ACRONYMS
A - B - C - D - E - F - G - H - I - J - K - L - M - N - O - P - Q - R - S - T - U - V - W - X - Y - Z
Following is a list of acronyms commonly used in the maritime and petroleum industries. While Enercon has endeavored to make this list as complete and accurate as possible, we do not suggest that all common acronyms are contained herein or that the descriptions of the abbreviations are the only accepted ones. Accordingly, we invite input from our clients and web page visitors who wish to contribute with additions and/or corrections.
| A1 | ABS Class of Vessel |
| AAAA | Always Afloat, Always Accessible |
| AAPA | American Association of Port Authority |
| AARA | Amsterdam-Antwerp-Rotterdam Area |
| AAS | Annual Automation Control Survey |
| AASO | Association of American Shipowners |
| AB | Able-Bodied Seaman |
| ABC | Activity-Based Costing |
| ABCU | Automated Bridge Control System For Unattended Engine Room |
| ABN | Abandoned |
| ABS | American Bureau of Shipping |
| ABT | About |
| AC | Alternating Current |
| ACC | Automatic Combustion Control (System) |
| ACC | Automatic Control System Certified |
| ACCU | Automatic Control System Certified For Unattended Engine Room |
| ACFN | American Committee for Flags of Necessity |
| ACG | Annual Cargo Gear Survey |
| ACP | Alternative Compliance Program |
| ACS | American Chemical Society |
| ACS | Arab Classification Society |
| ADA | Americans With Disabilities Act |
| ADEC | Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation |
| ADCOM | Address Commission |
| A/F | All Fast |
| AFL-CIO | American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations |
| AFRA | Average Freight Rate Assessment |
| AFRAMAX | A tanker of such size as to take commercial advantage under Worldscale (generally, tankers 80,000-119,000 DWT) |
| AFSPS | Arrival First Sea Pilot Station (Norway) |
| AG | Accessibility Guidelines |
| AG | Algeria (Flag) |
| AG | Arabian Gulf (See PG) |
| AHL | Australian Hold Ladders |
| AHP | Above Head of Passes |
| AHS | Annual Hull Survey |
| AI | Artificial Intelligence |
| AID | Agency for International Development |
| AIGSS | Annual Inert Gas System Survey |
| AIMS | American Institute of Merchant Shipping |
| AIMU | American Institute of Marine Underwriters |
| AIWW | Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway |
| ALLI | Annual Load Line Inspection |
| A.M.C. | American Maritime Cases |
| AMS | Annual Machinery Survey |
| AMVER | Automated Mutual – Assistance Vessel Rescue System |
| AMWELSH 93 | Americanized Welsh Coal Charter (1993) |
| ANERA | Asia North America Eastbound Rate Agreement |
| ANFO | Ammonium Nitrate Fuel Oil Mix |
| ANPRM | Advanced Notice of Proposed Rulemaking |
| ANSI | American National Standards Institute |
| ANT | Netherlands Antilles (Flag) |
| ANTHAM | Antwerp-Hamburg Range |
| APA | Administrative Procedure Act |
| APA | Aruba Port Authority |
| API | American Petroleum Institute |
| API | ( See Measurement Definitions ) |
| APPS | Act to Prevent Pollution From Ships |
| APS | Arrival Pilot Station |
| ARA | Antwerp, Rotterdam, Amsterdam (range) |
| ARAG | Amsterdam-Rotterdam-Antwerp-Gent Range |
| ARCS | Admiralty Raster Chart Service (U.K. Hydrographic Office) |
| ARE | United Arab Emirates (Flag) |
| ARMS | Automated Requisition Management System |
| ARO | Agreement on Rules of Origin (GATT 1994) |
| ARPA | Advanced Research Projects Agency |
| ARPAS | Automatic Radar Plotting Aid |
| ARS | Annual Cargo Refrigeration System Survey |
| A/S | Alongside |
| AS | Annual Survey |
| ASBA | Association of Shipbrokers and Agents (U.S.A.) Inc. |
| ASBA II | A Type of Standard Voyage Charter Party Issued by ASBA |
| ASBATANKVOY | A Type of Standard Voyage Charter Party Issued by ASBA |
| ASEE | American Society for Engineering Education |
| ASF | Asian Shipowners Forum |
| ASME | Association of Mechanical Engineers |
| ASTM | American Society for Testing and Materials |
| ATC | Affordability Through Commonality (NAVSEA Program) |
| ATDNSHINC | Any Time Day/Night Sundays and Holidays Included |
| ATF | Department Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms |
| ATONIS | Aids To Navigation Information System |
| ATUTC | Actual Time Used To Count |
| AUS | Australia (Flag) |
| AUTODAM | Automated Damage Control |
| AUX(AX) | Auxiliary |
| AUX KW | Auxiliary/Generators Kilowatts (total) |
| AUXMIS | Auxiliary Management Information System |
| AXBS | Auxiliary Boiler Survey |
| AXFTBS | Auxiliary Eire-Tube Boiler Survey |
| AXWHBS | Auxiliary/Waste Heat Boiler Survey |
| AXWTBS | Auxiliary Water-Tube Boiler Survey |
| AZE | Azerbaijan (Flag) |
| BAC | Blood Alcohol Content |
| BAF | Bunker Adjustment Factor |
| BBB | Before Breaking Bulk (i.e. before discharge of cargo commences) |
| BBLS | Barrels |
| BCM | Bow to Center Manifold |
| BDI | Both Dates Inclusive |
| BECU | Billion ECU |
| BEL | Belgium (Flag) |
| BENDS | Both Ends |
| BFI | Baltic Freight Index |
| BH | Belize (Flag) |
| BHD | Bulkhead |
| BHS | Bahamas (Flag) |
| BI | Both Inclusive |
| BIC | International Container Bureau |
| BIIBA | British Insurance and Investment Brokers Association |
| BIMCO | Baltic and International Maritime Council |
| BISD | Basic Instruments and Selected Documents (GATT) |
| BK | Book |
| BKI | Biro Klasifikasi Indonesia (Indonesian Class Society) |
| B/L or BL | Bill of Lading |
| BL | Bulgarian Lloyd (Class Society) |
| BLADING | See B/L |
| BLEVE | Boiling Liquid Expanding Vapor Explosion |
| BLG | Subcommittee on Bulk Liquids and Gases (IMO) |
| BLK | Bulk |
| BLKCAR (B/C) | Bulk Carrier |
| BLR | Boiler |
| BLRHS | Boiler Heating Surface (Combined) |
| BM | Beam |
| BM | Boom |
| BM | Mayanmar (Burma) (Flag) |
| BMLA | British Maritime Law Association |
| BMP | Best Manufacturing Practices (U.S. Navy Program) |
| BMU | Bermuda (Flag) |
| B/N | Booking Note |
| BNM | Broadcast Notice to Mariners |
| BOB | Bunkers on Board |
| BOFFER | Best Offer |
| BOPEC | Bonaire Petroleum Corporation N.V. |
| BORCO | Bahamas Oil Refining Corp. |
| BR | Brazil (Flag) |
