GLOSSARY OF LIFT- AND HOISTING TERMS, CRANE RELATED TERMINOLOGY

GLOSSARY OF LIFT- AND HOISTING TERMS, CRANE RELATED TERMINOLOGY

A

Abnormal Operating Conditions
Environmental conditions that are unfavorable, harmful, or detrimental to or for the operation of a crane, such as excessively high or low ambient temperatures, exposure to adverse weather, corrosive fumes, dust-laden or moisture-laden atmospheres, and hazardous locations.

Access Platform
A limited length platform, located on the idler girder to access to the endtruck wheels only.

Adjustable or Variable Voltage
A method of Bridge Crane Control by which the motor supply voltage can be adjusted.

Aerial crane
or 'Sky cranes' usually are helicopters designed to lift large loads. Helicopters are able to travel to and lift in areas that are more difficult to reach by a conventional crane. Helicopter cranes are most commonly used to lift units/loads onto shopping centers, multi-story buildings, highrises, etc. However, they can lift basically anything within their lifting capacity, (i.e. cars, boats, swimming pools, etc.). They also work as disaster relief after natural disasters for clean-up, and during wild-fires they are able to carry huge buckets of water over fires to put them out.

All Terrain Crane
A mobile crane which has the necessary equipment to travel with high speed on public roads/highways and on the job site in rough terrain with all wheel and crab steering. AT‘s combine the roadability of Truck-mounted Crane and the manoeuvrability of a Rough Terrain Crane.

Ambient Temperature
The temperature of the atmosphere surrounding the hoist.

Ampacity
The current carrying capacity expressed in amperes.

ANSI
The American National Standards Institute.

Appointed
Assigned specific responsibilities by the employer or the employer's representative.

Attachment point
Designed lifting point that is part of a load

Auxiliary Hoist
A supplemental hoisting unit of lighter capacity and usually higher speed than provided for the main hoist.

Automatic Crane
A crane which when activated operates through a preset cycle or cycles.

Auxiliary Girder (outrigger)
An additional girder, either solid or latticed arranged parallel to the bridge girder(s) for supporting the foot-walk, Bridge Crane Control panels, operator’s cab, etc., to reduce the torsional forces such loads might otherwise impose.

Axle, Fixed
A shaft which is fixed in the end truck and about which the wheel revolves.

Axle, Rotating
A shaft which is fixed in the wheel and which rotates on bearings fixed in the end truck.

B

B-10 Bearing Life
The B-1O bearing life of an anti-friction bearing is the minimum expected life, in hours, of 9O~7o of a group of bearings which are operated at a given speed and loading.

Bearing Life
The L-10 life of an anti-friction bearing is the minimum expected life, hours, of 90 percent of a group of bearings which are operating-at a given speed and loading. The average expected life of the bearings is approximately five times the L-10 life.

Bearing, Lifetime Lubricated
An antifriction bearing which is provided with seals and a high-stability oxidation-resistant grease to permit operation of the bearing without re-lubrication for not less than the specified B-10 life.

Block, Load
The assembly of hook, swivel, bearings, sheaves, pins and frame suspended from the hoisting ropes. In a “short type” block, the hook and the sheaves are mounted on the same member, called the swivel. In a “long type” block, the hook and the sheaves are mounted on separate members. (The supporting member for the sheaves is called the sheave pin and the supporting member for the hook is called the trunnion.)

Block, Upper
A fixed assembly of sheaves, bearings, pins and frame, located on the trolley cross members, and which supports the load block and its load by means of the ropes.

Bogie
A short end truck attached to the end of one girder (or to a connecting member if more than one bogie is used per girder). This type of end truck is used when more than four wheels are required on a crane due to the design of the runway.

Boom (of gantry cranes)
An extension of the trolley runway that may be raised or retracted to obtain clearance for gantry travel.

Boom (of overhead cranes)
A horizontal member mounted on the trolley to permit hoisting and lowering the load at a point other than directly under the hoist, drum, or trolley.

Brake
A device used for retarding or stopping motion by friction or power means.

Branch Circuit
The circuit conductors between the final overcurrent device protecting the circuit and the outlet(s).

Breaking Strength/Ultimate Strength:
Do not use breaking strength as a criterion for service of design purposes. Refer to the Working Load Limit instead.
Breaking Strength is the average force at which the product, in the condition it would leave the factory, has been found by representative testing to break, when a constantly increasing force is applied in direct line to the product at a uniform rate of speed on a standard pull testing machine. Proof testing to twice the Working Load Limit does NOT apply to hand-splice slings.
Remember: Breaking Strengths, when published, were obtained under controlled laboratory conditions. Listing of the Breaking Strength does not mean the Working Load Limit should ever be exceeded.

Bridge
The part of a crane consisting of girders, trucks, end ties, footwalks, and drive mechanism which carries the trolley or trolleys.

Bridge Conductors
The electrical conductors located along the bridge structure of a crane to provide power to the trolley.

Bridge Girder (crane girder)
The principal horizontal beams of the crane, on which carriers or trolleys travel, is supported by the end trucks, and is perpendicular to the runway.

Bridge Rail
The rail supported by the bridge girders on which the trolley travels.

Bridge Travel
The crane movement in a direction parallel to the crane runway.

Building Structure
The structural members of a building that support the building loads and on which the loads of crane or monorail equipment, and the material to be moved, will be imposed.

Bulk-handling crane
Bulk-handling cranes are designed from the outset to carry a shell grab or bucket, rather than using a hook and a sling. They are used for bulk cargoes, such as coal, minerals, scrap metal etc.

Bumper (buffer)
An energy absorbing device for reducing impact when a moving crane or trolley reaches the end of its permitted travel; or when two moving cranes or trolleys come in contact.

Bow shackle
With a larger "O" shape to the loop, this shackle can take loads from many directions without developing as much side load. However, the larger shape to the loop does reduce its overall strength. Also referred to as an anchor shackle.

C

Cab
The operator's compartment on a crane.

Cab-Operated Crane
A crane controlled by an operator in a cab located on the bridge or trolley.

Camber
The slight upward vertical curve given to girders to compensate partially for deflection due to hook load and weight of the Crane.

Capacity
The maximum rated load (in tons) which a crane is designed to handle.

Carrier
Please see “Trolley”.

Chain, Hand
The chain grasped by the operator to apply force required for lifting, lowering, or traveling motions.

Chain, Load
The load-bearing chain in a hoist.

Chain Guide
A means to guide the load chain at the load sprocket.

Circuit Breaker
A device to open and close a circuit by non-automatic means, and to open the circuit automatically on a predetermined overload of current, without injury to itself when properly applied within its rating.

Clearance
The distance from any part of the crane to a point of the nearest obstruction.

CMAA
Crane Manufacturers Association of America, Inc. (formerly EQOI—Electric Overhead Crane Institute).

Collectors
Contacting devices for collecting current from runway or bridge conductors.

Collector Shoe
The portion of a collector which makes contact by sliding on the conductor bar.

Collector Wheel
The portion of a collector which makes contact by rolling on the conductor bar.

Conductors, Bridge
The electrical conductors located along the bridge structure of a crane to provide power to the trolley.

Conductors, Runway
The electrical conductors located along a crane runway to provide power to the crane.

Contactor
An electromechanical device for opening and closing an electric power circuit.

Control Braking Means
A method of controlling crane motor speed when in an overhauling condition.

Control Actuator, Bridge Crane
A manual means at the operating station by which hoist Bridge Crane Controls are energized.

Control Enclosure, Bridge Crane
The housing containing the electrical Bridge Crane Control component.

Control Voltage
The voltage impressed on the Bridge Crane Control devices.

Controller, Bridge Crane
A device for regulating in a pre-determined way the power delivered to the motor or other equipment.

Controller, Spring Return
A controller which when released will return automatically to a neutral position.

Countertorque
A method of control by which the power to the motor is reversed to develop torque in the opposite direction.

Couplings (splices)" – Mechanical devices used to join the adjacent ends of track sections.

Cover Plate
The top or bottom plate of a box girder.

Crane
A machine for lifting and lowering a load and moving it horizontally, with the hoisting mechanism an integral part of the machine. Cranes whether fixed or mobile are driven manually or by power.

Crawler Crane
A crawler is a crane mounted on an undercarriage with a set of tracks (also called crawlers) that provide for the stability and mobility of the crane. Crawler cranes range in lifting capacity from about 40 US tons to 3500 US tons.
Crawler cranes have both advantages and disadvantages depending on their intended use. The main advantage of a crawler is that they can move around on site and then perform each lift with very little set-up, as the crane is stable on its tracks with no outriggers. In addition, a crawler crane is capable of traveling with a load. The main disadvantage of a crawler crane is that they are very heavy, and cannot easily be moved from one job site to the next without significant expense. Typically, a large crawler must be disassembled and moved by trucks, rail cars or ships to be transported to its next location.

Creep Speed
A very slow, constant, continuous, fixed rate of motion of the hoist, trolley, or bridge: usually Control established at 1% to 10% of the normal full load speed.

Cross Shaft
The shaft extending across the bridge, used to transmit torque from motor to bridge drive wheels.

Cushioned Start
An electrical or mechanical method for reducing the rate of acceleration of a travel motion.

Cantilever Gantry Crane
A gantry or semi-gantry crane in which the bridge girders extend transversely beyond the crane runway on both sides.

Chain Sprocket or Drum Groove
Grooved or notched wheel that the hoist rope or chain is seated.

Crane
A machine used to raise, lower or move a load horizontally.

Cargo
All materials carried by a vehicle or trailer including those used to operate the vehicle.

Cross-Docking
The movement of goods directly from receiving dock to shipping dock to eliminate storage expense.

Cubic Capacity
The carrying capacity of a piece of equipment according to measurement in cubic feet.

Custodian, equipment
A person assigned responsibility for a piece of hoisting and rigging equipment

Cyclic Test
A test to determine a cyclic life or acceptable cyclic rating of a tie down component or assembly.

D

Dead Loads
The loads on a structure that remain in a fixed position relative to the structure. On a crane bridge such loads include the girders, footwalk, cross shaft, drive units, panels, etc.

Deck Crane
Located on the ships and boats, these are used for cargo operations or boat unloading and retrieval where no shore unloading facilities are available. Most are diesel-hydraulic or electric-hydraulic.

Deflection
Displacement due to bending or twisting in a vertical or lateral plane, caused by the imposed live and dead loads.

Designated
Selected or assigned by the employer or the employer's representative as being qualified to perform specific duties.

Design Factor: (sometimes referred to as safety factor)
An industry term usually computed by dividing the catalog Breaking Strength by the catalog Working Load Limit and generally expressed as a ratio. For example: 4 to 1

Diaphragm
A plate or partition between opposite parts of a member, serving a definite purpose in the structural design of the member.

Disconnecting Means
A device, or group of devices, or other means whereby the conductors of a circuit can be disconnected from their power source.

Double-Girder Crane
A crane having two bridge girders mounted between and supported from the end trucks.

Drag Brake
A brake which provides retarding force without external control.

Drift Point
A point on a travel motion controller which releases the brake while the motor is not energized. This allows for coasting before the brake is set.

Drive Girder
The girder on which the bridge drive machinery is mounted.

Driving Head
A motor-driven carrier head which is supported from and propelled by the load bearing wheels.

Drum
The cylindrical member around which the ropes are wound for raising or lowering the load.

Dynamic Brake
A method of controlling crane motor speeds when in the overhauling condition to provide a retarding force.

