Definitions, as published
The definition of each term exactly as its official source words it, with the article or page it comes from.
| Term slug | Definition text | Citation |
|---|---|---|
| dead-weight-ton | The unit dead weight tons (dwt) is used to indicate the cargo carrying capacity of a ship, while gross tons (GT) reflects its size. | UNCTADstat, Maritime and other transport, Metadata (World merchant fleet). |
| gross-ton | The unit dead weight tons (dwt) is used to indicate the cargo carrying capacity of a ship, while gross tons (GT) reflects its size. | UNCTADstat, Maritime and other transport, Metadata (World merchant fleet). |
| fob-type-value | The FOB-type value covers the transaction value of the traded goods and the value of the services for their delivery up to the border of the exporting country. | UNCTADstat, Maritime and other transport, Metadata (Transport costs for delivery of international merchandise trade). |
| cif-type-value | The CIF-type value covers additionally the value of the services performed to deliver the goods from the border of the exporting country to the border of the importing country. | UNCTADstat, Maritime and other transport, Metadata (Transport costs for delivery of international merchandise trade). |
| international-transport-costs | International transport costs represent the – usually invoiced – costs for the services performed to deliver internationally traded goods from the border of the origin to the border of the importing economy, including their shipping and the procurement of insurance against the risk of loss or damage during carriage. | UNCTADstat, Maritime and other transport, Metadata (Transport costs for delivery of international merchandise trade). |
| passenger-ship | A passenger ship is a ship which carries more than twelve passengers. | IMO Safety regulations page, bullet “A passenger ship”, citing SOLAS I/2 |
| fishing-vessel | A fishing vessel is a vessel used for catching fish, whales, seals, walrus or other living resources of the sea. | IMO Safety regulations page, bullet “A fishing vessel”, citing SOLAS I/2 |
| fishing-vessel | Fishing vessel means any vessel used commercially for catching fish, whales, seals, walrus or other living resources of the sea. | IMO Safety regulations page, second “Fishing vessel” bullet, citing SFV 1993 article 2 |
| nuclear-ship | A nuclear ship is a ship provided with a nuclear power plant. | IMO Safety regulations page, bullet “A nuclear ship”, citing SOLAS I/2 |
| bulk-carrier | Bulk carrier means a ship which is constructed generally with single deck, top-side tanks and hopper side tanks in cargo spaces, and is intended primarily to carry dry cargo in bulk, and includes such types as ore carriers and combination carriers. | IMO Safety regulations page, first “Bulk carrier” bullet, citing SOLAS IX/1.6 |
| bulk-carrier | Bulk carrier means a ship which is intended primarily to carry dry cargo in bulk, including such types as ore carriers and combination carriers. | IMO Safety regulations page, second “Bulk carrier” bullet, citing SOLAS XII/1.1 |
| oil-tanker | Oil tanker means a ship constructed or adapted primarily to carry oil in bulk in its cargo spaces and includes combination carriers, any "NLS tanker" as defined in Annex II of the present Convention and any gas carrier as defined in regulation 3.20 of chapter II-1 of SOLAS 74 (as amended), when carrying a cargo or part cargo of oil in bulk. | IMO Safety regulations page, bullet “Oil tanker”, citing MARPOL Annex I reg. 1.5 |
| general-cargo-ship | General cargo ship : A ship with a multi-deck or single-deck hull designed primarily for the carriage of general cargo. | IMO Safety regulations page, bullet “General cargo ship”, citing MEPC.1/Circ.681 Annex |
| high-speed-craft | High-speed craft is a craft capable of travelling at high speed. | IMO Safety regulations page, bullet “High-speed craft”, citing SOLAS X/1.2 and HSC Code 2000 para 1.4.30 |
| mobile-offshore-drilling-unit | Mobile offshore drilling unit (MODU) means a vessel capable of engaging in drilling operations for the exploration for or exploitation of resources beneath the sea-bed such as liquid or gaseous hydrocarbons, sulphur or salt. | IMO Safety regulations page, bullet “Mobile offshore drilling unit”, citing SOLAS IX/1 and MODU Code 2009 para 1.3.40 |
