D

D&H

Abbreviation for "Dangerous and Hazardous" cargo.

D.B.A.

Abbreviation for "Doing Business As." A legal term for conducting business under a registered name.

DDC

Abbreviation for "Destination Delivery Charge." A charge, based on container size, that is applied in many tariffs to cargo. This charge is considered accessorial and is added to the base ocean freight. This charge covers crane lifts off the vessel, drayage of the container within the terminal and gate fees at the terminal operation.

Deadhead

One leg of a move without a paying cargo load.  Usually refers to repositioning an empty piece of equipment.

Deadweight Cargo

A long ton of cargo that can be stowed in less than 40 cubic feet.

Deck Cargo

Cargo carried on deck rather than stowed under deck. On-deck carriage is required for certain commodities, such as explosives

Deck Gang

The officers and seamen comprising the deck department aboard ship. Also called deck crew, deck department, or just deck.

Deck House

Small superstructure on the top deck of a vessel that contains the helm and other navigational instruments.

Deck Log

Also called Captain's Log. A full nautical record of a ship's voyage, written up at the end of each watch by the deck officer on watch. The principal entries are: courses steered; distance run; compass variations, sea and weather conditions; ship's position, principal headlands passed; names of lookouts, and any unusual position, principal headlands passed; names of lookouts, and any unusual happenings such as fire, collision, and the like..

Deck Officer

As distinguished from engineer officer, refers to all officers who assist the master in navigating the vessel when at sea, and supervise the handling of cargo when in port.

Deckhand

Seaman who works on the deck of a ship and remains in the wheelhouse attending to the orders of the duty officers during navigation and maneuvering. He also comes under the direct orders of the bosun.

Deconsolidation Point

Place where loose or other non-containerized cargo is ungrouped for delivery.

Dedicated Train

One that exclusively carries intermodal equipment (containers and trailers)

Deep Sea Trades

The traffic routes of both cargo and passenger vessels which are regularly engaged on the high seas or on long voyages.

Deep Stowage

Any bulk, bagged or other type of cargo stowed in single hold ships.

Deferred Rebate

The return of a portion of the freight charges by a carrier or a conference shipper in exchange for the shipper giving all or most of his shipments to the carrier or conference over a specified period of time (usually six months). Payment of the rate is deferred for a further similar period, during which the shipper must continue to give all or most of his shipments to the rebating carrier or conference. The shipper thus earns a further rebate that will not, however, be paid without an additional period of exclusive or almost exclusive patronage with the carrier of conference. In this way, the shipper becomes tied to the rebating carrier or conference. Although the deferred rebate system is illegal in U.S. foreign commerce, it generally is accepted in the ocean trade between other countries.

Deficit Weight

The weight by which a shipment is less than the minimum weight.

Delivery Instructions

Order to pick up goods at a named place and deliver them to a pier. Usually issued by exporter to trucker but may apply to a railroad, which completes delivery by land. Use is limited to a few major U.S. ports. Also known as shipping delivery order.

DEMDES

Demurrage/Despatch money.  (Under vessel chartering terms, the amount to be paid if the ship is loading/discharging slower/faster than foreseen.)

Demurrage

A penalty charge against shippers or consignees for delaying the carrier's equipment beyond the allowed free time. The free time and demurrage charges are set forth in the charter party or freight tariff. 
- See also Detention and Per Diem.

Density

The weight of cargo  per cubic foot or other unit.

Depot, Container

Container freight station or a designated area where empty containers can be picked up or dropped off.

Despatch

An incentive payment paid to a carrier to loading and unloading the cargo faster than agreed.  Usually negotiated only in charter parties.

Destination

- The place to which a shipment is consigned.
- The place where carrier actually turns over cargo to consignee or his agent.

Destination Control Statements

Various statements that the U.S. government requires to be displayed on export shipments. The statements specify the authorized destinations.

Detention

A penalty charge against shippers or consignees for delaying carrier's equipment beyond allowed time. Demurrage applies to cargo; detention applies to equipment. See Per Diem.

Devanning

The unloading of a container or cargo van.

Deviation

Vessel departure from specified voyage course

DF Car

DamageFree Car. Boxcars equipped with special bracing material.

DF Car

amageFree Car. Boxcars equipped with special bracing material.

Differential

An amount added or deducted from base rate to make a rate to or from some other point or via another route.

Discrepancy Letter of Credit

When documents presented do not conform to the requirements of the letter of credit (L/C), it is referred to as a "discrepancy." Banks will not process L/C's which have discrepancies. They will refer the situation back to the buyer and/or seller and await further instructions.