D-shackle
Also known as a chain shackle, D-shackles are narrow shackles shaped like a loop of chain, usually with a pin or threaded pin closure. D-shackles are very common and most other shackle types are a variation of the D-shackle. The small loop can take high loads primarily in line. Side and racking loads may twist or bend a D-shackle.

E

Engineered Lift
A test load that has been identified and evaluated for use in determining the lifting capacity of the hoisting equipment.

Eddy Current Brake
A method of Bridge Crane controlling or reducing speed by means of an Bridge Crane Electrical induction load brake.

Electric Baffle
Conductors that are wired to cut off electric power to approaching motor-driven equipment if track switches, drop sections, and other movable track devices are not properly set for passage of equipment.

Electrical Interlock
An electrical device in the starter circuit which prevents a short circuit when opposite Bridge Crane Controls are operated at the same time.

Electrification
The track mounted conductor system by which the moving equipment receives its electrical power.

Emergency Brake
A method of decelerating a drive when power is not available. The braking effort may be established as a result of action by the operator, or automatically when power to the drive is interrupted.

Emergency Stop Switch
A manually or automatically operated electric switch to cut off electric power independently of the regular operating controls.

Enclosed Conductor
A conductor or group of conductors substantially enclosed to prevent accidental contact.

Enclosure
A housing to contain electrical components, usually specified by a NEMA classification number.

End Approach
The minimum horizontal distance, parallel to the runway, between the outermost extremities of the crane and the centerline of the hook.

End Stop
A device to limit travel of a trolley or crane bridge. This device normally is attached to a fixed structure and normally does not have energy absorbing ability.

End Tie
A structural member other than the end truck which connects the ends of the girders to maintain the squareness of the bridge.

End Truck
An assembly consisting of the frame and wheels which support the crane girder(s) and allow movement along the runway.

Equalizer
A device which compensates for unequal length or stretch of a rope.

Exposed
Capable of being contacted inadvertently. Applied to hazardous objects not adequately guarded or isolated.

F

Fail-Safe
A provision designed to automatically stop or safely control any motion in which a malfunction occurs.

Field Wiring
The wiring required after erection of the crane.

Fixed Transfer Section (also known as crossover)
On a monorail, a connecting track with an interlock mechanism on both ends, mounted between two interlocking cranes, used to transfer a carrier from one bridge to the other.

Fleet Angle
The angle formed by the wire rope and the drum groove or sheave groove in the plane which contains the wire rope and is parallel to the drum or sheave axis.

Floating cranes
Are used mainly in bridge building and port construction, but they are also used for occasional loading and unloading of especially heavy or awkward loads on and off ships. Some floating cranes are mounted on a pontoon, others are specialized crane barges with a lifting capacity exceeding 10,000 tons and have been used to transport entire bridge sections. Floating cranes have also been used to salvage sunken ships.

Floor-Operated Crane
A crane which is pendant or nonconductive rope controlled by an operator on the floor or an independent platform.

Footwalk
The walkway with handrail, attached to the bridge or trolley for access purposes.

G

Gantry Crane
Similar to an overhead crane, except that the bridge for carrying the trolley or trolleys is rigidly supported on two or more legs running on fixed rolls or other runway.
A gantry crane has a hoist in a fixed machinery house or on a trolley that runs horizontally along rails, usually fitted on a single beam (mono-girder) or two beams (twin-girder). The crane frame is supported on a gantry system with equalized beams and wheels that run on the gantry rail, usually perpendicular to the trolley travel direction. These cranes come in all sizes, and some can move very heavy loads, particularly the extremely large examples used in shipyards or industrial installations. A special version is the container crane (or "Portainer" crane, named by the first manufacturer), designed for loading and unloading ship-borne containers at a port.

Gantry Leg
The structural member which supports a bridge girder or end tie from the sill.

Gauge
The center-to-center distance between the load carrying flanges of the two crane girders of a double girder crane.

Ground Fault
An accidental conducting connection between the electrical circuit or equipment and the earth or some conducting body that serves in place of the earth.

H

Hanger Rod" – Steel rods which, together with other fittings, are used to suspend the track from the supporting structure.

Hazardous Locations
Regulatory Locations where fire or explosion hazards may exist. Locations are classified depending on the properties of the flammable vapors, liquids, or gases or combustible dusts or fibers which may be present and the likelihood that a flammable or combustible concentration or quantity is present. Class I locations: Locations in which flammable gases or vapors are or may be present in the air in quantities sufficient to produce explosive or ignitable mixtures. Class 2 locations: Locations that are hazardous because of the presence of combustible dust. Class 3 locations: Locations that are hazardous because of the presence of easily ignitable fibers or filings, but in which such fibers or filings are not likely to be in suspension in the air in quantities sufficient to produce ignitable mixtures.

Headroom
The distance from the load point of the hook, at its upper most position, to the top of the hoist or crane.

Hoist
An apparatus which may be a part of a crane, exerting a force for lifting or lowering a freely suspended load.

Hoist
A device that applies a force for lifting or lowering

Hoist, lever operated
A lever-operated manual device used to lift, lower, or pull a load and to apply or release tension; commonly referred to as a come-along

Hoist, chain operated
A chain operated manual device used to lift or lower a load and to apply or release tension; commonly referred to as a chain-fall

Hoist Chain
The load bearing chain in a hoist.

Hoist Motion
That motion of a crane which raises and lowers a load.

Hoist Speed
The rate of motion that the load hook attains while lifting rated load.

Holding Brake
A brake that automatically prevents motion when power is off.

Hook Approach
The minimum horizontal distance between the center of the runway rail and the hook.

Hook Approach, End
The minimum horizontal distance, parallel to the runway, between the centerline of the hook(s) and the face of the wall (or columns) at the end of the building.

Hook Approach, Side
The minimum horizontal distance, perpendicular to the runway, between the centerline of a hook (main or auxiliary) and the centerline of the runway rail.

Hook Suspended
Suspension of hoist from a trolley or rigid structure by means of a hook(s) at top of hoist.

Hot Metal Handling Crane
An overhead crane used for transporting or pouring molten material.

Hydraulic Brake
A method of Bridge Crane controlling or reducing speed by means of displacement of a liquid.

I

Interlock Mechanism
A mechanical device to lock together the adjacent ends of two cranes or a crane to a crossover or spur track to permit the transfer of carriers from one crane or track to the other.

Interlocking Crane
A crane with an interlock mechanism on one or both ends enabling it to be mechanically locked to another crane, crossover, or spur track for the purpose of transferring a carrier from one to another.

Inspector, crane
Inspector qualified to inspect cranes, hoists, and miscellaneous lifting devices

Inspector, Plate V
Inspector qualified to perform Cal/OSHA Plate V certifications

Inspector, qualified
Person recognized for competence and whose qualification to perform specific inspection activities has been determined, verified, and documented

Idle Sprocket
A freely rotating device that changes the direction of the load chain.

Idler Girder
The bridge girder that does not have the bridge drive attached, but which usually carries the bridge conductors.

Idler Sheave
A sheave used to equalize tension in opposite parts of a rope. Because of its slight movement, it is not termed a running sheave.

Impact Allowance
See Impact Factor.

Impact Factor
Additional hook load assumed to result from the dynamic effect of the live load.

Inch (inching)
See “jog”. Often used incorrectly to refer to “creep speed”.

Insulation Class
Motor winding insulation rating which indicates its ability to withstand heat and moisture.

Inverter (Variable Frequency Drive)
A method of Bridge Crane Control by which the fixed line voltage and frequency is changed to a three-phase system with infinitely variable voltage and frequency.

J

Jib Boom
A horizontal cantilever track for supporting the trolley (carrier).

Jib Crane
A jib crane is a type of crane where a horizontal member (jib or boom), supporting a moveable hoist, is fixed to a wall or to a floor-mounted pillar. Jib cranes are used in industrial premises and on military vehicles. The jib may swing through an arc, to give additional lateral movement, or be fixed. Similar cranes, often known simply as hoists, were fitted on the top floor of warehouse buildings to enable goods to be lifted to all floors.

Jog (inch)
To move the hook, trolley, or bridge in a series of short, discontinuous, increments by momentary operation of a Bridge Crane Controller.

K

Keeper
A device positioned on a hook to prevent the hook from inadvertently releasing.

KSI
Kips per square inch, measurement of stress intensity.

Kip
A unit of force, equivalent to 1000 pounds.

Knee Brace
The diagonal structural member joining the building column and roof truss.

L

Length
The distance between extreme end bearing points of the synthetic web tie down assembly including the fittings.

Level Luffing Crane
A level luffing crane is a crane mechanism where the hook remains at the same level whilst luffing; moving the jib up and down, so as to move the hook inwards and outwards relative to the base.[1]
Some types of crane are inherently level luffing: those with a fixed horizontal jib, such as gantry, hammerhead or the fixed-jib tower cranes commonly used in construction. Usually though, the description is only applied to those with a luffing jib that have some additional mechanism applied to keep the hook level when luffing.
Level luffing is most important when careful movement of a load near ground level is required, such as in construction or shipbuilding. This partially explains the popularity of fixed horizontal jibs in these fields.

Load Binder
A binder incorporating an over center locking action.

Load
The total superimposed weight on the load block or hook.

Load Block
The assembly of hook or shackle, swivel, bearing, sheaves, pins, and frame suspended by the hoisting rope.

Load Sprocket
A hoist component that transmits motion to the load chain. This component is sometimes called load wheel, load sheave, pocket wheel, or chain wheel.

Loader Crane
A loader crane (also called a knuckle-boom crane or articulating crane ) is a hydraulically-powered articulated arm fitted to a truck or trailer, and is used for loading/unloading the vehicle. The numerous jointed sections can be folded into a small space when the crane is not in use. One or more of the sections may be telescopic. Often the crane will have a degree of automation and be able to unload or stow itself without an operator's instruction.
Unlike most cranes, the operator must move around the vehicle to be able to view his load; hence modern cranes may be fitted with a portable cabled or radio-linked control system to supplement the crane-mounted hydraulic control levers.
In the UK and Canada, this type of crane is almost invariably known colloquially as a "Hiab", partly because this manufacturer invented the loader crane and was first into the UK market, and partly because the distinctive name was displayed prominently on the boom arm.
A rolloader' crane is a loader crane mounted on a chassis with wheels. This chassis can ride on the trailer. Because the crane can move on the trailer, it can be a light crane, so the trailer is allowed to transport more goods.

Latch, Hook
A device used to bridge the throat opening of a hook.

Lateral Forces
Horizontal forces perpendicular to the axis of the member being considered.

Lateral Hook Travel
The lateral movement of the load hook between its position at the upper limit of travel and its position at the lower limit of travel.

Left-hand End
A reference to parts or dimensions on the viewer’s left of the centerline of span, established when facing the drive girder side of the crane.

Lift
The maximum vertical distance through which the load hook can travel, and the total allowable hook movement between its upper limit of travel and its position when at the lower limit of travel.

Lift, critical
A lift for which the application of requirements applicable to ordinary lifts would not adequately eliminate or control the likelihood or severity of the following:
Personnel injury or significant adverse health impact (on-site or off-site)
Significant release of radioactivity or other hazardous material or other undesirable conditions
Undetectable damage that would jeopardize future operations or the safety of a facility
Damage that would result in delay to schedule or other significant program impact such as loss of vital data
Lift, ordinary. All lifts that do not meet the requirements of critical or pre-engineered production

Lift, pre-engineered production
A repetitive, production-type lifting operation, independent of the nature of the load to be lifted, in which the probability of dropping, upset, or collision is reduced to a level acceptable to the responsible manager by preliminary engineering evaluation, specialized lifting fixtures, detailed procedures, operation-specific training, and independent review and approval of the entire process.