| BR | Brazilian Class Society |
| BRG | Bearing |
| BRM | Bridge Resources Management |
| BROB | Bunkers Remaining On Board |
| BS | Boiler Survey |
| BS&W | See S&W |
| BSS | Basis |
| BSS 1/1 | Basis 1 Port to 1 Port |
| BT | Berth Terms |
| BT | Bow Thruster |
| BTM | Bottom |
| BTU | British Thermal Unit – 0.252 kcal |
| BV | Bureau Veritas (French Class Society) |
| BWAD | Brackish Water Arrival Draft |
| BWT | (Vessel) To Be Used As Breakwater |
| C | Center (CNTR) |
| C&F | Cost, Insurance & Freight |
| C&F FO | Cost and Freight Free Out |
| CA | Center Aft |
| CA | Controlled Atmosphere |
| CAC | Citizens Advisory Council |
| CAD | Computer Assisted Design |
| CAF | Currency Adjustment Factor |
| CAM | Computer Assisted Manufacture |
| CAP | Condition Assessment Program |
| CAPESIZE | Bulk Carrier 100,000-180,000 DWT |
| CAS | Condition Assessment Survey |
| CAS | Continuous Automatic Control System Survey |
| CASP | Computer Assisted Search Planning System |
| CAXBS | Composite Auxiliary Boiler Survey |
| CBFT | Cubic Feet |
| CBM/cu.m. | Cubic Meters |
| CBS | Cyprus Bureau of Shipping (Class Society) |
| C.B.T./CBT | Clean Ballast Tanks |
| CCC | Clean Caribbean Cooperative |
| CCC | Commodity Credit Corp. |
| CCC | Customs Co-Operation Council |
| CCF | Capital Construction Fund (U.S.) |
| CCR | Cargo Control Room |
| CCS or CS | China Class Society (Formerly ZC) |
| CCT | Cargo Custody Transfer (System) |
| CCTV | Closed Circuit Television |
| CDC | Center for Disease Control |
| CDI | Chemical Distribution Institute |
| CDS | Construction-Differential Subsidy (46 USC Title V) |
| CE-CAD | Civil Engineering CAD |
| CEC | Commission of the European Communities |
| CEDS | Civil Engineering Data System |
| CENSA | Council of European & Japanese National Shipowners Associations |
| CERCLA | Comprehensive Environmental Response Compensation and Liability Act ("Superfund") |
| CERT | Certificate |
| c.ft./cuft | Cubic Feet (ft3) |
| CF | Center Forward |
| CFE/TLE | Conventional Forces in Europe Treaty Implementation |
| CFM | Container Flow Management |
| CFR | Code of Federal Regulations (U.S.) |
| CFS | Container Freight Station |
| CFTBS | Cylindrical Fire-Tube Boiler Survey |
| CGDDMS | CG Digital Data Management System |
| CH | China (Flag) |
| CHCP | Cargo Handling Cooperative Program |
| CHOPT | Charterer's Option |
| CHS | Continuous Survey of Hull |
| CHTRS | Charterers |
| CIF | Cost Insurance Freight |
| CIP | Carriage and Insurance Paid To |
| CIRC | Circulating |
| CIRM | International Radio-Maritime Committee |
| CIRRS | Commercial Interest Reference Rates |
| CIT | U.S. Court of International Trade |
| CKD | Completely Knocked Down |
| CL | Continuous Liner |
| CLC | Civil Liability Convention (And 1992 Protocols) |
| CLNG | Center for LNG |
| CLPR | Czech Register of Shipping (Class Society) |
| CMA | Companie d'Affretement |
| CME | Assessment Model for Coastal and Marine Environments |
| CMF | Composite Meter Factor |
| CMI | Committee Maritime International (Maritime Law Association) |
| CMS | Continuous Survey of Machinery |
| CNG | Compressed Natural Gas |
| CO | Cargo Oil |
| COA | Contract Of Affreightment |
| COB | Closing of Business |
| COB | Container/Oil/Bulk Carrier |
| COBRA | Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985 |
| COD | Cash On Delivery |
| COE | U.S. Army Corps of Engineers |
| COFR | Certificate of Financial Responsibility (OPA 90) |
| COGSA | Carriage of Goods by Sea Act(s) |
| COI | Certificate of Inspection (Coast Guard) |
| COI | Certificate of Insurance |
| COLREGS | Collision Regulations (IMO) |
| COMA | Committee on Measurement Accountability |
| COMB | Combination |
| COMM | Commenced |
| CONS | Construction (CONSTR) |
| CONS | Consumption |
| CONT | Continued |
| CONVER | Conversion |
| COP | Custom of the Port |
| COR | Certificate of Registry (U.S. Coast Guard) |
| CORE | National Contingency Response |
| COSCO | China Ocean Shipping Co. |
| COT | Cargo Oil Tank |
| COT | Curacao Oil Terminal |
| COTP | Captain Of The Port |
| COW | Crude Oil Washing |
| C/P (CP) | Charterparty or Charter Party |
| CPT | Carriage Paid To |
| CPY | Cargo Preference Year |
| CR | China Corporation Register of Shipping (Taiwan Class Society) |
| CR | Current Rate |
| CRF | Construction Reserve Fund |
| CRISTAL | Contract Regarding an Interim Supplement to Tanker Liability |
| CRN | Crane |
| CRS | Continuous Refrigeration Survey |
| CRS | Croatian Register of Shipping (Class Society) |
| CSA | Caribbean Shipping Association |
| CSI | Container Security Initiative |
| CSM | Closed System Measurement |
| CSM | Container Slot Management |
| CSO | Company Security Officer |
| CSP | Company Security Plan |
| CSR | Continuous Synopsis Record |
| CST | Centistokes |
| CST | Central Standard Time |
| CT | Cargo Tank |
| CTAC | Chemical Transportation Advisory Committee |
| CTC | Cargo Tank, Center |
| CTL | Constructive Total Loss |
| C-TPAT | Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism |
| CTR | Container Fitted |
| CTS | Cargo Transfer System |
| CTSH | Correction Temperature of Tank Shell |
| CTW | Cargo Tank, Wing |
| CTX | Cargo Tank, Common |
| C/V | Consecutive Voyage |
| CV | Caloric Value (Heat Value) |
| CV | Cape Verde Islands (Flag) |
| CVM | Contingent Valuation Method |
| CWA | Clean Water Act |
| CWA | Cooperative Working Agreements |
| CWTBS | Cylindrical Water-Tube Boiler Survey |
| CY | Container Yard |
| CY | Cyprus (Flag) |
| CYCLD | Cycloidal Propeller |
| D&O | Directors And Officers (Insurance Policy) |
| DA | Double-Acting |
| DAF | Delivered At Frontier Cargo |
| DAM | Damage |
| DAMFORDET | Damages for Detention |
| DAPS | Days All Purposes |
| DB | Double-Bottom |
| DBH | Destroyed By Hurricane |
| DBS | Destroyed By Storm |
| DC | Direct Current |
| DCS | Distributed Control System |
| DD | Dry-Docking |
| DDP | Delivered Duty Paid |
| DDU | Delivered Duty Unpaid |
| DE | Subcommittee on Ship Design and Equipment (IMO) |
| DEA | Drug Enforcement Agency |
| DEM | Demolished |
| DEM | Demurrage |