| special-purpose-ship | Special purpose ship (SPS) means a mechanically self-propelled ship which by reason of its function carries on board more than 12 special personnel. | IMO Safety regulations page, bullet “Special purpose ship”, citing SPS Code para 1.3.12 |
| annex | Annex means Annex VI to the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships, 1973 (MARPOL), as modified by the Protocol of 1978 relating thereto, and as modified by the Protocol of 1997, as amended by the Organization, provided that such amendments are adopted and brought into force in accordance with the provisions of article 16 of the present Convention. | Resolution MEPC.328(76), Annex, MARPOL Annex VI reg. 2.1.1, printed p. 3 |
| a-similar-stage-of-construction | A similar stage of construction means the stage at which: .1 construction identifiable with a specific ship begins; and .2 assembly of that ship has commenced comprising at least 50 tonnes or one per cent of the estimated mass of all structural material, whichever is less. | Resolution MEPC.328(76), Annex, MARPOL Annex VI reg. 2.1.2, printed p. 3 |
| anniversary-date | Anniversary date means the day and the month of each year that will correspond to the date of expiry of the International Air Pollution Prevention Certificate. | Resolution MEPC.328(76), Annex, MARPOL Annex VI reg. 2.1.3, printed p. 3 |
| audit | Audit means a systematic, independent and documented process for obtaining audit evidence and evaluating it objectively to determine the extent to which audit criteria are fulfilled. | Resolution MEPC.328(76), Annex, MARPOL Annex VI reg. 2.1.4, printed p. 3 |
| emission | Emission means any release of substances, subject to control by this Annex, from ships into the atmosphere or sea. | Resolution MEPC.328(76), Annex, MARPOL Annex VI reg. 2.1.12, printed p. 4 |
| emission-control-area | Emission control area means an area where the adoption of special mandatory measures for emissions from ships is required to prevent, reduce and control air pollution from NOx or SOx and particulate matter or all three types of emissions and their attendant adverse impacts on human health and the environment. Emission control areas shall include those listed in, or designated under, regulations 13 and 14 of this Annex. | Resolution MEPC.328(76), Annex, MARPOL Annex VI reg. 2.1.13, printed p. 4 |
| fuel-oil | Fuel oil means any fuel delivered to and intended for combustion purposes for propulsion or operation on board a ship, including gas, distillate and residual fuels. | Resolution MEPC.328(76), Annex, MARPOL Annex VI reg. 2.1.14, printed p. 4 |
| gross-tonnage | Gross tonnage means the gross tonnage calculated in accordance with the tonnage measurement regulations contained in Annex I to the International Convention on Tonnage Measurements of Ships, 1969, or any successor Convention. | Resolution MEPC.328(76), Annex, MARPOL Annex VI reg. 2.1.15, printed p. 4 |
| low-flashpoint-fuel | Low-flashpoint fuel means gaseous or liquid fuel oil having a flashpoint lower than otherwise permitted under paragraph 2.1.1 of regulation 4 of chapter II-2 of the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS), 1974, as amended. | Resolution MEPC.328(76), Annex, MARPOL Annex VI reg. 2.1.20, printed p. 5 |
| marine-diesel-engine | Marine diesel engine means any reciprocating internal combustion engine operating on liquid or dual fuel, to which regulation 13 of this Annex applies, including booster/compound systems if applied. In addition, a gas-fuelled engine installed on a ship constructed on or after 1 March 2016 or a gas-fuelled additional or non-identical replacement engine installed on or after that date is also considered as a marine diesel engine. | Resolution MEPC.328(76), Annex, MARPOL Annex VI reg. 2.1.21, printed p. 5 |
| shipboard-incineration | Shipboard incineration means the incineration of wastes or other matter on board a ship, if such wastes or other matter were generated during the normal operation of that ship. | Resolution MEPC.328(76), Annex, MARPOL Annex VI reg. 2.1.26, printed pp. 5–6 |
