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Glossary of Shipping Terms
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P&I – Abbreviation for "Protection and Indemnity," an insurance term.
PADAG – Abbreviation for "Please Authorize Delivery Against Guarantee." A request from the consignee to the shipper to allow the carrier or agent to release cargo against a guarantee, either bank or personal. Made when the consignee is unable to produce original bills of lading.
POD – Abbreviation for: - Port of Discharge. - Port of Destination. - Proof of Delivery. A document required from the carrier or driver for proper payment.
POL – Abbreviation for: - Port of Loading. - Petroleum, Oil, and Lubricants.
PPI – Principal Party of Interest (see USPPI and FPPI).
Packing List – Itemized list of commodities with marks/numbers but no cost values indicated.
Paired Ports – A U.S. Customs program wherein at least two designated Customs ports will enter cargo that arrives at either port without the necessity of an in-bound document.
Pallet – A platform with or without sides, on which a number of packages or pieces may be loaded to facilitate handling by a lift truck.
Panamax Tanker – A liquid cargo vessel of 50,000 to 70,000dwt.
Panamax Vessel – The largest size vessel that can traverse the Panama Canal. Current maximum dimensions are: Length 294.1 meters (965 feet); width 32.3 meters (106 feet); draft 12.0 meters (39.5 feet) in tropical fresh water; height 57.91 meters (190 feet) above the water.
Paper Ramp – A technical rail ramp, used for equalization of points not actually served.
Paper Rate – A published rate that is never assessed because no freight moves under it.
Parcel Receipt – An arrangement whereby a steamship company, under rules and regulations established in the freight tariff of a given trade, accepts small packages at rates below the minimum bill of lading, and issues a parcel receipt instead of a bill of lading.
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.
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.
Partial Shipments – Under letters of credit, one or more shipments are allowed by the phrase "partial shipments permitted."
Particular Average – See Insurance, Particular Average.
Payee – A party named in an instrument as the beneficiary of the funds. Under letters of credit, the payee is either the drawer of the draft or a bank.
Payer – A party responsible for the payment as evidenced by the given instrument. Under letters of credit, the payer is the party on whom the draft is drawn, usually the drawee bank.
Per Diem – A charge, based on a fixed daily rate.
Perils of the Sea – Those causes of loss for which the carrier is not legally liable. The elemental risks of ocean transport.
Phytosanitary Inspection Certificate – A certificate issued by the U.S. Department of Agriculture to satisfy import regulations of foreign countries; indicates that a U.S. shipment has been inspected and found free from harmful pests and plant diseases.
Pickup – The act of calling for freight by truck at the consignor's shipping platform.
Pier-to-House – A shipment loaded into a container at the pier or terminal, thence to the consignee's facility.
Pier-to-Pier – Containers loaded at port of loading and discharged at port of destination.
Pier – The structure perpendicular to the shoreline to which a vessel is secured for the purpose of loading and unloading cargo.
Piggy Packer – A mobile container-handling crane used to load/unload containers to/from railcars.
Piggyback – A transportation arrangement in which truck trailers with their loads are moved by train to a destination. Also known as Rail Pigs.
Place of Delivery – Place where cargo leaves the care and custody of carrier.
Place of Receipt – Location where cargo enters the care and custody of carrier.
Plimsoll Mark – A series of horizontal lines, corresponding to the seasons of the year and fresh or saltwater, painted on the outside of a ship marking the level which must remain above the surface of the water for the vessel's stability.
Point of Origin – The place at which a shipment is received by a carrier from the shipper.
Pomerene Act, Also known as (U.S.) Federal Bill of Lading Act of 1916. – U.S. federal law enacting conditions by which a B/L may be issued. Penalties for issuing B/L's containing false data include monetary fines and/or imprisonment.
Port Facility Security Officer – Is the person designated as responsible for the development, implementation, revision and maintenance of the port facility security plan and for liaison with the ship security officers and company security officers.
Port Facility Security Plan – Is a plan developed to ensure the application of measures designed to protect persons on board, cargo, cargo transport units and ship's stores within the port facility from the risks of a security incident.
Port Security Grant Program (PSGP) – As a result of the Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act of 2005, fiscal year grant funding is provided annually to the Nation's most at-risk seaports for physical security enhancements to be used in the protection of critical port infrastructure from terrorism. PSGP funds help ports enhance their risk management capabilities, domain awareness, training and exercises, and capabilities to prevent, detect, respond to, and recover from attacks involving improvised explosive devices and other non-conventional weapons.
Port Security – It is the defense, law and treaty enforcement, and counterterrorism activities that fall within the port and maritime domain. It includes the protection of the seaports themselves, the protection and inspection of the cargo moving through the ports, and maritime security.
Port of Call – Port where a ship discharges or receives traffic.
Port of Entry – Port where cargo is unloaded and enters a country.
Port of Exit – Place where cargo is loaded and leaves a country.
Port – - Harbor with piers or docks. - Left side of a ship when facing forward. - Opening in a ship's side for handling freight.
Pratique Certificate – Lifts temporary quarantine of a vessel; granted pratique by Health Officer.
Pre-cooling – A process employed in the shipment of citrus fruits and other perishable commodities. The fruit is packed and placed in a cold room from which the heat is gradually extracted. The boxes of fruit are packed in containers that have been thoroughly cooled and transported through to destination with- out opening the doors.
Prepaid (Ppd.) – Freight charges paid by the consignor (shipper) prior to the release of the bills of lading by the carrier.
Pro Forma Invoice – An invoice provided by a supplier prior to the shipment of merchandise, informing the buyer of the kinds and quantities of goods to be sent, their value, and specifications (weight, size, etc.).
Pro Forma – A Latin term meaning "For the sake of form."
Pro Rata – A Latin term meaning "In proportion."
Product Tanker – A liquid cargo vessel of 10,000 to 60,000dwt. Also referred to as a Handymax Tanker. Often built with many segregated cargo tanks and thus sometimes called a "drugstore tanker."
Project Rate – Single tariff item, established to move multiple commodities needed for a specified project, usually construction.
Public Service Commission – A name usually given to a State body having control or regulation of public utilities.
Publishing Agent – Person authorized by transportation lines to publish tariffs or rates, rules, and regulations for their account.
Pulp Temperature – Procedure where carrier tests the temperature of the internal flesh of refrigerated commodities to assure that the temperature at time of shipment conforms to prescribed temperature ranges.
Pup – A short semi-trailer used jointly with a dolly and another semi-trailer to create a twin trailer.