| DEN | (See HSE) |
| DEQ | Delivered Ex Quay (Duty Paid) |
| DES | Delivered Ex Ship |
| DESC | Defense Energy Support Center |
| DEU | Germany (Flag) |
| DF | Direction-Finder |
| DFSC | Defense Fuel Support Center |
| DGPS | Differential Global Positioning System |
| DHDATSBE | Dispatch Half Demurrage on All Time Saved Both Ends |
| DHDWTSBE | Dispatch Half Demurrage on Working Time Saved Both Ends |
| DIES | Diesel |
| DIR | Direct |
| DIS | Danish International Ship Register |
| DISCH | Discharge |
| DK | Deck |
| DLA | Defense Logistics Agency |
| DNK | Denmark (Flag) |
| DNV | Det Norske Veritas (Norwegian Class Society) |
| DO | Diesel Oil |
| DOC | Document Of Compliance (Part of ISM Code) |
| DOD | Department Of Defense |
| DOE | Department Of Energy |
| DOI | Department Of the Interior |
| DOP | Dropping Outward Pilot |
| DOS | Declaration of Security |
| DOT | Department Of Transportation |
| d.p.p. | Dirty Petroleum Products |
| DR | Dead Reckoning |
| DR | Double Reduction |
| DRA | Designated Restricted Area |
| DRK | Derrick |
| DSB | Dispute Settlement Body |
| DSC | Subcommittee on the Carriage of Dangerous Goods, Solid Cargoes, and Containers (IMO) |
| DSU | Dispute Settlement Understanding |
| DTS | Defense Transportation System |
| DW | Distilled Water |
| DWCT | Deadweight Cargo Tons, or the weight of to be transported under a charter party |
| DWT | Deadweight Tons |
| E&P | Exploration And Production |
| EA | Environmental Assessment |
| EAA | Export Administration Act |
| EATA | Europe Asia Trades Agreement (Conference) |
| EC | East Coast |
| EC | European Community |
| ECC | Environmental Coordinating Committee |
| ECDIS | Electronic Chart Display and Information Systems |
| ECJ | European Court of Justice |
| ECNH | East Coast North of Hatteras |
| ECSA | European Community Shipowners Associations |
| ECU | European Currency Unit |
| EDI | Electronic Data Interchange |
| EEE | "European-Economic-Ecological" Tanker Design |
| EEZ | Exclusive Economic Zone |
| EHL | East Harvey Lock |
| EI | Energy Institute (formerly IP) |
| EIU | Even If Used |
| ELVENT | Electric Ventilation |
| EMER | Emergency |
| EMSIS | Emergency Shipping Information System |
| EMT | Emergency Medical Technicians |
| EMU | Economic and Monetary Union |
| ENC | Electronic Navigation Chart |
| ENG | Engine |
| EPA | Environmental Protection Agency |
| EPIRB | Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon |
| EQS | Environmental Quality Standard |
| EQUIP | Equipment |
| EQUIV | Equivalent |
| ER - E/R | Engine Room |
| ESD | Emergency Shut Down (System) |
| ESFRS | Electronic Supply Fund Reporting System |
| ESP | Enhanced Survey Program |
| ESP | Spain (Flag) |
| EST | Estonia (Flag) |
| ETA | Estimated Time of Arrival |
| ETC | Estimated Time of Completion |
| ETD | Estimated Time of Departure |
| ETS | Estimated Time of Sailing |
| EU | European Union |
| EURO | European Vessel |
| EUROS | European Community Ship Register |
| EUSC | Effective United States Control Vessels |
| EXIMBANK | Export-Import Bank |
| EXP | Expires |
| EXT | Extension |
| EXW | Ex Works |
| FACS | Federation of American Controlled Shipping |
| FAQ | Frequently Asked Questions |
| FAR | Federal Acquisition Regulations |
| FAS | Free Alongside Ship |
| FASA | Federal Acquisition Streamlining Act of 1994 |
| FASA | Federation of ASIAN Shipowners Association |
| FBI | Federal Bureau of Investigation |
| FC | Facilitation Committee (IMO) |
| FCA | Free to Carrier |
| FCC | Federal Communication Commission |
| FD | Free Discharge |
| FD&D/FDD | Freight, Demurrage, And Deadfreight |
| FDESP | Free Dispatch |
| FDIS | Free Discharge |
| FEMSS | Facility Engineering Management Support System |
| FEPORT | Federation of European Private Terminal Operator |
| FERC | Federal Energy Regulatory Commission |
| FEU | Forty-Foot Equivalent Unit (Container) |
| FHEX | Fridays, Holidays Excepted (Muslim Countries) |
| FHINC | Fridays, Holidays Included (Muslim Countries) |
| FIATA | Federation of Freight Forwarders Associations |
| FILO | Free In/Liner Out |
| FIN | Finland (Flag) |
| FIO | Free In and Out |
| FLO/FLO | Float On / Float Off |
| FMC | Federal Maritime Commission |
| FMF | Foreign Military Financing |
| FMIS | Facility Management Information System |
| FMS | Fathoms |
| FN | Fidenavis S.A. (Spanish Class Society) |
| FND | Foundered |
| FO | Fuel Oil |
| FOB | Free On Board |
| FOG | For Our Guidance |
| FOM | Flag/Ownership/Management |
| FON | Freedom Of Navigation |
| FONASBA | Federation Of National Associations of Shipbrokers & Agents |
| FONSI | Finding Of No Significant Impact (Environmental Assessment) |
| FOQ | Free On Quay |
| FOS | Full Operational Status |
| FOSC | Federal On-Scene Coordinator |
| FOW | First Open Water |
| FOW | Free On Warf |
| FP | Subcommittee on Fire Protection (IMO) |
| FPA | Foreign Port Assessment Program |
| FPA | Free of Particular Average |
| FPS | Floating Production and Storage |
| FPSO | Floating Production, Storage & Offloading |
| FR | Federal Register (U.S.) |
| FR | Frame (FRM) |
| FRA | France (Flag) |
| FRN | Foreign Vessel |
| FRP | Facility Response Plan |
| FSH | Fishing Vessel |
| FSI | Subcommittee on Flag State Implementation |
| FSRU | Floating Storage & Re-Gasification Unit |
| FT3 | Cubic Feet |
| FTBS | Fire-Tube Boiler Survey |
| FUND | Ship Financing Revolving Fund |
| F/V | Fishing Vessel |
| FV | First Visit |
| FW | Free Water |
| FW | Fresh Water |
| FWAD | Fresh Water Draft On Arrival |
| FWD | Forward |
| FWDD | Fresh Water Departure Draft |
| FWE | Finished With Engines |
| FWPCA | Federal Water Pollution Control Act |
| FY | Fiscal Year |
| FYG | For Your Guidance |
| FYI | For Your Information |
| G7 / G8 | Group of Seven Nations or Eight Nations (United States, Canada, Japan, Britain, France, Germany, and Italy) + Russia |
| G.A./GA | General Average |
| GAA | General Agency Agreement |
| GATS | General Agreement on Trade in Services |
| GATT | General Agreement On Tariffs and Trade 1994 (now WTO) |
| GBR | United Kingdom (Flag) |