| shipboard-incinerator | Shipboard incinerator means a shipboard facility designed for the primary purpose of incineration. | Resolution MEPC.328(76), Annex, MARPOL Annex VI reg. 2.1.27, printed p. 6 |
| ships-constructed | Ships constructed means ships the keels of which are laid or that are at a similar stage of construction. | Resolution MEPC.328(76), Annex, MARPOL Annex VI reg. 2.1.28, printed p. 6 |
| sludge-oil | Sludge oil means sludge from the fuel oil or lubricating oil separators, waste lubricating oil from main or auxiliary machinery, or waste oil from bilge water separators, oil filtering equipment or drip trays. | Resolution MEPC.328(76), Annex, MARPOL Annex VI reg. 2.1.29, printed p. 6 |
| sulphur-content-of-fuel-oil | Sulphur content of fuel oil means the concentration of sulphur in a fuel oil, measured in % m/m as tested in accordance with a standard acceptable to the Organization. | Resolution MEPC.328(76), Annex, MARPOL Annex VI reg. 2.1.30, printed p. 6 |
| tanker | Tanker in relation to regulation 15 of this Annex means an oil tanker as defined in regulation 1 of Annex I to the present Convention or a chemical tanker as defined in regulation 1 of Annex II to the present Convention. | Resolution MEPC.328(76), Annex, MARPOL Annex VI reg. 2.1.31, printed p. 6 |
| unmanned-non-self-propelled-unsp-barge | Unmanned non-self-propelled (UNSP) barge means a barge that: .1 is not propelled by mechanical means; .2 has no system, equipment and/or machinery fitted that may generate emissions regulated by this Annex; and .3 has neither persons nor living animals on board. | Resolution MEPC.328(76), Annex, MARPOL Annex VI reg. 2.1.32, printed p. 6 |
| bulk-carrier | Bulk carrier means a ship which is intended primarily to carry dry cargo in bulk, including such types as ore carriers as defined in regulation 1 of chapter XII of the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS), 1974, (as amended) but excluding combination carriers. | Resolution MEPC.328(76), Annex, MARPOL Annex VI reg. 2.2.5, printed p. 7 |
| company | Company means the owner of the ship or any other organization or person such as the manager, or the bareboat charterer, who has assumed the responsibility for operation of the ship from the owner of the ship and who on assuming such responsibility has agreed to take over all the duties and responsibilities imposed by the International Management Code for the Safe Operation of Ships and for Pollution Prevention, as amended. | Resolution MEPC.328(76), Annex, MARPOL Annex VI reg. 2.2.8, printed p. 7 |
| containership | Containership means a ship designed exclusively for the carriage of containers in holds and on deck. | Resolution MEPC.328(76), Annex, MARPOL Annex VI reg. 2.2.9, printed p. 7 |
| cruise-passenger-ship | Cruise passenger ship means a passenger ship not having a cargo deck, designed exclusively for commercial transportation of passengers in overnight accommodations on a sea voyage. | Resolution MEPC.328(76), Annex, MARPOL Annex VI reg. 2.2.11, printed p. 7 |
| existing-ship | Existing ship means a ship which is not a new ship. | Resolution MEPC.328(76), Annex, MARPOL Annex VI reg. 2.2.13, printed p. 7 |
| gas-carrier | Gas carrier means a cargo ship, other than an LNG carrier as defined in paragraph 2.16 of this regulation, constructed or adapted and used for the carriage in bulk of any liquefied gas. | Resolution MEPC.328(76), Annex, MARPOL Annex VI reg. 2.2.14, printed p. 7 |
| general-cargo-ship | General cargo ship means a ship with a multi-deck or single deck hull designed primarily for the carriage of general cargo. This definition excludes specialized dry cargo ships, which are not included in the calculation of reference lines for general cargo ships, namely livestock carrier, barge carrier, heavy load carrier, yacht carrier, nuclear fuel carrier. | Resolution MEPC.328(76), Annex, MARPOL Annex VI reg. 2.2.15, printed p. 7 |
| lng-carrier | LNG carrier means a cargo ship constructed or adapted and used for the carriage in bulk of liquefied natural gas (LNG). | Resolution MEPC.328(76), Annex, MARPOL Annex VI reg. 2.2.16, printed p. 7 |
