50 International Shipping Acronyms

Acronyms kept me up at night when I first joined the shipping industry.


It was quite daunting to be in the office with colleagues who used acronyms.

I would listen to them with a blank stare on my face feeling too embarrassed to ask what they meant.

Well, that was 15 years ago.

For all newbies, I am sharing with you some of the acronyms I had to make note of so you don’t feel like I did.

Some of the frequently used ones included:

AWB - Airway Bill
AOR - Assignment of Rights
B/L - Bill of Lading

CIF - Cost Insurance Freight
COGSA - Carriage of Goods by Sea Act
CFR - Cost and Freight

DAT - Delivery At Terminal
ETA - Estimated Time of Arrival
ETD - Estimated Time of Departure

FEU - Fourty-foot Equivalent Unit
FCL - Full Container Load
FOB - Free On Board

GA - General Average

Etc

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What was your earliest memory of acronyms?
Which were your favourite?