| GC | Gas Codes |
| GCBS | General Council of British Shipping |
| GCV | Gross Caloric Value |
| GEN | General Cargo |
| GFP | Government-Furnished Property |
| GIFA | Governing International Fisheries Agreements |
| GIIGNL | Association of International Liquefied Gas Importers |
| GIS | Geographic Information System |
| GIS | German International Ship Register |
| GIWW | Gulf Intracoastal Waterway |
| GL | Germanischer Lloyd (German Class Society) |
| GLS | Gearless |
| GMDSS | Global Maritime Distress and Safety System (IMO) |
| GMT | Greenwich Mean Time (Universal/Zulu Time) |
| GN | Grain |
| GNCN | General Conditions |
| GNSS | Global Navigational Satellite System |
| GO | Gas Oil |
| GOM | Gulf Of Mexico |
| GOV | Gross Observed Volume |
| GPA | GATT Procurement Agreement |
| GPG | General Policy Group (IACS) |
| GPS | Global Positioning System |
| GRC | Greece (Flag) |
| GRD | Geared |
| GRN | Grounded |
| GRS | Gears |
| GRT | Gross Registered Tonnage |
| GSB | Guaranteed Safe Berth |
| GSV | Gross Standard Volume |
| GT | Gas Transport |
| GT | Gross Tons |
| GTEE | Guarantee |
| GTT | Gas Transport / Technigas |
| HA | Hatch |
| HANDYMAX | Bulk Carrier 35,000-50,000 DWT |
| HANDYSIZE | Bulk Carrier 10,000-35,000 DWT |
| HAZMAT | Hazardous Materials |
| HAZMAT | NOAA's Hazardous Materials Response and Assessment Division |
| HBL | Hydrostatically Balanced Loading |
| HC | Hydraulic Coupling |
| HCPV | High Capacity Passenger Vessel |
| HD | High Demand |
| HDLTSBENDS | Half Dispatch Lay Time Saved Both Ends |
| HDWTS | Half Dispatch Working Time Saved |
| HE | Human Element |
| HF | High Frequency |
| HFO | Heavy Fuel Oil |
| HMS | Heavy Metal Scraps |
| HMT | Harbor Maintenance Tax |
| HNS | Hazardous and Noxious Substances |
| HO | Heavy Oil |
| HO | Hold |
| HO | Honduras (Flag) |
| HO | Hydrographic Office (UK) |
| HOR | Horizontal |
| HP | High-Pressure |
| HP | Horsepower |
| HPTB | High Pressure Turbine |
| HR | Hellenic Register (Greek Class Society) |
| HS | Harmonized Commodity Description and Coding System |
| HSC | High Speed Craft Code (IMO) |
| HSE | Health, Safety and Environmental Group (U.K.) |
| HSE | Health & Safety Executive (UK) |
| HTS | Harmonized Tariff Schedule |
| HTSUS | Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States |
| HUET | Helicopter Underwater Egress Training |
| HVR | Hague-Visby Rules |
| HW | Heavy Weather |
| HW | High Water |
| HYPOT | High Potential Test for Electric Equipment |
| IACS | International Association of Classification Societies |
| IALA | International Association of Lighthouse Authorities |
| IAPH | International Association of Ports and Harbors |
| IATA | International Air Transport Association |
| IAW | In Accordance With |
| IBC | International Code for Vessels Carrying Chemicals in Bulk (IMO) |
| ICC | International Chamber of Commerce |
| ICCL | International Council of Cruise Lines |
| ICJ | International Court of Justice |
| ICS | International Chamber of Shipping |
| ID | Owner Identification Number |
| IEC | Electrotechnical Commission |
| IEEE | Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers |
| IEU | Independent Economic Unit (Employed Person) |
| IFIA | International Federation of Independent Inspectors |
| IFO | Intermediate Fuel Oil |
| IFR | Interim Final Rule |
| IG | Inert Gas |
| IGC | Intergovernmental Conference (EU) |
| IGC | International Code for Vessels Carrying Liquefied Gases (IMO) |
| IGS | Inert Gas System |
| IHB | International Hydrographic Bureau |
| IHO | International Hydrographic Organization |
| IHSA | Intervention on High Seas Act |
| ILA | International Longshoremen's Association |
| ILO | International Labor Organization |
| ILTA | Independent Liquid Terminal Association |
| ILU | Institute of London Underwriters |
| ILWA | International Longshoremen's and Warehousemen's Union |
| IMB | International Maritime Bureau |
| IMDG | International Maritime Dangerous Goods Code |
| IMF | International Monetary Fund |
| IMIF | International Maritime Industries Forum |
| IMLI | International Maritime Law Institute (IMO) |
| IMO | International Maritime Organization (UN) |
| IMPA | International Maritime Pilots Association |
| IN | India (Flag) |
| INBD | Inboard |
| INCOTERMS | International Commercial Terms |
| IND | Indication |
| INMARSAT | International Maritime Convention on Communication by Satellite |
| INS | Immigration & Naturalization Agency |
| INT | Intermediate Survey or Interval |
| INTERCARGO | International Association of Dry Cargo Shipowners |
| INTERTANKO | International Association of Independent Tanker Owners |
| IOPC | International Oil Pollution Compensation Fund (See CLC) |
| IOPP | International Oil Pollution Certificate |
| IP | Institute of Petroleum (now EI) |
| IRIS | Incident Reporting Information System |
| IRL | Republic of Ireland (Flag) |
| IRM | Information Resources Management |
| IRN | Iran (Flag) |
| IRQS | Indian Register Quality Systems |
| IRS | Indian Register of Shipping (Class Society) |
| IS | Intact Stability Code (IMO) |
| ISF | International Shipping Federation |
| ISGOTT | International Safety Guide for Oil Tankers and Terminals |
| ISIP | International School for Inspectors of Petroleum |
| ISM (Code) | International Safety Management Code, “International Management Code for the Safe Operation of Ships and/or Pollution Prevention.” |
| ISMA | International Ship Managers Association |
| ISO | International Standards Organization |
| ISOA | International Support Vessel Owners Association |
| ISPS | International Ship and Port Facility Code and SOLAS Amendments 2002 |
| ISR | Israel (Flag) |
| ISSC | International Ship Security Certificate |
| ISTEA | Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act |
| IT | Independent Tank |
| IT | Information Technology |
| IT | Italy (Flag) |
| ITB | Integrated Tug Barge |
| ITC | Independent Tank, Center |
| ITC | International Tonnage Convention |
| ITC | International Trade Commission |
| ITF | International Transport Workers Federation |
| ITOPF | International Tanker Owners Pollution Federation |