Lift plan
Pre-job plan or procedure for safely executing a lift

Lifting device
Includes a broad range of equipment used in hoisting and rigging activities:

Lift Cycle
Single lifting and lowering motion (with or without load).

Lift Limiting Device
An electrical, mechanical, or electromechanical device for limiting the upward or downward travel of the load hook at the extremities of lift. This device may limit lift at any point within the extremities of lift, if designed to be adjustable.

Limit Switch
A switch which is operated by some part or motion of a power-driven machine or equipment to alter the electric circuit associated with the machine or equipment.

M

Main Line Disconnect
The controller used to isolate power to the hoisting equipment.

Magnet
An electromagnetic device carried on a crane hook to pick up loads magnetically.

Magnetic Contactor
An electro-magnetic device for opening and closing an electric power circuit.

Main Hoist
The primary hoist mechanism provided for lifting and lowering the rated load of the crane.

Main Switch (Crane Disconnect)
A switch on the crane bridge controlling the main power supply from the runway conductors.

Man Trolley
A trolley having an operator's cab attached thereto.

Manually Operated Crane
A crane whose hoist mechanism is driven by pulling an endless chain, or whose travel mechanism is driven in the same manner or by manually moving the load or hook.

Master Switch
A switch which dominates the operation of contactors, relays, or other remotely operated devices.

Mechanical Brake
A method of speed control by friction.

Mechanical Load Brake
An automatic type of friction brake used for Bridge Crane controlling loads in a lowering direction. This unidirectional device requires torque from the motor or hand chain wheel to lower a load but does not impose any additional load on the motor or hand chain wheel when lifting a load.

N

Non-destructive examination
The development and application of technical methods to examine materials or components in ways that do not impair future usefulness and serviceability in order to detect, locate, measure, and evaluate discontinuities, defects, and other imperfections; assess integrity, properties, and composition; and measure geometrical characteristics

Non-destructive test
Testing that does not destroy or damage the item. Examples include magnetic particle, ultrasonic, liquid penetration, or radiographic testing.

O

Overhead Crane
A crane with a movable bridge carrying a movable or fixed hoisting device that travels on a fixed runway.
Also known as a 'suspended crane', this type of crane work very similar to a gantry crane but instead of the whole crane moving, only the hoist / trolley assembly moves in one direction along one or two fixed beams, often mounted along the side walls or on elevated columns in the assembly area of factory. Some of these cranes can lift very heavy loads.

P

Parts (Lines)
Number of lines of rope supporting the load block or hook.

Patented Track
A generic term referring to crane and monorail equipment built in accordance with the MMA specification utilizing a composite track section incorporating a proprietary bottom flange shape.

Pawl
A device for holding the machinery against undesired rotation by engaging a ratchet.

Pendant Pushbutton Station
Means suspended from the crane operating the Bridge Crane Controllers from the floor or other level beneath the crane.

Person, authorized
A person at SLAC who has completed the required training and is authorized to perform the work

Person, designated
An individual selected or assigned as being qualified to perform specific duties

Person, qualified
A person who, by possession of a recognized degree, certificate, or professional standing, or who by extensive knowledge, training, and experience, has successfully demonstrated an ability and competence to solve or resolve problems relating to the subject matter and work

Person-in-charge
A qualified person responsible for the safe planning and performance of a critical lift

Plate V certification
A Cal/OSHA specified safety inspection in accordance with 8 CCR 5022 (a) through (d) performed on mobile cranes and cranes, hoists, and miscellaneous lifting devices exceeding three tons

Pitch Diameter
Distance of the diameter of a drum or sheave from center to center of a rope passed about the periphery.

Plain Reversing Bridge Crane Control
A reversing Bridge Crane Control which has identical characteristics for both directions of motor rotation.

Plugging
A Bridge Crane Control function which accomplishes braking by reversing the motor line voltage polarity or phase sequence.

Plugging Relay
A current relay used on a bridge or trolley Bridge Crane Control panel which senses current in the motor secondary circuit of an alternating current motor and limits reverse torque of the motor to the first Bridge Crane Control point until the motor rotation has stopped (Sometimes called an anti- plugging relay.)

Pneumatic Brake
A method of Bridge Crane Controlling or powering a drive or brake by means of compressed gas.

Power-Operated Crane
A crane whose mechanism is driven by electric, air, hydraulic, or internal combustion means.

Primary Upper Limit Device
the first device that, when actuated, limits hoisting motion in the upward direction.

Protective Panel
An assembly containing overload and undervoltage protection for all crane motions.

Proof Test load (Proof Load):
The term "Proof Test" designates a quality control test applied to the product for the sole purpose of detecting defects in material or manufacture. The Proof Test Load (usually twice the Working Load Limit) is the load which the product withstood without deformation when new and under laboratory test conditions. A constantly increasing force is applied in direct line to the product at a uniform rate of speed in a standard pull testing machine. The Proof Test Load does not mean the Working Load Limit should ever be exceeded.

Pulpit-Operated Crane
A crane operated from a fixed operator station not attached to the crane.

Pulley
A pulley (also called a block and tackle) is a mechanism composed of a wheel (called a sheave) with a groove between two flanges around the wheel's circumference. A rope, cable , belt or chain usually runs inside the groove. Pulleys are used to change the direction of an applied force, transmit rotational motion, or realize a mechanical advantage in either a linear or rotational system of motion.

Q

R

Rail Sweep
A device attached to the crane and located in front of the crane’s leading wheels to push aside loose obstructions.

Rail, Bridge
The track supported by the bridge girder(s), on which the trolley travels.

Rail, Runway
The track supported by the runway beams, on which the crane travels.

Railroad crane
Is a crane with flanged wheels, used by railroads. The simplest form is just a crane mounted on a railroad car or on a flatcar. More capable devices are purpose-built.

Rated Load
The maximum load for which a crane or individual hoist is designed and built by the manufacturer and shown on the equipment nameplate(s).

Reach
Is equal to lift plus headroom.

Reeving
The reeving of the hoist is the path of the rope between the hoist and the load block.

Regenerative Brake
A form of dynamic braking in which the electrical energy generated is fed back into the power system.

Regulated Speed
A function which tends to maintain constant motor speed for any load for a given speed setting of the Bridge Crane Controller.

Remote-Operated Crane
A crane controlled by an operator not in a pulpit or in the cab attached to the crane, by any method other than pendant or rope control.

Right-hand End
A reference to parts or dimensions on the viewer’s right of the centerline of span, established when facing the drive girder side of the crane.

RMG
Rail Mounted Gantry crane

RTG
Rubber Tired Gantry crane

Rope
Refers to wire rope, unless otherwise specified.

Rotary Switch
On a monorail, a track switch with a movable inner frame containing straight and/or curve sections of track. The inner frame can be rotated around a vertical axis to align these tracks with other tracks for routing carriers from one track to another.

Rough Terrain Crane
A crane mounted on an undercarriage with four rubber tires that is designed for pick-and-carry operations and for off-road and "rough terrain" applications. Outriggers that extend horizontally and vertically are used to level and stabilize the crane for hoisting.
These telescopic cranes are single-engine machines where the same engine is used for powering the undercarriage as is used for powering the crane, similar to a crawler crane. However, in a rough terrain crane, the engine is usually mounted in the undercarriage rather than in the upper, like the crawler crane.

Running Sheave
A sheave which rotates as the load block is raised or lowered.

Runway
An assembly of rails, beams, girders, brackets, and framework on which the crane or trolley travels.

Runway Disconnect Switch
A switch, usually at floor level, controlling the main power supply to the runway conductors.

Runway Girder
A horizontal beam attached to the building columns or wall, and supporting a runway rail on which the crane travels.

Runway Rail
The rail supported by the runway beams on which the bridge travels.

S

Shock Load
A load resulting from rapid change of movement, such as impacting, jerking or swinging of a static load. Sudden release of tension is another form of shock loading. Shock loads are generally significantly greater than static loads. Any shock loading must be considered when selecting the item for use in a system.
Avoid shock loads as they may exceed the Working Load Limit.

Semi-gantry Crane
A gantry crane with one end of the bridge rigidly supported on one or more legs that run along a fixed rail or runway, the other end of the bridge supported by a truck running on an elevated runway or rail.

Self-erecting Crane
Generally a type of tower crane, these cranes, also called self-assembling or "Kangaroo" cranes, lift themselves off the ground using jacks, allowing the next section of the tower to be inserted at ground level or lifted into place by the partially erected crane itself. They can thus be assembled without outside help, or can grow together with the building or structure they are erecting.

S Section
A standard beam shape as defined by the American Institute of Steel Construction.

Safety Factor
Safety factor of a line is the ratio between the breaking strength and the safe working load. Usually, a safety factor of four is acceptable, but this is not always the case. In other words, the safety factor will vary, depending on such things as the condition of the line and circumstances under which it is to be used. While the safety factor should NEVER be less than three, it often should be well above four (possibly as high as eight or ten).

Safety Lug
A mechanical device fixed securely to the end truck or trolley yoke which will limit the fall of the crane or carrier in case of wheel or axle failure.

Shackle
A shackle (also called gyve) is a U-shaped piece of metal secured with a pin or bolt across the opening, or a hinged metal loop secured with a quick-release locking pin mechanism. They are used as a connecting link in all manner of rigging systems, from boats and ships to industrial crane rigging. A carabiner is a variety of shackle used in mountaineering.

Service Platform
A means provided for workers to perform maintenance, inspections, adjustments, and repairs of cranes.

Selvage
The woven or knitted edge of synthetic webbing, so formed to prevent raveling.

Sew/Stitch Pattern
The pattern of the stitches used to sew the webbing together.

Shoring Bar
A structural section placed transversely between the walls of a vehicle to prevent cargo from tipping or shifting.

Stuffer
A longitudinal load bearing yarn in webbing.

Sheave
A grooved wheel or pulley used with a rope or chain to change direction and point of application of a pulling force.
A sheave (pronounced "shiv") is a wheel or roller with a groove along its edge for holding a belt, rope or cable. When hung between two supports and equipped with a belt, rope or cable, one or more sheaves make up a pulley. The words sheave and pulley are sometimes used interchangeably.

Side pull
That portion of the hoist pull acting horizontally when the hoist lines are not operated vertically.

Sidelifter crane
Is a road going truck or semi-trailer that is able to hoist and transport ISO standard containers. Lifting of containers is achieved through the use of parallel crane like hoists, which can be used to lift a container from the ground, or from a railway vehicle.

Simple Beam
A structural member supported and unrestrained at each end and subjected to loads acting transversely to its longitudinal axis.

Single-Girder Crane" – A crane having one bridge girder mounted between, and supported from, the end trucks.

Skewing Forces
Lateral forces on the bridge truck wheels caused by the bridge girders not running perpendicular to the runways. Some normal skewing occurs in all bridges.

Storage Bridge Crane
A gantry type crane of long span usually used for bulk storage of material; the bridge girders or trusses are rigidly or non-rigidly supported on one or more legs. It may have one or more fixed or hinged cantilever ends.

Span
The horizontal distance center to center of runway rails.

Splice
A mechanical device used to join the adjacent ends of track sections.

Spring Return
A device used on a manual Bridge Crane Controller, master switch, or pushbutton to cause the unit to return automatically to the neutral position, when released by the operator.

