REACHABLE ON ARRIVAL or ALWAYS ACCESSIBLE

The charterer undertakes that when the ship arrives at the port there will be a loading/discharging berth for her to which she can proceed without delay.

REVENUE TONNE

Revenue Tonne (i.e. 1.0 metric Tonne or 1.0 cubic meter, whichever greater). The overall RT is calculated on a line by line basis of the Packing List using the largest amount. The overall freight liability is calculated on the total RT amount, multiplied by the freight rate.

REVERSIBLE LAYTIME

An option given to the charterer to add together the time allowed for loading and discharging. When the option is exercised the effect is the same as a total time being specified to cover both operations. Until the toal time expires, no demurrage becomes payable. Opposite of normal or non-reversible laytime. (See “days all purposes”).

RIDER CLAUSES

A set of additional clauses which substitute or supplement the clauses in the original standard C/P form. If a rider clause contradicts a printed clause the rider clause prevails.

ROUND VOYAGE

Voyage involving two legs, the second of which brings the ship back to the first port.

RUNNING DAYS / CONSECUTIVE DAYS

Days which follow one immediately after the other. They are continuous. A working day may exclude Sundays and holidays. But a running day does not exclude any day unless provided in the C/P.

SAFE BERTH

A berth which, during the relevant period of time, the ship can reach, remain at and depart without being exposed to danger.

SAFE PORT

A port which, during the relevant period of time, the ship can reach, enter, remain at and depart without being exposed to danger.

SAFE WORKING LOAD

Maximum load which can safely be carried by a crane or a derrick.

SALE & PURCHASE BROKER

Person who negotiates the terms for the sale of a ship on behalf of the buyer or seller.

SALT WATER ARRIVAL DRAFT

Vessel’s draft on arrival in salt water where the density of water is 1025 kg per cbm.

SAVAGE

Action taken to save a ship or her cargo from loss or damage at sea. Property saved from loss or damage at sea.

SCALE RATES

Rates set by organizations which publish standard C/Ps. The scale rates contain daily loading rates as well as demurrage rates. Applicable to bulk cargoes like coal, ores, etc., from specific countries.

SEAFREIGHT

Costs charged for transporting goods over the sea. This does not cover any haulage or loading/discharging costs but the sea transport only.

SEGREGATED BALLAST TANK

Tank which is used for water ballast only.

SELF-TRIMMING SHIP

Ship whose holds are shaped in such a way that a bulk cargo loaded into her will level itself.

SHIFTING

Time spent shifting between berths is generally taken to be for owner’s account, provided it has been agreed that loading/discharging is at more than one berth. Also time spent in shifting from the waiting place (anchorage) to the first cargo berth is generally not to count as laytime.

SHIPPER'S EXPORT DECLARATION

A form required for all shipments by the US Treasury Department and prepared by the shipper, indicating the value, weight, destination, and other basic information about an export shipment.

SHIPPER'S LOAD AND COUNT

Note on bill of lading indication that the contents of a container were loaded and counted by the shipper and not checked or verified by the Steamship Company.

SKIDS

Are bearers (timber or steel) positioned under cargo to enable fork lift handling at port, and for ease of rigging and lashing on board ship.

SPECIAL POLICY OF INSURANCE

Document issued on behalf of the Underwriter stating the terms and conditions of the marine insurance. Issued when evidence of insurance is required, as by the bank issuing the Letter of Credit.

SPECIFIC GRAVITY

Ratio of the weight of a liquid to its cubic capacity. Also called “relative density”. Water has SG of 1.00 (1 cubic metre of water weighs 1 tonne).

SPIDERING

Is the internal strengthening of circular tanks for transport, this prevents the tanks becoming warped. The tanks are strengthened with steel or wood crossbeams giving a _spider_ appearance.

SPOT

A vessel which can commence loading immediately after the charter has been fixed. Also used for cargo which is available for immediate loading.

SS OR SUBSTITUTE

Such a condition in a C/P entitles the owner to replace the original vessel by another ship, of same cargo capacity including class and suitability of laycan, for the fulfillment of the charter.

STANDARD INTERNATIONAL TRADE CLASSIFICATION (SITC)

A standard numerical code system developed by the United Nations to classify commodities used in international trade.

STABILITY

It is paramount that a vessel is stable in all respects at all times. When cargo is loaded/discharged, the stability is monitored by a computer, which takes into account the weight and position of cargo within the vessel.

STARBOARD

The right side of a ship when looking forward. (By remembering that port and left both have four letters, it is easier to remember which is port and which is starboard).

STATEMENT OF FACTS

Statement prepared by an agent showing dates and times of arrival; commencement and completion of loading and discharging; quantity loaded/discharged daily; hours worked/stopped with reasons for break-down of equipments, etc.

STOWAGE FACTOR

The space occupied by a ton (or tonne) of a commodity in a ship’s hold expressed in cubic feet to the ton or cubic metres to the tonne Or Cubic space (measurement tonne) occupied by one tonne (2,240 lbs/1,000 kgs) of cargo.

STRAIGHT BILL OF LADING

A non-negotiable bill of lading in which the goods are consigned directly to a named consignee.

STRIKES

Some C/Ps state that delays due to strikes are not to count as laytime.

SUBJECT STEM

Implies that the vessel is fixed subject to the cargo quantity being available in the laydays agreed upon.

SUBJECTS

Means that the acceptance of the terms offered by the other side is “conditional” and hence a conditional acceptance is not an agreement.

SUBROGATION

The operation by which the insurance company (on payment of a claim) assumes all of the assured's rights to recovery from any third parties; substitution of one creditor for another.

SUEZMAX

bulk carriers of about 150,000 tonnes dwt with a draft of 53’ which can transit the Suez Canal fully laden.

SUNDAYS & HOLIDAYS EXDEPTED / INCLUDED

Under this expression Sundays and holidays will not count as laytime (excepted) /will count as laytime (included).

SUPERCARGO

A person on board representing the charterer who supervises cargo operations. Owners feed the supercargo at a nominal rate but provide free of charge accommodation.

SURVEYOR

A marine specialist who examines damaged property and determines the cause, nature, and extent of damage and methods of repair and/or replacement. He is not an adjuster, and all his actions are without prejudice to policy terms and conditions.