| ITU | International Telecommunications Union |
| ITW | Independent Tank, Wing |
| ITX | Independent Tank, Common |
| IU | If Used |
| IUHTAUTC | If Used, Half Time Actually to Count |
| IUMI | International Union of Marine Insurance |
| IWL | Institute Warranty Limits |
| LAMP | Large Amplitude Motions and Loads |
| LAN | Local Area Network |
| LASH | Lighter Aboard Ship (barge carrier) |
| LAT | Latitude |
| LAWS | Legal Automated Workstation System |
| LBP | Length Between Perpendiculars |
| LBR | Liberian (Flag) |
| L/C | Letter Of Credit |
| LC | Landing Craft |
| LCAC | Landing Craft Air Cushion |
| LCL | Less than Container Load |
| LD | Low Demand |
| LDGINST | Loading Instrument |
| LDGMANUAL | Loading Manual |
| LDRS | Legal Document Research System |
| LDT | Light Displacement Ton |
| LEIS | Law Enforcement Information System |
| LEV | Level (LEVL) |
| LGC | Liquefied Gas Carrier |
| LHG | Liquefied Hazardous Gas |
| LHWCA | Longshore and Harbor Workers Compensation Act |
| LIBOR | London Interbank Offered Rate |
| LIQD | Liquid |
| LIQDLEVL | Liquid Level |
| LIST | London Institute of Shipping and Transport |
| LL | Loadline (International Convention On Load Lines) |
| LLMC | Convention(s) on Limitation of Liability for Maritime Claims |
| LLP | Lloyd's of London Press |
| LMAA | London Maritime Arbitrators Association |
| LNG | Liquefied Natural Gas |
| LNGC | LNG Carrier |
| LO | Lubricating Oil |
| LO/LO | Lift On/Lift Off |
| LOA | Length Overall |
| LOC | Location |
| LOF (95) | Lloyd’s Open Form (of Salvage Agreement) (1995) |
| LOI | Letter of Indemnity |
| LOIS | LORAN-C Operations Information System |
| LONG | Longitude |
| LONG | Longitudinal |
| LOP | Letter of Protest (See NOP) |
| LOP | Line of Position |
| LOT | Load On Top |
| LOW | Last Open Water |
| LP | Low Pressure |
| LPG | Liquefied Petroleum Gas |
| LPTB | Low Pressure Turbine |
| LR | Lloyd's Register of Shipping (British Class Society) |
| LR1 | (Large Range 1) Vessels 50,000-79,999 DWT |
| LR2 | (Large Range 2) Vessels 80,000-159,000 DWT |
| LSC | Liberian Shipping Council |
| LSI | Life-Saving Index (Coast Guard) |
| LT | Local Time |
| LT | Long Ton |
| LTM | Long Ton/Miles |
| LU | Laid-Up |
| LUFS | Large Unit Financial System |
| LV | Last Visit |
| LVA | Latvia (Flag) |
| LW | Long Water |
| LW | Lower |
| LYCN | Laycan (Layday Canceling Date) |
| M(MN) | Main |
| M&R | Maintenance And Repair |
| MAP | Military Assistance Program |
| MARAD | Maritime Administration (U.S.) |
| MARBS | Marine Assistance Request Broadcasts |
| MARDEZ | Maritime Defense Zones |
| MARIENV | International Conference on Technologies for Marine Environment Preservation |
| MARITECH | Maritime Systems Technology Program (U.S.) |
| MARPOL | Marine Pollution Prevention (International Convention) MARS Nautical Institute Marine Accident Reporting System |
| MARS | Nautical Institute Marine Accident Reporting System |
| MAS | Mandatory Annual Survey (SOLAS, MARPOL) |
| MAT | Materials |
| MAYDAY | Distress Signal (Spoken Word) |
| MB | Main Bearing |
| MB | Merchant Broker |
| MC | Mutual Consent |
| MCRC | Marine Casualty Response Center (ABS Marine Services) |
| MCT | Marine Custody Transfer |
| MCTM | Marine Custody Transfer Measurement |
| MDO | Marine Diesel Oil |
| ME | Main Engine |
| ME | Marine Engineer(ing) |
| MEHRA | Marine Environmentally High Risk Areas |
| MEP | Marine Environmental Protection |
| MEPC | Marine Environmental Protection Committee (IMO) |
| MERCOSUR | South American Common Market |
| MERPAC | Merchant Marine Personnel Advisory Committee |
| M/F | Made Fast |
| MF | Meter Factor |
| MFAG | Medical First Aid Guide |
| MFCMA | Magnuson Fishery Conservation and Management Act |
| MFN | Most Favored Nation |
| MGO | Marine Gas Oil |
| MHW | Mean High Water |
| MHWS | Mean High Water Springs |
| MIS | Missing |
| MISC | Malaysian International Shipping Corporation |
| MIT | Massachusetts Institute of Technology |
| MLLW | Mean Lower Low Water |
| MLM | International Convention On Maritime Liens and Mortgages, 1993 |
| MLW | Mean Low Water |
| MLWS | Mean Low Water Springs |
| MMD | Merchant Marines Document (USCG) |
| MMLD | Merchant Marine Licensing & Document System |
| MMPA | Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972 |
| MMS | Minerals Management Service (U.S.) |
| MO | Month |
| MOC | Memorandum Of Consultation |
| MODU | Mobile Offshore Drilling Unit |
| MOLCHOPT | More Or Less Charterer's Option (see MOLCO) |
| MOLCO | More Or Less Charterers’ Option (see MOLCHOPT) |
| MOLOO | More Or Less Owners’ Option |
| MOPU | Mobile Offshore Production Unit |
| MOT | Motor |
| MOU | Memorandum of Understanding (Port State Control) |
| MPA | Marine Protection Area |
| MPG | Miles Per Gallon |
| MPMS | Manual of Petroleum Measurement Standards (API) |
| MRGO | Mississippi River Gulf Outlet |
| MRR | Maritime Regulatory Reform |
| MRS | Mobility Requirements Study |
| MS | Marshall Islands (Flag) |
| MSB | Maritime Subsidy Board |
| MSC | Marine Safety Committee (IMO) |
| MSC | Maritime Safety Committee |
| MSC | Maritime Safety Center (US Coast Guard) |
| MSC | Military Sealift Command |
| MSDS | Material Safety Data Sheet |
| MSIS | Marine Safety Information System |
| MSNAP | Merchant Ship Naval Augmentation Program |
| MSO | Marine Safety Office |
| MSRC | Marine Spill Response Corporation |
| MSS | Mobile Satellite Services |
| M/T or MT | Motor Tanker |
| MT | Malta (Flag) |
| MT | Meters |
| MT | Metric Ton |
| MTMC | Military Transportation Management Command |
| MTSA | Marine Transportation Security Act (U.S.) |
| M/V | Motor Vessel (Diesel) |
| M/V or MV | Motor Vessel |
| MX | Mexico (Flag) |
| N | New |
| NA | Not Applicable |
| NA&ME | Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering |
| NAABSA | Not Always Afloat But Safe Aground |
| NAFO | Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organization |
| NAFTA | North American Free Trade Agreement |
| NATO | North Atlantic Treaty Organization |
| NAV | Naval Vessel |