Stacker Crane
A crane with a forklift type mechanism used in automated (computer controlled) warehouses (known as an automated storage and retrieval system (AS/RS)). The crane moves on a track in an aisle of the warehouse. The fork can be raised or lowered to any of the levels of a storage rack and can be extended into the rack to store and retrieve product. The product can in some cases be as large as an automobile. Stacker cranes are often used in the large freezer warehouses of frozen food manufacturers. This automation avoids requiring forklift drivers to work in below freezing temperatures every day.

Standby Crane
A crane which is not in regular service but which is used occasionally or intermittently as required.

Standby Equipment
Equipment that is not in regular service but which is used occasionally or intermittently as required.

Static Bridge Crane Control
A method of switching electrical circuits without the use of contacts.

Stop
A device to limit travel of a trolley or crane bridge. This device normally is attached to a fixed structure and normally does not have energy absorbing ability.

Strength, Average Ultimate
The average tensile force per unit of cross sectional area required to rupture the material as determined by test.

Stress
Load or force per unit area tending to deform the material usually expressed in pound per square inch.

Stripper
A device that aids the load chain in leaving the load sprocket.

Structural Supports
Structural members provided for the support of runways or monorail track and switches.

STS
Ship te Shore crane. A container crane (also container handling gantry crane, ship-to-shore crane ) is a design of large dockside gantry cranes found at container terminals for loading and unloading shipping containers from container ships.
Container cranes consistent of a supporting framework that can traverse the length of a quay or yard, and a moving platform called a "spreader". The spreader can be lowered down on top of a container and locks on to the container's four locking points ("cornercastings"), using a "twistlock" mechanism. Cranes normally transport a single container at once, however some newer cranes have the capability to up pick up up to four 20' containers at once.
The crane is driven by an operator that sits in a cabin suspend from the trolley. The trolley runs along rails that are located on top or sides of the boom and girder. The operator runs the trolley over the ship to lift the cargo which generally are containers. Once the spreader latches (locks) on to the container with the Spreader, the container is lifted and moved over the dock and placed (discharged) on a truck chassis (trailer) to then be taken to the storage yard. The crane will also lift containers from the chassis to store (load) them on to the ship.
Straddle carriers, sidelifts or container lorries then manoeuvre underneath the crane base, and collect the containers—rapidly moving the containers away from the dock and to a storage yard.

Straddle Carrier
A Straddle Carrier is a non road going vehicle for use in port terminals and intermodal yards used for stacking and moving ISO standard containers. Straddles pick and carry containers while straddling their load and connecting to the top lifting points. These machines have the ability to stack containers up to 4 high. These are capable of relatively low speeds (up to 30 km/h) with a laden container.

Supporting Structure
The structure used for the support of a monorail or crane system.

Suspension Fittings
Fittings used to attach the track to the supporting structure.

Sweep
Maximum lateral deviation from straightness of a structural member, measured at right angles to the Y-Y axis.

Switch
A device for making, breaking, or for changing the connections in an electric circuit.

T

Tower Crane
A vertical crane with a horizontal boom. The boom is balanced asymmetrically across the top of the tower. Its short arm carries a counterweight while the long arm carries the lifting gear.

Tagline
An electrical conductor system employing flexible cables.

TENC
Totally enclosed fan cooled.

TENV
Totally enclosed non-ventilated.

Telescopic crane
A telescopic crane has a boom that consists of a number of tubes fitted one inside the other. A hydraulic or other powered mechanism extends or retracts the tubes to increase or decrease the total length of the boom. These types of booms are often used for short term construction projects, rescue jobs, lifting boats in and out of the water, etc. The relative compactness of telescopic booms make them adaptable for many mobile applications.
Note that while telescopic cranes are not automatically mobile cranes, many of them are. These are often truck-mounted.

Tirfors
Also commonly known as griphoists are winches that instead of using spools to move rope or wire through the winch use self-gripping jaws. Powered by moving a handle back and forth they allow one person to move objects several tons in weight.

Tongue Switch
On a monorail, a track switch containing one straight section of track, pivoted at one end, which can be swung to various positions to connect with fixed tracks for routing of carriers.

Top Running Crane
An electric overhead traveling crane having the end trucks supported on rails attached to the top of the crane runway.

Torque, Full Load (motor)
The torque produced by a motor operating at its rated horsepower and speed.

Torque, Locked Rotor
The minimum torque which a squirrel- cage motor will develop at rest, for all angular positions of the rotor, with rated voltage applied at rated frequency. Not applicable to wound-rotor (slipring) motors.

Torque, Motor Breakdown
The maximum torque which a squirrel-cage or wound-rotor (slip-ring) motor will develop with rated voltage applied at rated frequency, without an abrupt drop in speed.

Torque, Motor Full Load
The torque developed by an electric motor (A.C. or D.C.) to produce its rated horsepower at rated full load speed.

Torque, Motor Pull Up
The minimum torque developed by a squirrel cage or wound rotor (slip-ring) motor during the period of acceleration from rest to the speed at which breakdown torque occurs. For squirrel cage motors with 8% or greater slip, the pull up torque, the breakdown torque, and the starting torque are all equal and occur at zero speed.

Torsional Box Girder
Girder in which the trolley rail is located over one web.

Torsional Forces
Forces which can cause twisting of a member.

Tower Crane
The tower crane is a modern form of balance crane. Fixed to the ground (and sometimes attached to the sides of structures as well), tower cranes often give the best combination of height and lifting capacity and are used in the construction of tall buildings.
The jib (colloquially, the 'boom') and counter-jib are mounted to the turntable, where the slewing bearing and slewing machinery are located. The counter-jib carries a counterweight, usually of concrete blocks, while the jib suspends the load from the trolley. The Hoist motor and transmissions are located on the mechanical deck on the counter-jib, while the trolley motor is located on the jib. The crane operator either sits in a cabin at the top of the tower or controls the crane by radio remote control from the ground. In the first case the operator's cabin is most usually located at the top of the tower attached to the turntable, but can be mounted on the jib, or partway down the tower. The lifting hook is operated by using electric motors to manipulate wire rope cables through a system of sheaves.
In order to hook and unhook the loads, the operator usually works in conjunction with a signaller (known as a 'rigger' or 'swamper'). They are most often in radio contact, and always use hand signals. The rigger directs the schedule of lifts for the crane, and is responsible for the safety of the rigging and loads.

Track Capacity
The design load which consists of the rated load, impact allowance and load imposed by the weight of the equipment.

Track Switch
On a monorail, a device with a moving section of track that can be moved to permit passage of a carrier from incoming fixed track(s) to outgoing fixed track(s).

Tractor Drive
A motor-driven unit supported from wheels and propelled by drive wheel or wheels bearing on the underside of the track.

Trolley
The unit which travels on the bridge rails and carries the hoisting mechanism (also known as a “carrier”).

Trolley Frame
The basic structure of the trolley on which are mounted the hoisting and traversing mechanisms.

Trolley Speed
Trolley speed is the rate of motion that a motor operated trolley (and hoist) attains while traveling along a beam.

Trolley Suspended
Suspension of hoist from a trolley. Hoist can be connected to trolley by hook, clevis, or lug suspension, or the hoist can be integral with trolley.

Trolley travel
The trolley movement at right angles to the crane runway.

Truck
The unit consisting of a frame, wheels, bearings, and axles which support the bridge girders or trolleys.

True Vertical Lift
In true vertical lift, the load hook travels in a true vertical path between the lower limit of lift and the upper limit of lift.

Turntable
On a monorail, a track device with a movable inner frame containing a straight section of track which can be rotated with a loaded carrier on it to align the section of track with other tracks for the transfer of carriers from one track to another.

Two Blocking
Condition under which the load block or load suspended from the hook becomes jammed against the crane structure preventing further winding up of the hoist drum.

U

Under Running Crane
An electric overhead traveling crane having the end trucks supported on track attached to the bottom flanges of the beams; or supported on bottom flanges of beams. These beams make up the crane runway.

Undervoltage Protection
A device operative on the reduction or failure of voltage to cause and maintain the interruption of power in the main circuit.

Upper Block
A fixed block located on a trolley that, through a system of sheaves, bearings, pins, and frame, supports the load block and its load.

V

Variable Frequency
A method of Bridge Crane Control by which the motor supply voltage and frequency can be adjusted.

Voltage Drop
The loss of voltage in an electric conductor between supply tap and load tap.

W

W Section
A wide flange beam shape as defined by the American Institute of Steel Construction.

Wall Crane
A crane having a jib with or without trolley and supported from a side wall or line of columns of a building. It is a traveling type and operates on a runway attached to the side wall or columns.

Web Plate
The vertical plate connecting the upper and lower flanges or cover plates of a girder.

Wheel Load
The load without impact on any wheel with the trolley and lifted load (rated capacity) positioned on the bridge to give maximum loading.

Wheel Yoke
A frame on which a pair of carrier (trolley) wheels are mounted.

Wheelbase
Distance from center-to-center of outermost wheels.

Winch
A device for tensioning a webbing or wire rope tie down that is fitted with means to lock the initial tension.

Working Load Limit
The maximum load capacity hat any given component or assembly should be subject to during use. US Cargo Control highly recommends the ‘’ working load limit’’ does not exceed 1/3 the ‘’breaking strength capacity’’ of the component or assembly being used. Working load limits shown on this website are rated at 1/3 of the minimum breaking strength.

X

Y

Z

PORT AND SHIPPING TERMINOLOGY - MARITIME GLOSSARY

A

AFT
In, near, or toward the stern of the vessel.

ALONGSIDE
A phrase referring to the side of a ship. Goods delivered "alongside" are to be placed on the dock or barge within reach of the transport ship's tackle so that they can be loaded.

ASTERN
A backward direction in the line of a vessel's fore and aft line; behind. If a vessel moves backwards it is said to move astern; opposite to ahead.

B

BACKFREIGHT
The owners of a ship are entitled to payment as freight for merchandise returned through the fault of either the consignees or the consignors. Such payment, which is over and above the normal freight, is called backfreight.

BACKHAUL
To haul a shipment back over part of a route that it has already traveled; return movement of cargo, usually opposite from the direction of its primary cargo destination.

BAGGED CARGO
Various kinds of commodities usually packed in sacks or in bags, such as sugar, cement, milk powder, onion, grain, flour, etc.

BALLAST
Heavy substances loaded by a vessel to improve stability, trimming, sea-keeping and to increase the immersion at the propeller. Sea water ballast is commonly loaded in most vessels in ballast tanks, positioned in compartments right at the bottom and in some cases on the sides, called wing tanks. On a tanker, ballast is seawater that is taken into the cargo tanks to submerge the vessel to a proper trim.

BALLAST KEEL
A heavy keel fitted to sailing vessels to lower the center of gravity and improve stability.

BALLAST MOVEMENT
A voyage or voyage leg made without any paying cargo in a vessel's tanks. To maintain proper stability, trim, or draft, sea water is usually carried during such movements.

BALLAST TANK
Compartments at the bottom of a ship or on the sides which are filled with liquids for stability and to make the ship seaworthy. Any shipboard tank or compartment on a tanker normally used for carrying salt-water ballast. When these compartments or tanks are not connected with the cargo system they are called segregated ballast tanks or systems.

BARE BOAT CHARTER
A charter in which the bare ship is chartered without crew; the charterer, for a stipulated sum taking over the vessel for a stated period of time, with a minimum of restrictions; the charterer appoints the master and the crew and pays all running expenses. See Demise Charter.

