Shipping and customs glossary

The transport document the carrier issues for a sea shipment. It is the receipt for the cargo, evidence of the contract of carriage and the document of title. Cargo tracking certificates are issued per bill of lading.

Cargo loaded piece by piece rather than in containers, such as steel, machinery or project cargo.

A document stating the country in which the goods were produced.

The seller’s invoice for the goods: parties, description, quantities and values. The values on the cargo tracking certificate must match it.

An Incoterm under which the seller pays the sea freight and the insurance to the port of destination. On CIF cargo the insurance value is part of the declared value.

Charges for keeping a container beyond its free time: demurrage while it stays in the terminal, detention while it is outside. Missing documents at destination are a common cause.

Angola’s single customs document for imports. It is one of the documents asked for with the Angola ARCCLA certificate.

The version of the bill of lading prepared before it is signed and issued. Most certificates can be started on a draft; the final bill of lading must then match it.

The version of the certificate prepared before validation, for the shipper to check every detail against the documents.

An inland terminal linked to a seaport by road or rail, where cargo for a landlocked country is cleared — for example Bamako, N’Djamena or Ouagadougou.

The expected date the vessel arrives at the port of discharge or leaves the port of loading. Many certificate deadlines are counted from one of these dates.

The declaration lodged with customs in the country of export. Its weight and statistical value are checked against the bill of lading and the invoice.

Cameroon’s file of importers and exporters. Since 1 May 2025, proof of FIMEX registration (or a special import authorisation) is required before the final certificate is issued for RoRo vehicles.

An Incoterm under which the seller delivers the goods on board the vessel at the port of loading; the buyer pays the sea freight and insurance.

The number of days a container may stay at the port or with the consignee before demurrage or detention charges start.

A company that organises transport on behalf of shippers: booking, documents and often the cargo tracking certificate.

The invoice for the sea freight. It is usually asked for when the freight amount is not shown on the commercial invoice.

FCL: one shipper’s cargo fills a whole container. LCL: several shippers’ cargo shares one container.

A bill of lading a freight forwarder issues to its own customer, under the master bill of lading of the shipping line.

The Harmonized System code: the international six-digit classification of goods, extended by each country with further digits. It appears on the invoice and the declarations.

The International Chamber of Commerce rules that set which costs and risks the seller and the buyer carry, such as FOB or CIF. Some destinations require the Incoterm on the commercial invoice.

The bill of lading the shipping line issues to the party that booked the space with it, often a freight forwarder. Several authorities validate the certificate only against the final, dated master bill of lading.

Egypt’s national single window for foreign trade. The Egyptian importer registers the shipment there to obtain the ACID number.

The list of packages in the shipment with their contents, weights and dimensions.

The port where the cargo is loaded on the vessel, and the port where it is unloaded. The cargo tracking certificate is decided by the port of discharge and the final destination.

Vessels that carry wheeled cargo such as cars, trucks and machinery driven on and off. For RoRo cargo, several destinations charge the certificate per vehicle or chassis number.

The date on which the carrier confirms the goods were loaded on the vessel. Some destinations count their deadline from it or require it on the bill of lading.

The shipper sends the goods, the consignee receives them, and the notify party is told when they arrive. Their names and addresses must be the same on every document.

A national online platform where traders lodge all import or export documents in one place, such as NAFEZA in Egypt or GUCEG in Guinea.

Cargo discharged in one country and carried overland to another, such as Mali cargo through Dakar. Depending on the route, the port country, the destination or both may require a certificate.

The step in which the destination authority approves the filed certificate. After validation the certificate is registered and, in most countries, can no longer be changed without an amendment fee.