| NAV | Subcommittee on Safety of Navigation (IMO) |
| NAVIC | Navigation and Inspection Circular (U.S. Coast Guard) |
| NAVINFONET | Navigation Information Network |
| NAVSEA | Naval Sea System Command |
| N/B | New Building |
| NBS | National Bureau of Standards (see NIST – renamed in 1989) |
| NBSAC | National Boating Safety Advisory Council |
| NC | Non-Continuous Liner on Tailshaft |
| NCB | National Cargo Bureau |
| NCP | National Oil and Hazardous Substances Pollution Contingency Plan |
| NDRF | National Defense Reserve Fleet |
| NEC | National Economic Council |
| NECAD | Naval Engineering CAD |
| NFFD | Not Fit For Duty |
| NFPA | National Fire Protection Association |
| NGL | Natural Gas Liquid |
| NGMTS | Negotiating Group on Maritime Transport |
| NGO | Non-Governmental Organization |
| NIC | Newly Industrialized Country |
| NIMA | National Imagery and Mapping Agency |
| NIMIS | NPFC Integrated Management System |
| NIS | Newly Independent States |
| NIS | Norwegian International Ship Register |
| NISA | National Invasive Species Act 1996 |
| NIST | National Institute of Standards and Technology (formerly NBS) |
| NKK | Nippon Kaiji Kyokai (Japanese Class Society) |
| NL | No Liner On Tailshaft |
| NLD | Netherlands (Flag) |
| NLRB | National Labor Relations Board |
| NLS | Noxious Liquid Substance |
| NM | Nautical Mile |
| NMD | Norwegian Maritime Directorate |
| NMEI | National Maritime Enhancement Institute |
| NMFS | National Marine Fisheries Service |
| NMREC | National Maritime Resource Center |
| NOA | Notification of Arrival |
| NOAA | National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Department of Commerce |
| NONCOND | Non-Condensing |
| NOP | Notice of Protest (see LOP) |
| NOR | Norway (Flag) |
| NOR/N.O.R. | Notice Of Readiness |
| NOS | National Ocean Service (Part of NOAA) |
| NOTMAR | Notice To Mariners |
| NPDES | National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System |
| NPFC | National Pollution Funds Center |
| NPRM | Notice of Proposed Rulemaking |
| NPV | Net Present Value |
| NRC | National Research Council |
| NRC | National Response Center |
| NRDA | Natural Resource Damage Assessment (OPA 90) |
| NRT | Net Registered Tonnage |
| NSCSA | National Shipping Company of Saudi Arabia |
| NSF | National Science Foundation |
| NSFCC | National Strike Force Coordinator |
| NSI | National Shipbuilding Initiative |
| NSR | Northern Sea Route (Northeast Passage - Japan/European Continent) |
| NSRP | National Shipbuilding Research Program |
| NSV | Net Standard Volume |
| NSW | Net Standard Weight |
| NT | Net Tons |
| NTIS | National Technical Information Service |
| NTSB | National Transportation Safety Board (U.S.) |
| NTU | Non-Transportation Use |
| NVIC | Navigation and Vessel Inspection Circular (USCG) |
| NVOCC | Non-Vessel Operating Common Carrier |
| NYME | New York Mercantile Exchange |
| NYPE | New York Produce Exchange (Time Charter Party) |
| NYSA | New York Shipping Association |
| NYSMA | New York Society of Maritime Arbitrators |
| OB | Oil-Lubricated Stern Bearing |
| OBO | Ore/Bulk/Oil |
| OBQ | On-Board Quantity (before loading) |
| OC | Oil-Lubricated Stern Bearing, Continuous Liner on Tailshaft |
| OCIMF | Oil Companies International Marine Forum |
| OCMI | Officer in Charge of Marine Inspection (USCG) |
| OCS | Outer Continental Shelf |
| ODP | Ocean Drilling Program |
| ODS | Operating Differential Subsidy |
| ODSA | Operating Differential Subsidy Agreement |
| OECD | Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development |
| OFAC | Office of Foreign Assets Control |
| OMBO | One Man Bridge Operation |
| ONR | Office of Naval Research |
| ONS | Offshore Northern Seas Conference |
| OO | Owners Option |
| OPA 90 | Oil Pollution Act of 1990 (U.S.) |
| OPBO | One Person Bridge Operation |
| OPDS | Offshore Petroleum Discharge System |
| OPEC | Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries |
| ORO | Ore/Oil Carrier |
| OSH | Open Shelter Deck |
| OSHA | Occupational Safety and Health Administration |
| OSI | Offshore Storage Installation |
| OSR | Outstanding Recommendation Against Class |
| OSRO | Oil Spill Removal Organization |
| OSV | Offshore Supply Vessel |
| OT | Oil Tight |
| OTBD | Outboard |
| OTC | Offshore Technology Conference |
| OUPV | Operator of Uninspected Passenger Vessels |
| OWS | Owners |
| P | Port |
| P&I | Protection And Indemnity (Insurance Clubs) |
| PA | Port Aft |
| PAJ | Petroleum Association of Japan |
| PAK | Pakistan (Flag) |
| PANAMAX | A tanker of the maximum size capable of transit of the Panama Canal (approx. 50,000-80,000 DWT) (breadth normally the limiting factor) |
| PASS | Passenger |
| PBOS | Planning Board for Ocean Shipping |
| PC | Part Cargo |
| PC | Period Charter |
| PCC | Pure Car Carrier |
| PCD | Pacific Coast District |
| PCGO | Part Cargo |
| PCT | Percent |
| PCTC | Pure Car Truck Carrier |
| PDDS | Personnel Data Decision System |
| PDPR | Per Day Pro-Rated |
| PE | Peru (Flag) |
| PET | Portable Electronic Thermometer |
| PF | Port Facility |
| PF | Port Forward |
| PFD | Personal Flotation Device |
| PFDMA | PFD Manufacturers Association |
| PG | Persian Gulf (See AG) |
| PFSO | Port Facility Security Officer |
| PFSP | Port Facility Security Plan |
| PGE | Permanent Group of Experts (In Agreement on Subsidies and Countervailing Measures) |
| PHL | Philippines (Flag) |
| PHPD | Per Hatch Per Day |
| PI | Port Inboard |
| PIC | Person In Charge |
| PIMA | Petroleum Industries Marine Association (of Japan) |
| PIOPIC | P and I Oil Pollution Indemnity Clause |
| PIST | Piston |
| PL | Public Law |
| PLS | Position Location Systems |
| PLTG | Plating |
| PMA | Pacific Maritime Association |
| PMU | Portable Measurement Unit |
| PN | Panama (Flag) |
| POB | Pilot On Board |
| POL | Poland (Flag) |
| POSH | Port Out Starboard Home |
| PP | Port Prefix (For Survey Report Number) |
| PPE | Personal Protective Equipment |
| PPM | Parts Per Million |
| PR | (See PRS) |
| PRC | Peoples Republic of China |
| PREP | National Preparedness for Response Exercise Program |