BARGE
Flat-bottomed boat designed to carry cargo on inland waterways, usually without engines or crew accommodations. Barges can be lashed together and either pushed or pulled by tugs, carrying cargo of 60,000 tons or more. Small barges for carrying cargo between ship and shore are known as lighters.

BARGE ABOARD CATAMARAN
A way of loading cargo into large barges and then in turn loading the barges into a ship.

BARGE CARRIERS
Ships designed to carry either barges or containers exclusively, or some variable number of barges and containers simultaneously. Currently this class includes two types of vessels, the LASH and the SEABEE.

BEAM
The width of a ship.Also called breadth.

BELT LINE
A switching railroad operating within a port or other commercial area.

BERTH
A place in which a vessel is moored or secured; place alongside a quay where a ship loads or discharges cargo.

BERTH TERM
Shipped under a rate that does not include the cost of loading or unloading.

BERTHAGE
Charges for the use of a berth.

BUILD-OWN-OPERATE (BOO)
A form of project wherein a private party or consortium agrees to finance, construct, operate, and maintain a facility previously owned and/or operated by a public authority. The concessionaire retains ownership of the facility. The concessionaire bears the commercial risk of operating the facility.

BILL OF LADING
A document that establishes the terms of contract between a shipper and a transportation company. It serves as a document of title, a contract of carriage, and a receipt for goods.

BLACK CARGO
Cargo banned by general cargo workers for some reason. This ban could be because the cargo is dangerous or hazardous to health.

BLACK GANG
A slang expression referring to the personnel in the engine department aboard ship.

BLS
Bureau of Labor Statistics, Department of Labor.

BOATSWAIN (BOSUN)
The highest unlicensed rating in the deck department who has immediate charge of all deck hands and who in turn comes under the direct orders of the master or chief mate or mate.

BOILERS
Steam generating units used aboard ship to provide steam for propulsion (and) for heating and other auxiliary purposes.

BOW
The front of a vessel.

BOW THRUSTERS
A propeller at the lower sea-covered part of the bow of the ship which turns at right angles to the fore-and-aft line and thus provides transverse thrust as a maneuvering aid.

BOGIE
A set of wheels built specifically as rear wheels under a sea container.

BULKHEAD
A structure to resist water; a partition separating one part of a ship from another part.

BOND PORT
Port of a vessel’s initial customs entry to any country; also known as first port of call.

BONDED WAREHOUSE
A warehouse authorized by customs authorities for storage of goods on which payment of duties is deferred until the goods are removed.

BULK
Cargo shipped in loose condition and of a homogeneous nature. Cargoes that are shipped unpackaged either dry, such as grain and ore, or liquid, such as petroleum products. Bulk service generally is not provided on a regularly scheduled basis, but rather as needed, on specialized ships, transporting a specific commodity.

BULK CARRIER
Ship specifically designed to transport vast amounts of cargoes such as sugar, grain, wine, ore, chemicals, liquefied natural gas; coal and oil. See also LNG Carrier, Tanker, OBO Ship.

BULKHEAD
A name given to any vertical partition which separates different compartments or spaces from one another.

BUNKERS
Fuel consumed by the engines of a ship; compartments or tanks in a ship for fuel storage.

BUOY - A floating object employed as an aid to mariners to mark the navigable limits of channels, their fairways, sunken dangers, isolated rocks, telegraph cables, and the like; floating devices fixed in place at sea, lake or river as reference points for navigation or for other purposes.

BUNKERS
Fuel used aboard ships.

BREAK BULK
Loose, non-containerized cargo stowed directly into a ship’s hold; to unload and distribute a portion or all of the contents of a container.

BROKER
A person who arranges for transportation of loads for a percentage of the revenue from the load.

BUILD-OPERATE-TRANSFER (BOT)
A form of concession wherein a private party or consortium agrees to finance, construct, operate, and maintain a facility for a specified period and then transfer the facility to a government or other public authority. The concessionaire bears the commercial risk of operating the facility.

C

CARFLOAT
A barge equipped with tracks on which railroad cars are moved by water.

CARGO TONNAGE
Ocean freight is frequently billed on the basis of weight or measurement tons. Weight tons can be expressed in terms of short tons of 2000 pounds, long tons of 2240 pounds, or metric tons of 1000 kilograms (2204.62 pounds). Measurement tons are usually expresses as cargo measurement of 40 cubic feet (1.12 cubic meters) or cubic meters (35.3 cubic feet).

CARRIER
Any person or entity who, in a contract of carriage, undertakes to perform or to procure the performance of carriage by sea, inland waterway, rail, road, air, or by a combination of such modes.

CABOTAGE
Shipments between ports of a single nation, frequently reserved to national flag vessels of that nation.

CONCESSION
An arrangement whereby a private party (concessionaire) leases assets from a public authority for an extended period and has responsibility for financing specified new fixed investments during the period and for providing specified services associated with the assets; in return, the concessionaire receives specified revenues from the operation of the assets; the assets revert to the public sector at expiration of the contract.

CARTAGE
Intra-port or local hauling of cargo by drays or trucks; also referred to as drayage.

CHASSIS
A frame with wheels and container locking devises to secure the container for movement.

CONSERVANCY
In some countries, this fee is levied to retain upkeep of the approaches to waterways and canals.

CLASSIFICATION YARD
A railroad yard with many tracks used for assembling freight trains.

CONSOLIDATION
Cargo containing shipments of two or more shoppers of suppliers. Containerload shipments may be consolidated for one or more consignees.

CLEANING IN TRANSIT
The stopping of articles (such as farm products) for cleaning at a point between the point of origin and destination.

CONTAINER
A truck trailer body that can be detached from the chassis for loading onto a vessel, a rail car, or stacked in a container depot. Containers may be ventilated, insulated, refrigerated, flat rack, vehicle rack, open top, bulk liquid, dry bulk, or other special configurations. Typical containers may be 20 feet, 40 feet, 45 feet, 48 feet, or 53 feet in length, 8 feet or 8.5 feet in width, and 8.5 feet or 9.5 feet in height.

CLEARANCE
The size beyond which vessels, cars, or loads cannot pass through, under, or over bridges, tunnels, highways, etc.

CLEAT
A device secured on the floor of a container to provide additional support or strength to a cargo-restraining device, or a device attached to a wharf to secure mooring lines.

CONTAINER FREIGHT STATION (CFS)
A shipping dock where cargo is loaded ("stuffed") into or unloaded ("stripped") from containers. Container reloading to/from sea containers to rail and motor carrier equipment is an activity typically performed in a container freight station.

COMMON CARRIER
A transportation company that provides service to the general public at published rates.

CONTAINER POOL
An agreement between parties that allows the efficient use and supply of containers; a common supply of containers available to the shipper as required.

CUSTOMHOUSE
A government office where duties are paid, documents filed, etc., on foreign shipments.

CUSTOMS BROKER
A person or firm, licensed by the customs authority of their country when required, engaged in entering and clearing goods through customs for a client (importer).

CONTAINERSHIP
Ship equipped with cells into which containers can be stacked; containerships may be full or partial, depending on whether all or only some of its compartments are fitted with container cells.

CUT-OFF TIME (CLOSING TIME)
The latest time a container may be delivered to a terminal for loading to a scheduled vessel, train, or truck.

CONTAINER TERMINAL
An area designated for the stowage of cargo in containers, usually accessible by truck, railroad, and marine transportation, where containers are picked up, dropped off, maintained, and housed.

CONTAINER YARD
A materials handling/storage facility used for completely unitized loads in containers and/or empty containers.

CONTRABAND
Cargo that is prohibited.

CONTRACT CARRIER DOCK
Any person not a common carrier who, under special and individual contracts or agreements, transports passengers or cargo for compensation. For ships, a cargo handling area parallel to the shoreline.

CONTROLLED ATMOSPHERE
Sophisticated, computer controlled systems that manage the mixture of gases within a container throughout an intermodal journey, thereby reducing decay.

D

DAILY RUNNING COST
Cost per day of operating a ship.

DECONSOLIDATION POINT
Place where loose or other non-containerized cargo is ungrouped for delivery.

DEMURRAGE
The delay of a vessel or detention of a shipment beyond the stipulated time allowed for loading or unloading; the resulting payment to the owner for such delay or detention.

DUNNAGE
Material used in stowing cargo either for separation or the prevention of damage

DRAFT
The depth of a loaded vessel in the water, taken from the level of the waterline, to the lowest point of the hull of the vessel; depth of water, or distance between the bottom of the ship and the water line. Also referred to as draught.

DREDGING
Removal of sediment to deepen access channels, provide turning basins for ships, and adequate water depth along waterside facilities.

DRAYAGE
Charge made for local hauling by dray or truck.

DRY-BULK CONTAINER
A container constructed to carry grain, powder and other free-flowing solids in bulk. Used in conjunction with a tilt chassis or platform.

DRY CARGO
Merchandise other than liquid carried in bulk.

DRY CARGO SHIP
Vessel which carriers all merchandise, excluding liquid in bulk.

DRY DOCK
An enclosed basin into which a ship is taken for underwater cleaning and repairing. It is fitted with water tight entrance gates which when closed permit the dock to be pumped dry.

DRY BULK
Low density cargo, such as agri-food products, fertilizers and ores, that are transported in bulk carriers.

DUAL PURPOSE SHIP
Specially constructed ship able to carry different types of cargoes such as ore and/or oil.

DUMPING
Attempting to import merchandise into a country at a price less than the fair market value, usually through subsidy by exporting country.

DUNNAGE
A term applied to loose wood or other material used in a ship's hold for the protection of cargo.

E

ETA
Estimated Time of Arrival

ETD
Estimated Time of Departure

ELECTRONIC DATA INTERCHANGE (EDI)
Transmission of transactional data between computer systems.

EDIFACT
Electronic Data Interchange for Administration, Commerce and Trade. International data interchange standards sponsored by the United Nations.

EMINENT DOMAIN
The sovereign power to take property for a necessary public use, with reasonable compensation.

Empty Container Handler
Empty container handler Name given to any truck dedicated to handling empty containers in a port or terminal. Commonly it is a frontlift truck which has a capacity much lower than a truck designed to lift laden containers. It is generally capable of stacking containers three or four high and some models can stack six high.

F

FOREIGN TRADE ZONE
A free port in a country divorced from customs authority but under government control. Merchandise, except contraband, may be stored in the zone without being subject to import duty regulations.

FORTY-FOOT EQUIVALENT UNITS (FEUS)
Unit of measurement equivalent to one fortyfoot container. Two twenty-foot containers (TEUs) equal one FEU. Container vessel capacity and port throughput capacity are frequently referred to in FEUs or TEUs.

FORCE MAJEURE
The title of a common clause in contracts, exempting the parties for non-fulfillment of their obligations as a result of conditions beyond their control, such as earthquakes, floods, or war.

FREIGHT, DEMURRAGE AND DEFENSE
Class of insurance provided by a protection and indemnity club that covers legal costs incurred by a ship owner in connection with claims arising from the operation of his ship.

FREIGHT PAYABLE AT DESTINATION
Method of paying the freight often used for shipment of bulk cargo whose weight is established on discharge from the ship.

FEEDER SERVICE
Transport service whereby loaded or empty containers in a regional area are transferred to a "mother ship" for a long-haul ocean voyage.

FIXED COSTS
Costs that do not vary with the level of activity. Some fixed costs continue even if no cargo is carried; for example, terminal leases, rent, and property taxes.

