SALVAGE LOSS

In marine insurance, loss sustained by necessary sale of goods at port prior to expected destination because of "perils of the sea."  Treated as total loss with amount realized from sale of goods credited on amount payable under policy.

SCHEDULE B

Statistical Classification of domestic and foreign commodities exported from the U.S.  All commodities exported from the U.S. must be assigned a ten-digit Schedule B number.

SCHEDULE C

Four-digit codes assigned by U.S. Customs to foreign countries.

SCHEDULE D

Four-digit codes assigned by the U.S. Government for ocean ports, airports, and land crossings. (USA)

SCHEDULE K

Five-digit codes for foreign ports (international).

SEABRIDGE

Combination of vessels linking the Atlantic and Pacific ports.

SEAL

1)  Device applied to freight car/motor vehicle door fastening.  2)  Item that shows that a certain mechanism has not been tampered with between time of application and time of intended use.

SEMI

Slang term for semi trailer.  Also used loosely in referring to tractor-trailer combination.

SERVICE CONTRACT

A contract between a shipper and an ocean carrier or conference, in which the shipper makes a commitment to provide a minimum quantity or cargo over a fixed time period, and the ocean carrier or conference commits to a rate or rate schedule as well as a defined service level, such as space, transit time, port rotation or other features.

SERVICE ROUTE

A scheduled integrated route.

SET UP

Prepare for shipment.

SHARED FOREIGN SALES CORPORATION

A foreign sales corporation with between one and twenty-five member exporters.

SHIP’S MANIFEST

An instrument in writing, signed by the captain of a ship, which lists the individual shipments constituting the ship’s cargo.

SHIPMENT

1) Lot of freight tendered to carrier by one consignee at one place at one time for delivery to one consignee at one place on one bill of lading.  2) Goods/ merchandise in one or more containers, pieces, or parcels for transportation from one shipper to a single destination.  3) Contracted movement of cargo from a shipper at one location to a consignee at another via a common carrier.

SHIPPER'S CERTIFICATE

Form filled out and presented by shipper to outbound carrier at transit point, together with instructions and inbound carrier's freight bill, asking for reshipping privilege and transit rate commodity previously brought into transit point.

SHIPPER'S EXPORT DECLARATION

Form required by the Treasury Department and completed by shipper showing value, weight, consignee, destination, etc., of export shipments, as well as Schedule B identification. (USA)

SHIPPER’S LETTER OF INSTRUCTION

Shipper’s communication to their freight forwarder or carrier that includes all detail of the shipment.  This communication is used by the forwarder or carrier to complete the bill of lading and other shipping documents.

SHIPPER’S LOAD AND COUNT

A statement that the contents of a container were loaded and counted by a shipper, and were not counted or verified by the carrier.

SHIPPER'S LOAD, COUNT, AND STOW

Statement on the Bill of Lading that makes the shipper responsible for proper description of the contents.

SHIPPER'S ROUTING 

Shipper specification of which carrier or carriers are to be used on the traffic tendered for transportation.

SHIPPING ORDER

Formal written instructions of the shipper to the carrier ordering transportation of goods.

SHORT FORM BILL OF LADING

Bill of Lading which refers to the contract terms and conditions of the carrier's regular long form bill.

SHORT SHIPMENT

Piece of freight missing from shipment as stipulated by documents on hand.

SHORTSHIPPED

Shipment originally scheduled for a particular vessel/voyage, but left behind for some reason.

SHORT SUPPLY

Limited amount of a specific good or commodity.

SHORT TON

2,000 pounds.

SHUTOUT

Cargo short shipped by intent due to lack of space/overbooking.

SOCIETY INTERNATIONAL de TELECOMMUNICATIONS AERONAUTIQUE

The Aviation Industry's leading telecommunications network.  

SOUTH AFRICA DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY

A community of nations that has placed binding obligations on member countries with the aim of promoting economic integration towards a fully developed common market.  Members include Angola, Botswana, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Swaziland, Tanzania, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.

SPECIAL COMPREHENSIVE LICENSE

An individual export license established for pre-approved commodities, software, and/or technical data to pre-approved consignees and/or destinations.

SPECIAL PURPOSE CONTAINERS

Any container equipped to carry a specific kind of freight. These may include refrigerated units, platforms, gondolas, open tops, automobile racks and other types of containers.

SPECIALLY DESIGNATED NATIONAL

Any individual, organization, or company that has been sanctioned by the Secretary of the Treasury and the Office of Foreign Assets Control. (USA)

SPECIALLY DESIGNATED TERRORIST

Any person who is determined by the Secretary of the Treasury to be a specially designated terrorist under notices or regulations issued by the Office of Foreign Assets Control. (USA)

SPLIT LOAD

1)  A load with more than one terminal destination. 2)  The act of breaking down a shipment of one commodity into multiple lots.

SPLIT SHIPMENT

Multiple container load shipment booked for one vessel but split and sent on two or more vessels.

STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION

The classification standard underlying all economic statistics.

STANDARD INTERNATIONAL TRADE CLASSIFICATION

Numerical code developed by the United Nations and adopted by certain air carriers as a basis for numerical identification of commodities moving in airfreight.

STARBOARD SIDE

The Right hand side of a vessel looking towards the bow.

STATUTORY NOTICE

Length of time required by law for carriers to give notice to changes in tariffs, rate rules, and regulations.

STEAMSHIP CONFERENCE

A group of steamship operators that collectively sets rate and service levels in a specific geographic trade area or route.

STERN

The rear or after end of a vessel.

STEVEDORE

Person in charge of loading/unloading ships.

STOWAGE

The loading of a vessel by handling and placing goods within the container so as to ensure stability of the container, maximum use of space, safety of cargo, and efficient loading and unloading.  

STOWAGE PLAN

Ground cross section of every hold on a vessel showing the containers in each slot.  It is prepared at each port where cargo is loaded/unloaded and forwarded to the next port of call.

STRAIGHT BILL OF LADING

A Non-negotiable document that provides that a shipment is to be delivered direct to the party whose name is shown as the consignee.  Carrier does not require its surrender upon delivery, except when needed to identify a consignee.

STRIPPING

Emptying truck of cargo, and arranging shipments by destination.

STRUCTURED QUERY LANGUAGE

A computer programming language.

STUFFING

Loading freight into a container.  Slang term.

STUFFING SHEET

See Container Detail Report.

SUB-GROUP ON NUCLEAR EXPORT COORDINATION

An interagency committee chaired by the Department of State, which primarily reviews applications involving items controlled for nuclear nonproliferation.

SUBROGATION

The right of the insurer, upon payment of a loss, to the benefit of any rights against third parties that may be held by the assured himself.

SURCHARGE

A charge over and above the normal charge.

SURETY BOND

A surety bond must be posted with the Customs Service to cover potential penalties, duties, or taxes before imported merchandise can be entered into the United States.

SYSTEM FOR TRACKING EXPORT LICENSE APPLICATIONS

An automated voice response system that provides applicants with the status of their license application.

SYSTEMS INTEGRATOR

A firm which purchases various components and accessories and integrates them into a unique system for resale.  Virtually always classified as a reseller.