| PRES | Pressure |
| PROP | Propeller |
| PROV | Provisional |
| PRP | Potentially Responsible Party |
| PRS | Polish Register (Class Society) |
| PSA | Port Security Assessment |
| PSC | Port State Control |
| PSI | Port State Initiative (U.S. Coast Guard) |
| PSI | Pounds Per Square Inch |
| PSIX | Port State Information Exchange |
| PSO | Port Security Officer |
| PSU | Portable Sampling Unit |
| PTSA | Port and Tanker Safety Act |
| PUF | Passenger User Fee |
| P/V | Pressure Vacuum (Valve) |
| PVA | Passenger Vessel Association |
| PVO | Passenger Vessel Operator |
| PWS | Prince William Sound |
| PWSA | Ports and Waterways Safety Act |
| PWWD | Per Weather Working Day |
| R | Reconditioned |
| R&D | Research And Development |
| RAP | Remedial Action Projects |
| RB | Rubber Stern Bearing |
| RBS | Recreational Boating Safety |
| RC | Rubber Stern Bearing, Continuous Liner on Tailshaft |
| RCAC | Regional Citizens Advisory Council |
| RCC | Rescue Coordination Center |
| RCRA | Resource Conservation and Recovery Act |
| RCVR | Receiver(s) |
| RDF | Radio Direction Finder |
| RE | Regulatory Evaluation |
| REEFER | Refrigerated Cargo Ship or Container |
| REF | Refrigeration |
| REP | Reporting System |
| REV | Reversing |
| REVRPT | Revised Report |
| RFG | Reformulated Gasoline (Clean Air Act) |
| RGB | Return Gas Blower |
| RI | (See Rina) |
| RINA | Registro Italiano Navale (Italian Class Society) |
| RINA | Royal Institute of Naval Architects |
| RM | Room |
| RN | Rubber Stern Bearing, Non-Continuous Liner on Tailshaft |
| RNR | Rumanian Register (Class Society) |
| RO | Rumania (Flag) |
| ROB | Remaining On-Board (after discharge) |
| RORO | Roll On/Roll Off |
| ROS | Reduced Operational Status |
| RP | Rinave Portuguesa (Portuguese Class Society) |
| RPR | Repairs |
| RPT | Rapid Phase Transition |
| RPT | Report |
| RR | (See RNR) |
| RRF | Ready Reserve Force |
| RRS | Russian Register of Shipping (Class Society) |
| RS | Russia (Flag) |
| RS | Russian Maritime Register of Shipping |
| RSPA | Research and Special Programs Administration |
| RT | Revenue Ton |
| RVP | Reid Vapor Pressure |
| S | Starboard |
| S&W | Sediment & Water (formerly BS&W) |
| SA | Shipyard Agreement |
| SA | Starboard Aft |
| SAA | Security Assessment Audit |
| SAFCON | Safety Construction Certificates |
| SAIL | System to Automate and Integrate Logistics |
| SALM | Single Anchor Leg Mooring |
| SAR | Search And Rescue |
| SAR | Subcommittee on Radio Communication and Search and Rescue (IMO) |
| SARMIS | SAR Management Information System |
| SARSAT | Search and Rescue Satellite |
| SARSIM | SAR Simulation Model |
| SAS | Annual Special Survey of Hull |
| SATPM | Saturday P.M. |
| SAU | Saudi Arabia (Flag) |
| SB | Safe Berth |
| SBD | System-Based Design |
| SBM | Single Buoy Mooring |
| SBT | Segregated Ballast Tanks |
| SCA | Suez Canal Authority |
| SCAC | Standard Carrier Alpha Code |
| SCAMP | Shipboard Computer-Aided Maintenance Program |
| SCBA | Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus |
| SCM | Stern To Manifold (Distance) |
| SCMS | Society of Consulting Marine Engineers and Ship Surveyors |
| SCRS | Croatian Register of Shipping (Class Society) |
| SCVNG | Scavenging |
| SD | Single Decker |
| SDR | Special Drawing Rights |
| SDWT | Summer Deadweight |
| SEBS | Single-Ended Boiler Survey |
| SELFD | Self Discharging |
| SEMI | Semi-Submersible (MODU) |
| SERV | Service |
| SF | Starboard Forward |
| SF | Stowage Factor |
| SG | Specific Gravity |
| SH | Superheater |
| SHC | Shipping Coordination Committee |
| SHEX | Sundays and Holidays Excluded |
| SHINC | Sundays and Holidays Included |
| SI | Starboard Inboard |
| SI | International System of Units |
| SIGTTO | Society of International Gas Tanker and Terminal Operators |
| SIRE | Ship Inspection Report Exchange (OCIMF) |
| SIS | Special Intermediate Survey |
| SL | Bale (Capacity) |
| SLC | Cargo Ship Safety Construction Certificate |
| SLE | Safety Equipment Certificate |
| SLF | Subcommittee on Stability Loadlines and Fishing Vessel Safety (IMO) |
| SLP | Passenger Ship Safety Certificate |
| SLR | Cargo Ship Safety Radio Telegraphy/Telephony Certificate |
| SMA | Society of Maritime Arbitrators |
| SMC | Safety Management Certificate (IMO) |
| SMCP | Standard Marine Communication Phrases (IMO) |
| SML | Small |
| SMS | Safety Management System (ISM) |
| SMT | Ship's Management Team |
| SNAME | Society of Naval Architects and Marine Engineers |
| SNC | Survey Not Complete |
| SNK | Sunk |
| SNPRM | Supplemental Notice of Proposed Rulemaking |
| SNUBA | Surface Nexus Underwater Breathing Apparatus |
| SOC | Shipper Owned Container |
| SOC | Society |
| SOCP | Ship Operations Cooperative Program |
| SOF | Statement of Facts |
| SOLAS | Safety Of Life At Sea (International Convention) |
| SOPEP | Shipboard Oil Pollution Emergency Plan |
| SOS | Morse Code Distress Signal (…---…) |
| SP | Safe Port |
| SP MAT | Special Material |
| SPC | Self-Polishing Copolymer (Anti-Fouling Compound) |
| SPM | Agreement on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures |
| SPM | Single Point Mooring System |
| SPR | Strategic Petroleum Reserve |
| SRA | Ship Repair Agreement |
| SRBL | Signing and Releasing Bill of Lading |
| SS | Special Survey |
| SS | Steam Ship |
| SSA | Special Periodical Survey of Automated Control System |
| SSC | Ship Structure Committee |
| SSG | Special Safeguard (In Agreement on Agriculture) |
| SSH | Special Periodical Survey of Hull |
| SSHEX | Saturdays, Sundays, Holidays Excluded |
| SSHINC | Saturdays, Sundays, Holidays Included |
| SSIGS | Special Periodical Survey of Inert Gas System |
| SSM | Special Periodical Survey of Machinery |
| SSO | Ship Security Officer |
| SSP | Ship Security Plan |
| SSTDP | Sealift Ship Technology Development Program |
| ST | Special Treatment |
| STAA | Surface Transportation Assistance Act |
| STAB | Stability |
| STARS | Ship Tracking and Retrieval System |
| STBD | Starboard |
| STCW | Standards For Training Certification and Watchkeeping (IMO Convention) |