FREIGHT FORWARDER
Person or company who arranges for the carriage of goods and associated formalities on behalf of a shipper. The duties of a forwarder include booking space on a ship, providing all the necessary documentation and arranging Customs clearance.

FREE TRADE ZONE
A zone, often within a port (but not always so located), designated by the government of a country for duty-free entry of any non-prohibited goods. Merchandise may be stored, displayed, used for manufacturing, etc., with the zone and re-exported without duties being applied. Also referred to as free port.

G

GANTRY CRANE
A crane or hoisting machine moored on a frame or structure spanning an intervening space, and designed to hoist containers into our out of a ship.

GATEWAY
A point at which freight moving from one territory to another is interchanged between transportation lines.

GROUNDING
Deliberate contact by a ship with the bottom while the ship is moored or anchored as a result of the water level dropping or when approaching the coast as a result of a navigational error.

GROUPAGE
The grouping together of several compatible consignments into a full container load. Also referred to as consolidation.

H

HARBOR DUES
Various local charges against all seagoing vessels entering a harbor, to cover maintenance of channel depths, buoys, lights, etc. All harbors do not necessarily have this charge.

HARBOR MASTER
A person usually having the experience of a certificated master mariner and having a good knowledge of the characteristics of the port and its whole area. He administers the entire shipping movements that take place in and within reach of the port he is responsible for.

HARD AGROUND
A vessel which has gone aground and is incapable of refloating under her own power

HEAVY LIFT CHARGE
A charge made for lifting articles too heavy to be lifted by a ship’s tackle.

HARBOUR DUES
Port charges to a vessel for each harbour entry, usually on a per gross registered ton basis for commercial vessels.

HOLD
A ship’s interior storage compartment.

I

IN BOND
Cargo moving under customs control where duty has not yet been paid.

INDUCEMENT
Placing a port on a vessel’s itinerary because the volume of cargo offered by that port justifies the cost of routing the vessel.

INLAND CARRIER
A transportation company that hauls export or import traffic between ports and inland points.

INTERMODAL
Movement of cargo containers interchangeably between transport modes where the equipment is compatible within the multiple systems.

J

JACOB'S LADDER
A rope ladder suspended from the side of a vessel and used for boarding.

JETTY
Structure projecting out to sea, designed to protect a port from the force of the waves but also used to berth ships.

JUMBOISING
Conversion of a ship to increase cargo-carrying capacity by dividing and adding a new section.

K

KEEL
A flat steel plate running along the center line of a vessel.

KEELAGE
Dues paid by a ship making use of certain British ports.

KNOT
Measure of speed of a ship, equal to one nautical mile (1,852 meters) per hour.

L

LADEN
Loaded aboard a vessel.

LAID-UP TONNAGE
Ships not in active service; a ship which is out of commission for fitting out, awaiting better markets, needing work for classification, etc.

LAKER
Type of ship which trades only in the Great Lakes of North America. They usually carry grain and ore cargoes.

LANDBRIDGE
A system of through rates and service offered by a carrier for cargo shipments from a foreign port to a U.S. port, across U.S. land to another U.S. port and finally by sea to a foreign port destination.

LASH
Abbreviation for "Lighter Aboard Ship." A specially constructed vessel equipped with an overhead crane for lifting specially designed barges and stowing them into cellular slots on the vessel.

LASH
Lighter aboard ship: A barge carrier designed to act as a shuttle between ports, taking on and discharging barges.

LASH SHIPS
LASH stand for Lighter Aboard Ship. It is a specialized container ship carrying very large floating containers, or "lighters." The ship carries its own massive crane, which loads and discharges the containers over the stern. The lighters each have a capacity of 400 tons and are stowed in the holds and on deck. While the ship is at sea with one set of lighters, further sets can be made ready. Loading and discharge are rapid at about 15 minutes per lighter, no port or dock facilities are needed, and the lighters can be grouped for pushing by towboats along inland waterways.

LINE HAUL
The movement of freight over the tracks of a transportation line from one city to another.

LIMITED RECOURSE FINANCING
Project financing in which sponsors or governments agree to provide contingent financial support to give lenders extra comfort; typically provided during the construction and start-up period of a project, which is generally the riskiest time in the life of an infrastructure project.

LINER
A vessel sailing between specified ports on a regular basis.

LADEN DRAUGHT
Depth of water to which a ship is immersed when fully loaded.

LLOYDS’ REGISTRY
An organization maintained for the surveying and classing of ships so that insurance underwriters and others may know the quality and condition of the vessels involved.

LANDLORD PORT
An institutional structure whereby the port authority or other relevant public agency retains ownership of the land, as well as responsibility for maintaining approach channels and navigation aids; under this model, the port does not engage in any operational activities.

LONGSHOREMAN
Individual employed locally in a port to load and unload ships.

LEASE-DEVELOP-OPERATE (LDO)
A form of concession wherein, under a longterm lease, a private company upgrades and expands an existing facility and manages its cash flows. The public authority holds title to the facility throughout the concession period and receives lease payments on the assets.

LO-LO (LIFT ON/LIFT OFF)
A type of vessel that allows cargo to be loaded or unloaded by either ship or shore cranes.

LIGHTER
An open or covered barge towed by a tugboat and used primarily to harbors and inland waterways to carry cargo to/from alongside a vessel.

M

MAIN DECK
The main continuous deck of a ship running from fore to aft; the principle deck; the deck from which the freeboard is determined.

MALPRACTICE
A carrier giving a customer illegal preference to attract cargo. This can take the form of a money refund (rebate); using lower figures than actual for the assessment of freight charges (undercubing); misdeclaration of the commodity shipped to allow the assessment of a lower tariff rate; waiving published tariff charges for demurrage, CFS handling or equalization; providing specialized equipment to a shipper to the detriment of other shippers, etc.

MANIFEST
A document containing a full list of the ship's cargo, extracted from the bills of lading.

MEZZANINE FINANCING
A mix of financing instruments, including equity, subordinated debt, completion guarantees, and bridge financing, the balance of which changes as the risk profile of a project changes; i.e., as a project moves beyond construction into operation.

MARITIME
Business pertaining to commerce or navigation transacted upon the sea or in seaports in such matters as the court of admiralty has jurisdiction.

MARITIME ADMINISTRATION (MarAd )
Oversees subsidy programs to the United States Merchant Marine. Assigns routes to subsidized liners.

MARPOL 73/78
The International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships, 1973, as modified by the Protocol of 1978.

MASTHEAD LIGHT
A white light positioned over the fore and aft centerline of the vessel.

MIXED CARGO
Two or more products carried on board one ship.

MOBILE CRANE
General purpose crane capable of being moved from one part of a port to another.

MOOR
To attach a ship to the shore by ropes.

N

NATIONAL CARGO BUREAU
A private organization having representatives throughout the main harbors in the U.S. It is empowered to inspect cargoes of a hazardous nature and issue certificates which are automatically approved by the Coast Guard.

NATIONAL FLAG
The flag carried by a ship to show her nationality.

NAUTICAL MILE
Distance of one minute of longitude at the equator, approximately 6,076.115 feet. The metric equivalent is 1852 meters.

NAVSAC
Navigation Safety Advisory Council, an industry advisory body to the U.S. Coast Guard.

NDRF
National Defense Reserve Fleet.

NEOBULK
Shipments consisting entirely of units of a single commodity, such as cars, lumber, or scrap metal.

NEO-BULK CARGO
Uniformly packaged goods, such as wood pulp bales, which store as solidly as bulk, but that are handled as general cargo.

NON-RECOURSE FINANCING
Project financing for which no loan guarantees or financial support is provided by the sponsors or governments to lenders for the project.

O

OBO SHIP
A multipurpose ship that can carry ore, heavy dry bulk goods and oil. Although more expensive to build, they ultimately are more economical because they can make return journeys with cargo rather than empty as single-purpose ships often must.

OCEAN WAYBILL
A document, issued by a shipping line to a shipper which serves as a receipt for the goods and evidence of the contract carriage.

OCMI
Officer in Charge of Marine Inspection.

ODS
Operating-Differential Subsidy: Established by the Merchant Marine Act of 1936, it was a direct subsidy paid to U.S.-flag operators to offset the high operating cost of U.S.-flag ships when compared to foreign-flag counterparts. Contracts between U.S.-flag vessel operators and the Maritime Administration have expired. The ODS program has been replaced by the Maritime Security Program.

OECD
Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development. The Maritime Transport Committee is part of this organization.

OFF-HIRE CLAUSE
In a time charter, the owner is entitled to a limited time for his vessel to be off hire until such time as the vessel may be repaired or dry-docked.

OFF-LOAD
Discharge of cargo from a ship.

OILER
An unlicensed member of the engine room staff who oils and greases bearings and moving parts of the main engine and auxiliaries. Most of this work is now done automatically and the oiler merely insures it operates correctly.

OIL RECORD BOOK
A book or log kept by the master of an oil tanker wherein every discharge or escape of oil is recorded.

OIL TANKER
A ship designed for the carriage of oil in bulk, her cargo space consisting of several or many tanks. Tankers load their cargo by gravity from the shore or by shore pumps and discharge using their own pumps.

OMB
Office of Management and Budget.

OPA
Oil Pollution Act of 1990.

OPEN RATES
Pricing systems that are flexible and not subject to conference approval. Usually applied to products in which tramps are substituted for liners.

OPEN REGISTRY
A term used in place of "flag of convenience" or "flag of necessity" to denote registry in a country which offers favorable tax, regulatory, and other incentives to ship owners from other nations.

OPEN TOP CONTAINER
A container fitted with a solid removable roof, or with a tarpaulin roof so the container can be loaded or unloaded from the top.

ORDINARY SEAMAN
A deck crewmember who is subordinate to the Able Bodied Seaman.

ORE CARRIER
A large ship designed to be used for the carnage of ore. Because of the high density of ore, ore carriers have a relatively high center of gravity to prevent them being still when at sea, that is, rolling heavily with possible stress to the hull.

ORE-BULK-OIL CARRIER
A large multi-purpose ship designed to carry cargoes wither of ore or other bulk commodities or oil so as to reduce the time the ship would be in ballast if restricted to one type of commodity. This type of ship is sometimes called bulk-oil carrier.

ORE-OIL CARRIER
A ship designed to carry either ore or oil in bulk.

OVERTONNAGING
A situation where there are too many ships generally or in a particular trade for the level of available cargoes.

ON-CARRIER
Person or company who contracts to transport cargo from the port or place of discharge of a sea-going or ocean-going ship to another destination by a different means of transport, such as truck, train or barge.

OPTIONAL CARGO
Cargo that is destined for one of the ship’s discharge ports, the exact one not being know when the goods are loaded.

OVERCARRIAGE
The carriage of cargo beyond the port for which it was intended.

P

PALLET
A flat tray, generally made of wood but occasionally steel or other materials, on which goods can be stacked. There are two principal sizes: the ISO pallet, which measures 1 x 1.2 meters and the europallet at 0.8 x 1.2 meters.

PANAMAX
Maximum-size bulk carriers whose dimensions enable the ship to transit the Panama Canal when lock width is the limiting factor.

PARTIAL CONTAINERSHIPS
Multipurpose containerships where one or more but not all compartments are fitted with permanent container cells. Remaining compartments are used for other types of cargo.

PASSENGER SHIP
A passenger ship that its authorized to carry over twelve passengers.

PER CONTAINER RATE
Rates and/or changes on shipments transported in containers or trailers and rated on the basis of the category of the container or trailer.

