Sea Waybill  A type of Bill of Lading used for port-to-port or combined transport carriage. A Waybill is identical to a negotiable Bill of Lading except that it is not a document of title. There are no originals issued for this type of document. In some jurisdictions, like USA, a Waybill is deemed The equivalent of a (straight) consigned Bill of Lading. See also Waybill.
Service Agreement  Private contracts between one or more carriers and one or more shippers to transport cargo between specified points at terms and conditions of carriage agreed and listed in the contract. It often allows for particular rates based on volume over a specified period of time. (Also commonly known as a Service Contract)
Set Point  Specific temperature that a refrigerated container has been set to keep. Ideally the set point and the actual temperature should be identical throughout the voyage.
Ship's Chandlers   Suppliers of various items to the vessel.
Shipper  Contents of containers as loaded (stuffed), stowed (packed/braced) and counted by shipper, usually a CY load.
Shipper  (1) One that consigns something (as the goods of an individual shipment).
(2) Group, company, person designated on the Bill of Lading or Waybill who (or in whose name or on whose behalf) a contact of carriage has been concluded with a carrier.
Same as consignor.
Shipping Order  Equivalent of booking and contract of carriage evidencing the agreement to transport goods.
Short Landed   Cargo volume count (at delivery destination) less than originally shipped.
Short Shipped   Cargo missing a vessel that is was originally intended for.
Slot Charter  A Carrier's chartering of slots/-spaces spaces on other carrier's vessels.
SMDG  User Group for Shipping Lines and Container Terminals.
Special Customs Invoice   An official form usually required by U.S. Customs if the rate of duty is based upon the value and the value of the shipment exceeds $500. This document is usually prepared by the foreign exporter or his forwarder and is used by Customs in determining the value of the shipment. The exporter or his agent must attest to the authenticity of the data furnished.
Special Rate   Rate established for a specified commodity for specific period of time.
SS   Steamship.
STC  Abbreviation for Said To Contain.
Stevedore  Terminal operator who is designated to facilitate the operation of loading and discharging vessels and various terminal activities. (Also known as Longshoreman)
Stock Keeping Unit [SKU]   Smallest unit grouping for goods, normally indicating a single retail item. Usually, several SKUs will be under one Purchase Order.
Storage Charge   Charge for goods held in storage facilities (warehouses) under a fixed agreement for periods of time, and which is not included in other arrangement.
Store-Door Delivery   Movement of goods to the consignee's place of business, customarily applied to movement by truck.
Stripping   Also known as Unstuffing. Physical removal of goods from the (carrier's) container(s).
Stuffing  Physical loading of goods into the (carrier's) container.
ST  1 Short Ton = 2 000 lbs.
Supply Chain Management   The management and control of all materials and information in the logistics process from acquisition of raw materials to delivery to end user.
Supply Chain   The movement of materials and information through the logistics process from acquisition of raw materials to delivery to end user. The supply chain includes all vendors, service providers and customers.
Surcharges  Additional charges above ocean freight. See also Add Ons.
SWIFT   (1) Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication
(2) A cooperative organized under Belgian law providing the following services to participating financial institutions: Letters of credit (opening and transmission), Money transfer, Payments Security settlements.
(3) Other businesses participating in SWIFT are: Security brokers and delaters, Clearing and depository institutions, Security exchanges and Travelers check issuers.
Switch bill of lading  Often called “the trader’s second set” and intended to replace the first set of bills of lading issued. Usually used where a seller/trader wishes to keep the name of his supplier, named as shipper, secret from the ultimate buyer of goods. Due care and consideration must be exercised when issuing such bills of lading because of inherent exposure to fraud/conversion of factual data.