
SOLAS Safety of Life at Sea (International
Convention)
SOPEP Shipboard Oil Pollution Emergency Plan
SOS Morse code Distress Signal (---)
SP MAT Special Material
SPC Self-Polishing Copolymer (Anti-Fouling
Compound)
SPM Agreement on Sanitary and Phytosanitary
Measures
SPM Single Point Mooring System
SPR Strategic Petroleum Reserve
SRA Ship Repair Agreement
SS Special Survey
SS Steam Ship
SSA Special Periodical Survey of Automated
Control System
SSC Ship Structure Committee
SSG Special Safeguard (In Agreement on
Agriculture)
SSH Special Periodical Survey of Hull
SSIGS Special Periodical Survey of Inert Gas
System
SSM Special Periodical Survey of Machinery
SSTDP Sealift Ship Technology Development
Program
ST Special Treatment
STAA Surface Transportation Assistance Act
STAB Stability
STARS Ship Tracking and Retrieval System
STCW International Convention on Standards of
Training, Certification,
And Watch keeping for Seafarers, 1978
STL Scuttled
STO Now used as a Storage Tanker
STW Subcommittee on Standards of Training
and Watch keeping
(IMO)
SUEZMAX A tanker of the maximum size
capable of transit of the Suez Canal
(Approx. 150,000-200,000 DWT)
SUPER See CERCLA
SV Single Visit
SVY Survey
SWATH Small Waterplane Area Twin Hull
SWE Sweden (Flag)
SYST System

T
T/B Integrated Tug/Barge

T/C Time Charter

T/V Tanker Vessel
T-ACS Auxiliary Crane Ship
TAG Technical Advisory Group
TALFF Total Allowable Level of Foreign Fishing
TAPS Trans Alaska Pipeline Service
TAX Storage Tanks Tax
TBN to Be Nominated
TBS to Be Scrapped
TBS Tube shaft
TBT Technical Barriers to Trade
TCV Total Calculated Volume
TEA Targeted Export Assistance
TEU Twenty Foot Equivalent Unit
TF Tropical Fresh
TL Turkish Lloyd's (Class Society)
TLP Tension Leg Platform
TNK Tank
TO Tender
TOCA Transfer of Class Agreement (IACS)
TOT Total Loss
TOV Total Observed Volume
TOVALOP Tanker Owners Voluntary Agreement
concerning Liability for Oil
Pollution (now defunct)
TPI Tons per Inch (immersion)
TPRB Trade Policy Review Body
TPRM Trade Policy Review Mechanism
TR Triple Screw
TRANS Transverse
TRB Transportation Research Board
TRIM & STAB Trim and Stability Booklet
TRIMS Trade-Related Investment Measures
TRIPS Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual
Property Rights
TRP Technology Reinvestment Project (ARPA)
TSAC Towing Safety Advisory Committee
TU Turkey (Flag)
TW Twin Screw
TWEA Trading With the Enemy Act
TWN Taiwan (Flag)
TYP Type

U
UC Unanimous Consent
UK P&I United Kingdom Mutual
UKAPTO United Kingdom Association of Private
Terminal Operators
UKR Ukraine (Flag)
UL Underwriters Laboratories
ULCC Ultra Large Crude Carrier (over 320,000
DWT)
ULMS Unit Logistics Management System
UMIB Urgent Marine Information Broadcast

UMIS Reserve Unit Management Information

System
UN United Nations
UPR Unearned Passenger Revenue
UR Ukrainian Register
UR Uruguay Round
USAID United States Agency for International
Development
USC United States Code
USCG United States Coast Guard
USD United States Dollar
USDA United States Department of Agriculture
USEPA United States Environmental Protection
Agency
USG United States Code of Federal Regulations
USTR United States Trade Representative

V
VAT Value Added Tax
VC St. Vincent & the Grenadines (Flag)
VCF Volume Correction Factor
VEF Vessel Experience Factor
VGB Virgin Islands, British
VIDS Vessel Identification System
VIRES Vietnam Register
VLBC Very Large Bulk Carrier (over 180,000
DWT)
VLCC Very Large Crude Carrier (between
160,000 - 320,000 DWT)
VNM Vietnam (Flag)
VNTSC Volpe National Transportation Systems
Center
VOSS Vessel of Opportunity Skimming System
VPQ Vessel Particulars Questionnaire
VRP Vessel Response Plan
VRS Vapor Recovery System
VS Visit
VSOA Vessel Safety and Operations Audit
VTS Vessel Traffic System
VUT Vanuatu (Flag)

W
W Waived
W/M Weight or Measurement
WAN Wide Area Network
WB Water Ballast
WCO World Customs Organization (Ex Customs
Cooperation Council)
WEMT West European Confederation of
Maritime Technology Societies
WHBS Waste Heat Boiler Survey

WHFTBS Waste Heat Fire-Tube Boiler Survey

WHOI Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution
WHWTBS Waste Heat Water-Tube Boiler Survey
WISTA Women's International Shipping and
Trading Association
WMO World Meteorological Organization
WMU World Maritime University (Malmo,
Sweden)
WNA Winter North Atlantic
WOG Without Guaranty
WP Working Paper
WP/E Working Party on Electricity (IACS)
WP/FPS Working Party on Fire Protection and
Safety (IACS)
WP/HE Working Party on Human Element
(IACS)
WP/M Working Party on Machinery (IACS)
WP/S Working Party on Strength of Ships (IACS)
WP/SRC Working Party on Surveyors Reporting
and Certification (IACS)
WP/SSLL Working Party on Stability Subdivision
and Load Lines (IACS)
WQIS Water Quality Insurance Syndicate
WRK Wrecked
WS World scale
WTBS Water-Tube Boiler Survey
WTO World Trade Organization
WTR Water

X
XO Executive Officer
XOL Excess of Loss (Insurance)

Y
YGS Year of Grace Survey
YRS Years

Z
ZAF South Africa (Flag)
ZC (See CCS or CS)