PERSONAL FLOATATION DEVICE
Approved floats meant as life preservers and carried on board American ships.

PERMANENT DUNNAGE
Strips of timber fixed to the frames of a ship to keep cargo away from the sides of the ship in order to avoid damage and condensation.

PIER
The structure perpendicular to the shoreline to which a vessel is secured for the purpose of loading and unloading cargo.

POOLING
Sharing of cargo or the profit or loss from freight by member lines of a liner conference.

PORT DUES
Charges levied against a ship owner or ship operator by a port authority for the use of a port.

PIGGY PACKER
A mobile container-handling crane used to load/unload containers to/from railcars.

PORT OF REFUGE
Port, not on a ship’s itinerary, which she calls at due to some unforeseen hazard at sea and where she may undergo repairs, refuel or rescue cargo.

PILFERAGE
Petty theft.

PILOTAGE PORT OF REGISTRY
The act of assisting the master of a ship in navigation when entering or leaving a port or in confined water. Place where a ship is registered with the authorities, thereby establishing its nationality.

PILOTAGE DUES
Fee payable by the owner or operator of a ship for the services of a pilot; the fee is normally based on the ship’s registered tonnage.

PORTABLE UNLOADER
Type of ship unloader that is wheeled and capable of being moved around a port wherever needed. It is typically used in ports where there is no dedicated terminal with its own fixed equipment.

PLATFORM FLAT
A shipping container without sides, ends or a roof. Normally 20 x 40 feet long, it is used for awkwardly shaped cargo that cannot fit on or in any other type of container.

PRE-ENTRY
Presentation to the customs authorities of export or import declarations prior to the clearance of goods.

PLIMSOLL MARK/LOAD LINES
A series of horizontal lines painted on the outside of a ship marking the level that must remain above the surface of the water for the vessel’s stability.

PROJECT FINANCING
Financing wherein the lender looks to a project’s cash flows to repay the principal and interest on debt, and to a project’s assets for security; also known as "structured financing" because it requires structuring the debt and equity such that a project’s cash flows are adequate to service the debt.

PONTOON
Flat-bottomed vessel with a shallow draught.

Q

QUARTERMASTER/HELMSMAN
An able-bodied seamen entrusted with the steering of a vessel.

QUARTERS
Accommodations.

QUAY
A structure attached to land to which a vessel is moored.


R

REACH STACKER
Motorized and mobile crane equipped with a frontal lifting device allowing it to lift and to stack maritime containers.

REEFER
Refrigerated container.

REEFER
Refrigerator ship: A vessel designed to carry goods requiring refrigeration, such as meat and fruit. A reefer ship has insulated holds into which cold air is passed at the temperature appropriate to the goods being carried.

RELAY
To transfer containers from one ship to another.

RMG
Rail Mounted Gantry

RTG
Rubber Tired Gantry

RO/RO
A shortening of the term "Roll on/Roll off." A method of ocean cargo service using a vessel with ramps that allow wheeled vehicles to be loaded and discharged without cranes.

RO/RO SHIP
Freight ship or ferry with facilities for vehicles to drive on and off (roll-on roll-off); a system of loading and discharging a ship whereby the cargo is driven on and off on ramps. Equipped with large openings at bow and stern and sometimes also in the side, the ship permits rapid loading and discharge with hydraulically operated ramps providing easy access. Fully loaded trucks or trailers carrying containers are accommodated on the deck.


S

SALVAGE
The property which has been recovered from a wrecked vessel, or the recovery of the vessel herself.

SEABEE
Sea-barge, a barge carrier design similar to "LASH" but which uses rollers to move the barges aboard the ship; the self-propelled loaded barges are themselves loaded on board as cargo and are considerably larger than those loaded on LASH ships.

SEA TRIALS
A series of trials conducted by the builders during which the owner's representatives on board act in a consulting and checking capacity to determine if the vessel has met the specifications.

SEAWORTHINESS
The sufficiency of a vessel in materials construction, equipment, crew and outfit for the trade in which it is employed. Any sort of disrepair to the vessel by which the cargo may suffer -- overloading, untrained officers, etc., may constitute a vessel unseaworthy.

SEAWORTHINESS CERTIFICATE
A certificate issued by a classification society surveyor to allow a vessel to proceed after she has met with a mishap that may have affected its seaworthiness. It is frequently issued to enable a vessel to proceed, after temporary repairs have been effected, to another port where permanent repairs are then carried out.

SELF-PROPELLED BARGE
A barge which has its own engine.

SELF-SUSTAINING SHIP
A containership which has her own crane for loading and discharging shipping containers enabling the ship to serve ports which do not have suitable lifting equipment.

SELF-TRIMMING SHIP
A ship whose holds are shaped in such a way that the cargo levels itself.

SELF-UNLOADER
A bulk carrier which is equipped with gear for unloading cargo.

STEVEDORE
Individual or firm that employs longshoremen to load and unload vessels.

STEVEDORING CHARGES
Fees for loading and stowing or unloading a ship.

STO-RO
A vessel with capacity for break-bulk cargo as well as vehicles or trailer borne cargo.

STS
Ship to shore crane

SHIP CHANDLER
An individual or company selling equipment and supplies for ships.

STOWAGE FACTOR
The average cubic space occupied by one tonne weight of cargo as stowed aboard a ship.

SHORT TON
2,000 pounds.

SIP
Streamlined Inspection Program.

SISTER SHIPS
Ships built on the same design.

SIU
Seafarers International Union.

SLIP
A vessel's berth between two piers.

SLOP TANK
A tank in a tanker into which slops are pumped. These represent a residue of the ship's cargo of oil together with the water used to clean the cargo tanks. They are left to separate out in the slop tank.

SHIP’S TACKLE
All rigging, etc., used on a ship to load or unload cargo.

STRADDLE CARRIER
Mobile truck equipment with the capacity for lifting a container within its own framework.

SIDE LOADER
A lift truck fitted with lifting attachments operating to one side for handling containers.

STURDONS
Port workers engaged in the stowage of cargo in the holds of a ship.

SPOTTING
Placing a container where required to be loaded or unloaded.

SUPPLY CHAIN SPREADER
A piece of equipment designed to lift containers by their corner castings. A logistics management system that integrates the sequence of activities from delivery of raw materials to the manufacturer through to delivery of the finished product to the customer into measurable components.

STACK CAR
An articulated multiple platform rail car that allows containers to be double stacked.

STACKTRAIN
A rail service whereby rail cars carry containers

T

TARE WEIGHT
The weight of wrapping or packing; added to the net weight of cargo to determine its gross weight.

TAIL SHAFT
The extreme section at the aft end of a ship's propeller shaft.

TANK BARGE
A river barge designed for the carriage of liquid bulk cargoes.

TANK CLEANING
Removal of all traces of a cargo from the tanks of a tanker normally by means of high pressure water jets.

TANKER
A tanker is a bulk carrier designed to transport liquid cargo, most often petroleum products. Oil tankers vary in size from small coastal vessels of 1,500 tons deadweight, through medium-sized ship of 60,000 tons, to the giant VLCCs (very large crude carriers).

TENDER
The offer of goods for transportation.

TERRITORIAL WATERS
That portion of the sea up to a limited instance which is immediately adjacent to the shores of any country and over which the sovereignty and exclusive jurisdiction of that country extend.

TERMINAL
An assigned area in which containers are prepared for loading into a vessel, train, truck, or airplane, or are stacked immediately after discharge from the vessel, train, truck, or airplane.

T.E.U.
Twenty Foot Equivalent Unit (containers): A measurement of cargo-carrying capacity on a containership, referring to a common container size of 20 ft in length.

TRANSSHIPMENT
A distribution method whereby containers are moved between large mother ships and small feeder vessels, or between equally large ships plying north-south (Europe-Africa) and eastwest (Asia-Europe) routes.

TERMINAL CHARGE
A charge made for a service performed in a carrier’s terminal area.

TRANSSHIPMENT PORT
A port where cargo is transferred from one carrier to another or from one vessel of a carrier to another vessel of the same carrier without the cargo leaving the port.

THROUGHPUT CHARGE
The charge for moving a container through a container yard off or onto a ship.

TURNAROUND
The time it takes between the arrival of a vessel and its departure from port; frequently used as a measure of port efficiency.

TOP OFF
To fill a ship that is already partly loaded with cargo. Typically occurs where there is a draught restriction at the first load port – the ship loads a quantity of cargo corresponding to the permissive draught, then fills up at the second port where there is no restriction.

TWENTY-FOOT EQUIVALENT UNITS (TEUS)
Container size standard of twenty feet. Two twenty-foot containers (TEUs) equal one FEU. Container vessel capacity and port throughput capacity are frequently referred to in FEUs or TEUs.

TOP STOW CARGO
Goods that are stowed on top of all others in a ship’s hold because of their relatively low density and the probability that they would be damaged if overstowed.

TOPLIFT
Attachment to a fork-lift truck that is designed to lift a shipping container.

TOW
When one or more vessels are being towed; when a tug is towing one or more floating objects; to pull an object in the water by means of a rope.

TOWAGE
Charges for the services of tugs assisting a ship or other vessels in ports.

TRAMP LINE
An ocean carrier company operating vessels on other than regular routes and schedules.

U

ULCC
Ultra Large Crude Carriers. Tankers larger than 300,000 dwt.

UNCTAD
United Nations Conference on Trade and Development

UNMANNED MACHINERY SPACES
A space where alarm bells are installed on the bridge of a ship to trace or rectify any machinery faults. The computerized devices will report any fault immediately when it appears and the engineers on board can attend to the necessary ramifications.

UNSEAWORTHINESS
The state or condition of a vessel when it is not in a proper state of maintenance, or if the loading equipment or crew, or in any other respect is not ready to encounter the ordinary perils of sea.

USCG
United States Coast Guard.

UNITIZATION
The consolidation of a quantity of individual items into one large shipping unit for easier handling.

UNLOADER
Port apparatus employed to unload ships carrying dry bulk cargo.

UNMOOR
To remove the ropes that attach a ship to the shore.

UNSTUFF
To unload a shipping container.

V

VARIABLE COST
Costs that vary directly with the level of activity within a short time. Examples include costs of moving cargo inland on trains or trucks, stevedoring in some ports, and short-term equipment leases.

VESSEL MANIFEST
The international carrier is obligated to make declarations of the ship's crew and contents at both the port of departure and arrival. The vessel manifest lists various details about each shipment by B/L number. Obviously, the B/L serves as the core source from which the manifest is created.

VISA - Voluntary Intermodal Sealift Agreement.

VLCC - Very Large Crude Carriers: Tankers between 200,000 and 300,000 dwt.

W

WATCH
The day at sea is divided into six four hour periods. Three groups of watchstanders are on duty for four hours and then off for eight, then back to duty. Seamen often work overtime during their off time.

WAREHOUSE
A place for the reception, delivery, consolidation, distribution, and storage of goods and cargo.

WAYBILL
Document, issued by a shipping line to a shipper, which serves as a receipt for the goods and evidence of the contract of carriage.

WHARF
Structure built alongside the water or perpendicular to the shore where ships berth for loading or discharging goods.

WHARFAGE
Charge assessed by a pier or dock owner against freight handled over the pier or dock or against a steamship company using the pier or dock.

WORLDSCALE
An index representing the cost of time chartering a tanker for a specific voyage at a given time. The index is given at Worldscale 100, which represents the price in dollars per ton for carrying the oil at that rate. The negotiated rate will be some percentage of the index value.