| major-conversion | Major conversion means a conversion of a ship: .1 which substantially alters the dimensions, carrying capacity or engine power of the ship; or .2 which changes the type of the ship; or .3 the intent of which in the opinion of the Administration is substantially to prolong the life of the ship; or .4 which otherwise so alters the ship that, if it were a new ship, it would become subject to relevant provisions of the present Convention not applicable to it as an existing ship; or .5 which substantially alters the energy efficiency of the ship and includes any modifications that could cause the ship to exceed the applicable required EEDI as set out in regulation 24 of this Annex or the applicable required EEXI as set out in regulation 25 of this Annex. | Resolution MEPC.328(76), Annex, MARPOL Annex VI reg. 2.2.17, printed pp. 7–8 |
| new-ship | New ship means a ship: .1 for which the building contract is placed on or after 1 January 2013; or .2 in the absence of a building contract, the keel of which is laid or which is at a similar stage of construction on or after 1 July 2013; or .3 the delivery of which is on or after 1 July 2015. | Resolution MEPC.328(76), Annex, MARPOL Annex VI reg. 2.2.18, printed p. 8 |
| non-conventional-propulsion | Non-conventional propulsion means a method of propulsion, other than conventional propulsion, including diesel-electric propulsion, turbine propulsion, and hybrid propulsion systems. | Resolution MEPC.328(76), Annex, MARPOL Annex VI reg. 2.2.19, printed p. 8 |
| passenger-ship | Passenger ship means a ship which carries more than 12 passengers. | Resolution MEPC.328(76), Annex, MARPOL Annex VI reg. 2.2.20, printed p. 8 |
| ro-ro-cargo-ship | Ro-ro cargo ship means a ship designed for the carriage of roll-on-roll-off cargo transportation units. | Resolution MEPC.328(76), Annex, MARPOL Annex VI reg. 2.2.26, printed p. 8 |
| ro-ro-cargo-ship-vehicle-carrier | Ro-ro cargo ship (vehicle carrier) means a multi-deck roll-on-roll-off cargo ship designed for the carriage of empty cars and trucks. | Resolution MEPC.328(76), Annex, MARPOL Annex VI reg. 2.2.27, printed p. 8 |
| ro-ro-passenger-ship | Ro-ro passenger ship means a passenger ship with roll-on-roll-off cargo spaces. | Resolution MEPC.328(76), Annex, MARPOL Annex VI reg. 2.2.28, printed p. 8 |
| tanker | Tanker means an oil tanker as defined in regulation 1 of Annex I of the present Convention or a chemical tanker or an NLS tanker as defined in regulation 1 of Annex II to the present Convention. | Resolution MEPC.328(76), Annex, MARPOL Annex VI reg. 2.2.29, printed p. 9 |
| cabin-balcony | Cabin balcony is an open deck space which is provided for the exclusive use of the occupants of a single cabin and has direct access from such a cabin. | Resolution MSC.216(82), Annex, SOLAS chapter II-2 reg. 3, new para. 53, printed p. 4 |
Sources
- Glossary for Transport Statistics — 6th edition (2026) — Eurostat, UNECE ve ITF-OECD · Reusable with attribution
- UNCTADstat maritime/transport metadata — UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD) / UNCTADstat · Reusable with attribution
- IMO conventions and maritime definitions — official definition clauses and terminology pages — International Maritime Organization (IMO) · Reusable with attribution
- U.S. federal air cargo/security definitions associated with ICAO scope — International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO); auxiliary U.S. federal regulatory sources · Public domain
- United States federal transport and customs definitions — GPO / Office of Federal Register / PHMSA-DOT / FMCSA-DOT / FMC / CBP-DHS / U.S. Congress · Public domain
- European Union transport and customs definitions — European Parliament and Council instruments; Publications Office of the EU / EUR-Lex · Reusable with attribution
- Hague–Visby Article I via UK legislation.gov.uk — UN Treaty Collection/UN, UNCITRAL, UNECE, ICAO, OTIF ve UK legislation.gov.uk · Reusable with attribution
- BTS/FMCSA/FMC/CBP/MARAD federal-authored glossary rows — BTS; FMCSA; FMC; CBP; MARAD · Public domain
- United Kingdom official transport and customs terms — HMRC; Department for Transport; Traffic Commissioners/DVSA; UK Parliament/legislation.gov.uk · Reusable with attribution
1,049 further records are on file but not shown, because the publisher's terms do not clearly allow them to be republished.