| STD | Standard |
| STEM | Subject To Enough Merchandise |
| STEM | ( See Tanker Definitions ) |
| STL | Scuttled |
| STO | Now used as a Storage Tanker |
| STW | Subcommittee on Standards of Training and Watchkeeping (IMO) |
| SUB | Subject (To .....) |
| SUEZMAX | A tanker of the maximum size capable of transit of the Suez Canal (approx. 150,000-200,000 DWT) |
| SUPER | See CERCLA |
| SV | Single Visit |
| SVY | Survey |
| SWAD | Salt Water Arrival Draft |
| SWATH | Small Waterplane Area Twin Hull |
| SWDD | Salt Water Departure Draft |
| SWE | Sweden (Flag) |
| SWIFT | Society for World-Wide Inter-Bank Financial Telecommunication |
| SYST | System |
| T-ACS | Auxiliary Crane Ship |
| TAG | Technical Advisory Group |
| TALFF | Total Allowable Level of Foreign Fishing |
| TAPS | Trans Alaska Pipeline Service |
| TAX | Storage Tanks Tax |
| T/B | Integrated Tug/Barge |
| TBN | To Be Nominated |
| TBS | To Be Scrapped |
| TBS | Tubeshaft |
| TBT | Technical Barriers to Trade |
| T/C or TC | Time Charter |
| TCV | Total Calculated Volume |
| TDWT | Total Tons Deadweight |
| TDWT | Tropical Deadweight |
| TEA | Targeted Export Assistance |
| TEU | Twenty Foot (Container) Equivalent |
| TF | Tropical Fresh |
| TGZ | Technigaz |
| TL | Turkish Lloyd's (Class Society) |
| TLO | Total Loss Only |
| TLP | Tension Leg Platform |
| TMSA | Tanker Management & Self Assessment |
| TNK | Tank |
| TO | Tender Offer |
| TOCA | Transfer Of Class Agreement (IACS) |
| TOT | Total Loss |
| TOV | Total Observed Volume |
| TOVALOP | Tanker Owners Voluntary Agreement concerning Liability for Oil Pollution (now defunct) |
| TPI | Tons Per Inch (Immersion) |
| TPC | Tons Per Centimeter (Immersion) |
| TPRB | Trade Policy Review Body |
| TR | Triple Screw |
| TRANS | Transverse |
| TRB | Transportation Research Board |
| TRIM & STAB | Trim And Stability Booklet |
| TSAC | Towing Safety Advisory Committee |
| TTL | Total |
| TU | Turkey (Flag) |
| T/V | Tanker Vessel |
| TVEL | Tank Vessel Examination Letter |
| TW | Tween Decker |
| TW | Twin Screw |
| TWEA | Trading With the Enemy Act |
| TWN | Taiwan (Flag) |
| TYP | Type |
| UC | Unanimous Consent |
| UK P&I | United Kingdom Mutual |
| UKAPTO | United Kingdom Association of Private Terminal Operators |
| UKR | Ukraine (Flag) |
| UL | Underwriters Laboratories |
| ULCC | Ultra Large Crude Carrier (over 320,000 DWT) |
| ULMS | Unit Logistics Management System |
| UMIB | Urgent Marine Information Broadcast |
| UMIS | Reserve Unit Management Information System |
| UN | United Nations |
| UNCITRAL | United Nations Commission on International Trade Law |
| UNCLOS | UN Law of the Sea Convention |
| UNCTAD | United Nations Commission on Trade and Development |
| UNHCR | United Nations High Commission on Refugees |
| UPR | Unearned Passenger Revenue |
| UR | Ukrainian Register |
| UR | Uruguay Round |
| USAID | United States Agency for International Development |
| USC | United States Code |
| USC | Unless Sooner Commenced |
| USCG | United States Coast Guard |
| USD | United States Dollar |
| USDA | United States Department of Agriculture |
| USEPA | United States Environmental Protection Agency |
| USG | United States Code of Federal Regulations |
| USG | United States Gulf |
| USNH | United States North of (Cape) Hatteras |
| USTR | United States Trade Representative |
| UT | Universal Time |
| UU | Unless Uses |
| UUTWCTAUTC | Unless Used In Which Case Time Actually Used To Count |
| VAT | Value Added Tax |
| VC | St. Vincent & The Grenadines (Flag) |
| VCF | Volume Correction Factor |
| VCG | Vertical Center of Gravity |
| VCV | Vapor Control Valve |
| VEF | Vessel Experience Factor |
| VGB | Virgin Islands, British |
| VIDS | Vessel Identification System |
| VIRES | Vietnam Register |
| VLBC | Very Large Bulk Carrier (over 180,000 DWT) |
| VLCC | Very Large Crude Carrier (between 160,000 - 320,000 DWT) |
| VLGC | Very Large Gas Carrier |
| VLLNGC | Very Large LNG Carrier |
| VMRS | Vessel Movement Reporting System |
| VNM | Vietnam (Flag) |
| VNTSC | Volpe National Transportation Systems Center |
| VOSS | Vessel of Opportunity Skimming System |
| VPD | Vessel Pays Dues |
| VPQ | Vessel Particulars Questionnaire |
| VRP | Vessel Response Plan |
| VRS | Vapor Recovery System |
| VSOA | Vessel Safety and Operations Audit |
| VTS | Vessel Traffic System |
| VUT | Vanuatu (Flag) |
| W | Waived |
| WB | Water Ballast |
| WBT | Water Ballast Tank |
| WCCON | Whether Customs Cleared Or Not |
| WCO | World Customs Organization (Ex Customs Cooperation Council) |
| WEMT | West European Confederation of Maritime Technology Societies |
| WHBS | Waste Heat Boiler Survey |
| WHFTBS | Waste Heat Fire-Tube Boiler Survey |
| WHL | West of Harvey Lock |
| WHOI | Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution |
| WHWTBS | Waste Heat Water-Tube Boiler Survey |
| WIBON | Whether In Berth Or Not |
| WIFPON | Whether In Free Pratique Or Not |
| WIPON | Whether In Port Or Not |
| WISTA | Women's International Shipping and Trading Association |
| WLTHOHC | Water Line-To-Hatch Coaming |
| W/M | Weight or Measurement |
| WMO | World Meteorological Organization |
| WMU | World Maritime University (Malmo, Sweden) |
| WNA | Winter North Atlantic |
| WOG | Without Guarantee |
| WOG | Without Guaranty |
| WP | Weather Permitting |
| WP | Working Paper |
| WP/E | Working Party on Electricity (IACS) |
| WP/FPS | Working Party on Fire Protection and Safety (IACS) |
| WP/HE | Working Party on Human Element (IACS) |
| WP/M | Working Party on Machinery (IACS) |
| WP/S | Working Party on Strength of Ships (IACS) |
| WP/SRC | Working Party on Surveyors Reporting and Certification (IACS) |
| WP/SSLL | Working Party on Stability Subdivision and Load Lines (IACS) |
| WQIS | Water Quality Insurance Syndicate |
| WRIC | Wire Rods in Coils |
| WRK | Wrecked |
| WS | Worldscale |
| WTBS | Water-Tube Boiler Survey |
| WTO | World Trade Organization |
| WTR | Water |
| WWD | Weather Working Days |
| WWR | When, Where Ready |
Provided as a service of Enercon Group, Inc.
October 2013