X

Y

Z

Belgium: Statutory Inspections & Conformity Assessments on Lifting and Hoisting Equipment.

Lifting and hoisting equipment are in Belgium subject to local statutory regulations. New constructed lifting & hoisting equipment is to be assessed and approved by accredited bodies (NoBo = Notified Body).

Occupational health and safety (OH&S) issues are regulated under the Belgian OH&S legislation:

General regulations concerning protection at work
ARAB: Algemeen Reglement voor de Arbeidsbescherming
RGPT: Règlement général pour la protection du travail

Regulations concerning the well-being at work
Codex over het welzijn op het werk
Code sur le bien-être au travail

Conformity Assessments & Statutory Inspections on Lifting and Hoisting Equipment.
ARAB/RGPT art. 280 (= Conformity Assessments)

ARAB/RGPT art. 281 (= Statutory Periodic Inspections)

+ European Machinery Directive

Dutch:

Algemeen Reglement voor de arbeidsbescherming

Titel III - Bijzondere bepalingen toepasselijk in zekere nijverheidstakken

Hoofdstuk I: Toestellen, installaties, arbeidsprocédés, gemeen aan verscheidene nijverheidstakken

Afdeling II. - Hefwerktuigen

VI. Keuring bij ontvangst en onderzoeken

Art. 280 is opgeheven wat betreft de bepalingen inzake de keuring voor indienststelling van de personen-
en fabrieksliften die na 30 juni 1999 in de handel worden gebracht en in gebruik genomen
Artikel 280. Het bedrijfshoofd is er toe verplicht elke personenlift, elke goederenlift, elke fabriekslift, elke personenbouwlift, elke materiaallift, en elk ander hefwerktuig dat bestemd is tot personenvervoer of voorzien is om zich te verplaatsen of lasten te vervoeren boven of in de nabijheid van plaatsen waar
personen kunnen vertoeven, te doen onderzoeken en keuren door een overeenkomstig de bepalingen van titel V, hoofdstuk I, door Onze bevoegde Minister voor de controle van de hefwerktuigen erkend organisme.
Dit onderzoek moet plaats hebben vooraleer het toestel in dienst wordt gesteld en na elke omvorming ervan waardoor zijn kenmerken, wat de veiligheid van het gebruik ervan betreft, kunnen gewijzigd worden.
Het erkend organisme gaat na :
a. of alle delen van de inrichting een voldoende weerstand vertonen door statische en bedrijfsproeven en wanneer het nodig is door alle bijkomende onderzoeksprocede's en controles, gegrondvest op de regelen der kunst ter zake ;
b. of er generlei slechte afwerking valt te bespeuren ;
c. of de werking van het toestel en zijn aanhorigheden geen enkele oorzaak van gevaar vertoont;
d. of er voldaan is aan al de reglementaire voorschriften aangaande de veiligheid.
Voor de rolbruggen, zal dit onderzoek uitgebreid worden tot de vervoerbanen.
De kettingen en soortgelijke tuigen zoals haken, ringen, sluitingen, wartels, welke verlengd, veranderd of gerepareerd zijn door lassen moeten opnieuw beproefd worden.
De in dit artikel bedoelde werktuigen mogen slechts in gebruik gesteld worden nadat het erkend organisme
een proces-verbaal heeft afgeleverd waarbij de maximum toelaatbare belasting wordt vastgesteld, waarin de datum en de uitslag van de keuringen en nazichten worden vermeld en waarbij bevestigd wordt dat het toestel met volle zekerheid kan gebruikt worden. Dit proces-verbaal zal aan de gebruiker van het heftoestel worden afgeleverd die het ter beschikking zal houden van de met het toezicht belaste ambtenaar.

Artikel 281 is opgeheven voor wat betreft de liften.

Artikel 281. De in voormeld artikel 280 beoogde hefwerktuigen dienen minstens om de twaalf maand onderworpen aan een nauwkeurig en volledig onderzoek, uitgevoerd door een erkend organisme.
Dit onderzoek omvat, inzonderheid, het nazien van het geraamte, van het mechanisme en van de verschillende onderdelen, van de rolbanen en, in het algemeen, van al de delen welke zonder voorafgaand demonteren te bereiken zijn.
Daarenboven moeten de kabels, kettingen, haken, stangen schijven zwengels, remmen, slagnokken en andere om 't even welke delen die, ten opzichte van de veiligheid, van belang zijn, ten minste om de drie maanden onderzocht worden.
Wanneer deze stukken deel uitmaken van toestellen die uitsluitend dienen voor goederenvervoer en die slechts zelden gebruikt worden, mag de frekwentie van die onderzoekingen, op eensluidend advies van het erkend organisme zodanig verminderd worden, dat gedurende de tijdsruimte begrepen tussen twee opeenvolgende onderzoekingen deze stukken niet meer gebruikt worden dan gedurende een regelmatig
gebruik van drie maanden. De tijdsruimte tussen twee onderzoeken mag evenwel geen twaalf maanden overschrijden. Dit lid is niet van toepassing op de hefwerktuigen, gebruikt voor het vervoer van goederen vergezeld door een begeleider.
Indien zij het nuttig achten, zullen de erkende organismen, zowel vóór als tijdens het gebruik, kabels en kettingen aan beproevingen onderwerpen.
Zij zullen het uitgloeien eisen van de organen waarvan het metaal ontaardingen mocht ondergaan hebben,
namelijk ten gevolge van de intensiteit of van de aard van het verrichte werk.
Het erkend organisme zal een omstandig verslag opmaken van zijn vaststellingen en gevolgtrekkingen met aanduiding van de datum van het nazicht. Dit verslag zal aan de gebruiker van het toestel overgemaakt worden, die het ten alle tijde ter beschikking zal houden van de met het toezicht van de inrichting belaste technische ambtenaar.

Artikel 281bis. Wat de hefwerktuigen betreft die gebruikt worden door het Rijk en door de instellingen van openbaar nut welke bij de wet van 16 maart 1954 betreffende de controle op sommige instellingen van openbaar nut in categorie A gerangschikt zijn, worden de wettelijke onderzoekingen en de controleonderzoekingen van de hefwerktuigen verricht, 't zij door ambtenaren van de Administratie van de Elektriciteit en van de Elektromechanica van het Ministerie van Openbare Werken en van Wederopbouw, 't zij door een erkend organisme.

Artikel 281ter. De controle van de hefwerktuigen, die dient gedaan door de erkende organismen, mag eveneens uitgevoerd worden door personen van Belgisch publiek recht en door personen van vreemd recht die door Onze bevoegde Minister te dien einde zijn erkend

French:

Règlement général pour la protection du travail

Titre III - Dispositions particulières applicables dans certaines industries

Chapitre I: Appareils, installations, procédés de travail, communs à diverses industries

Section II. - Appareils de levage

VI. La réception avant mise en service et visites.
L'article 280 est abrogé en ce qui concerne les dispositions relatives à la réception avant mise en service des ascenseurs et ascenseurs industriels mis sur le marché et mis en service après le 30-6-1999

Article 280.- Le chef d'entreprise est tenu de faire examiner et de faire essayer, par un organisme agréé pour le contrôle des appareils de levage par Notre Ministre compétent, conformément aux dispositions du titre V, chapitre I, tout ascenseur, monte-charge ascenseur industriel, ascenseur de chantier et monte-matériaux, et tout autre appareil de levage destiné au transport de personnes ou prévu pour se déplacer ou déplacer des charges au-dessus ou à proximité d'emplacements pouvant être occupés
par des personnes.
Cette visite doit avoir lieu avant la mise en service de l'appareil et après toute transformation de celui-ci de nature à modifier ses caractéristiques au point de vue de la sécurité de son emploi.
L'organisme agréé vérifie:
a. si toutes les parties de l'installation présentent une résistance suffisante, par des essais statiques et des essais de fonctionnement et, lorsque la chose s'avère nécessaire, par tous procédés d'investigation et de contrôle supplémentaires basés sur les règles de l'art en la matière;
b. s'il n'existe pas de malfaçon;
c. si le fonctionnement de l'appareil et de ses accessoires ne présente aucune cause de danger;
d. s'il est satisfait à toutes les dispositions réglementaires intéressant la sécurité. Pour les ponts roulants, cette visite s'étendra aux chemins de roulement.
Les chaînes et engins similaires, tels que les crochets, anneaux, boucles, émerillons qui auront été rallongés, modifiés ou réparés par soudure devront être essayés et vérifiés à nouveau. Les appareils visés au présent article ne pourront être mis en service qu'après que [[l'organisme agréé]] aura produit un procès-verbal attestant le maximum de charge autorisé, indiquant la date et le résultat des essais et vérifications et établissant que l'appareil peut fonctionner en toute sécurité. Ce procèsverbal sera remis à l'usager de l'appareil qui le tiendra à la disposition du fonctionnaire technique chargé de la surveillance.

L'article 281 est abrogé pour ce qui concerne les ascenseurs.

Article 281.- Les appareils de levage visés à l'article 280 ci-dessus font l'objet, au moins tous les douze mois, d'une visite détaillée complète effectuée par un organisme agréé. Cette visite comporte, notamment, l'inspection de la charpente,
des mécanismes et accessoires divers, des chemins de roulement, et, en général, de tous les organes accessibles sans démontage préalable.
En outre, les câbles, chaînes, crochets, tringles, poulies, palonniers, freins, limiteurs de course et autres organes quelconques présentant un intérêt au point de vue de la sécurité, seront visités au moins tous les trois mois.
Lorsque ces pièces appartiennent à des engins qui servent exclusivement au transport de marchandises et qui ne sont utilisés que rarement, la fréquence de ces visites peut être réduite, sur avis conforme de l'organisme agréé, de telle sorte que, dans l'intervalle entre deux visites consécutives, ces pièces ne travaillent pas plus que pendant trois mois d'usage régulier. L'intervalle entre deux visites ne peut toutefois excéder douze mois. Le présent alinéa ne s'applique pas aux appareils de levage qui servent au transport de marchandises accompagnées d'un convoyeur.
S'ils le jugent utile les organismes agréés feront effectuer, tant avant la mise en service qu'en cours de service, des essais sur les câbles et chaînes.
Ils exigeront le recuit des organes dont le métal aurait pu s'altérer, notamment par suite de l'intensité ou de la nature du travail effectué.
L'organisme agréé dressera un rapport circonstancié de ses constatations et conclusions indiquant la date des vérifications.
Ce rapport sera remis à l'usager de l'appareil qui le tiendra en tout temps à la disposition du fonctionnaire technique chargé de la surveillance de l'établissement.

Article 281bis.- En ce qui concerne les appareils de levage utilisés par l'Etat et par les organismes d'intérêt public classés dans la catégorie A par la loi du 16 mars 1954 relative au contrôle de certains organismes d'intérêt public, la réception et les visites de contrôle légalement prescrites de ce règlement, sont effectuées soit par des fonctionnaires de l'Administration de l'Electricité et d'Electromécanique du
Ministère des Travaux publics et de la Reconstruction, soit par un organisme agréé.

Article 281ter.- Le contrôle des appareils de levage, à assurer par des organismes agréés, peut également être fait par des personnes de droit public belge et par des personnes de droit étranger reconnues à cette fin par Notre Ministre compétent.

Friction Clutch / Limitador de torque / Slipkoppeling

(EN) Friction Clutch (overload protection)
(PT) limitador de torque( Proteção contra sobrecarga )
(NL) Slipkoppeling (overlastbeveiliging)

Friction clutch overload protection stops hoist when overload occurs.

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