Disabled Ship

When a ship is unable to sail efficiently or in a seaworthy state as a result of engine trouble, lack of officers or crew, damage to the hull or ship's gear.

Discharges

An essential document for officers and seamen as it serves an official certificate confirming sea experience in the employment for which he was engaged.

Displacement

The weight, in tons of 2,240 pounds, of the vessel and its contents. Calculated by dividing the volume of water displaced in cubic feet by 35, the average density of sea water.

Distribution Center

A massive warehouse facility (e.g. some as large as 2 million square feet and as small as 10,000 square, feet) in which cargo is received and consolidated for distribution to other facilities or retail locations.  The Port of Savannah is recognized as the U.S. South Atlantic gateway for retail cargo destined to Savannah area distribution centers.  Via Savannah, retail import distribution centers are afforded access to +70% of the U.S. population.

Diversion

A change made either in the route of a shipment in transit or of the entire ship.

Dock

- For ships, a cargo handling area parallel to the shoreline where a vessel normally ties up.
- For land transportation, a loading or unloading platform at an industrial location or carrier terminal.

Dock Receipt

A form used to acknowledge receipt of cargo and often serves as basis for preparation of the ocean bill of lading.

Docket

Present a rate proposal to a conference meeting for adoption as a conference group rate.

Documents Against Acceptance (D/A)

Instructions given by a shipper to a bank indicating that documents transferring title to goods should be delivered to the buyer only upon the buyer's acceptance of the attached draft.

Documents Against Payment (D/P)

An indication on a draft that the documents attached are to be released to the drawee only on payment.

Dolly

A set of wheels that support the front of a container; used when the automotive unit is disconnected.

Door-to-Door

Through transportation of a container and its contents from consignor to consignee. Also known as House to House. Not necessarily a through rate.

D.O.T. (U.S. DOT)

Department of Transportation. U.S. Department of Transportation, whose purpose is to provide a dynamic federal system of transportation to meet the country's needs

Double-stack Train

A train using specialized railcars that enable marine cargo containers to be stacked one atop another (2-high).  There are no height restrictions for destinations served by double-stack service via the Port of Savannah.  Norfolk Southern Railroad and CSX Transportation provide double-stack service via the Port of Savannah.  The Port of Savannah’s on-terminal Intermodal Container Transfer Facility allows shippers overnight service to Atlanta and 2 to 4 day service to Charlotte, Dallas, Chicago and all other major hubs within the port’s 26-state hinterland.

Draft

- The number of feet that the hull of a ship is beneath the surface of the water.
- An unconditional order in writing, addressed by one party (drawer) to another party (drawee), requiring the drawee to pay at a fixed or determinable future date a specified sum in lawful currency to the order of a specified person.

Draft, Bank

An order issued by a seller against a purchaser; directs payment, usually through an intermediary bank. Typical bank drafts are negotiable instruments and are similar in many ways to checks on checking accounts in a bank.

Draft, Clean

A draft to which no documents are attached.

Draft, Date

A draft that matures on a fixed date, regardless of the time of acceptance.

Draft, Discounted

A time draft under a letter of credit that has been accepted and purchased by a bank at a discount.

Draft, Sight

A draft payable on demand upon presentation.

Draft, Time

A draft that matures at a fixed or determinable time after presentation or acceptance.

Drawback

A partial refund of an import fee. Refund usually results because goods are re-exported from the country that collected the fee.

Drawee

The individual or firm that issues a draft and thus stands to receive payment.

Drayage

Charge made for local hauling by dray or truck. Same as Cartage.

DRFS

Abbreviation for "Destination Rail Freight Station." Same as CFS at destination, except a DRFS is operated by the rail carrier participating in the shipment.

DSU

Delay in Startup Insurance is a policy to protect the seller of a construction project from penalties if the project is not completed  on time.   See "Liquidated Damages."

DST (Double-stack Train)

The transport by rail between two points of a trainload of containers with two containers per chassis, one on top of the other.  The Port of Savannah offers unrestricted double-stack service via CSX Transportation and Norfolk Southern Railroad to and from the U.S. heartland.

Dry Cargo

Cargo that is not liquid and normally does not require temperature control.

Dry-Bulk Container

A container constructed to carry grain, powder and other free-flowing solids in bulk. Used in conjunction with a tilt chassis or platform.

Dumping

Attempting to import merchandise into a country at a price less than the fair market value, usually through subsidy by exporting country.

Dunnage

-A term applied to loose wood or other material used in a ship's hold for the protection of cargo. 
-The material used to protect or support freight in or on railcars or trailers