The operation of tarring and blacking the rigging or hull to act as a preservative against the action of salt water. the best mixture was said to be coal tar, vegetable tar, and salt water boiled together and laid on hot.

See Door-to-Door.

A standard numeric code developed by the United Nations to classify commodities used in international trade, based on a hierarchy.

The theoretical speed that a boat can travel without planing, based on the shape of its hull This speed is 1.34 times the length of a boat at its waterline. Also known as hull speed.

To take the opposite tack when sailing to windward with another yacht.

When a container or vessel has reached its volumetric capacity before its permitted weight limit.

Under U.S. tax law, a corporation created to obtain tax exemption on part of the earnings of U.S. products in foreign markets. Must be set-up as a foreign corporation with an office outside the USA.

A rail service whereby rail cars carry containers stacked two high on specially operated unit trains. Each train includes up to 35 articulated multi-platform cars. Each car is comprised of 5 well-type platforms upon which containers can be stacked. No cha ...

A nautical guy, often a negative connotation.

The highest temperature at which well-defined liquid and vapor states exist.

An indemnity issued to the carrier by a bank; protects the carrier against any possible losses or damages arising from release of the merchandise to the receiving party. This instrument is usually issued when the bill of lading is lost or is not available ...

Navigation rules governing waters outside designated demarcation zones

Sailing with the wind coming from the port side, with the boom on the starboard side.

Electrical measurement. The output of one or several electric machines. Load also denotes the power carried by a particular circuit.

Polyethylene or similar substance heat-treated and shrunk into an envelope around several units, thereby securing them as a single pack for presentation or to secure units on a pallet.

Shortening of the old term "boatswain," an unlicensed member of the crew who supervises the work of the deck men under direction of the first mate.

Turning out all hands on board ship in the morning, or calling the watch for duty on deck.

Synonymous for all practical purposes with "Intermodal."

A navigable route on a waterway, usually marked by buoys. Channels are deep enough for ships or boats to navigate without running aground.

British standard pipe tapered.