Claim by cargo owner against carrier for loss or damage, governed by Hague-Visby or Hamburg Rules, depending on carriage contract.
Charter Party
Contract between shipowner and charterer for vessel hire; types include voyage, time, and demise (bareboat) charters.
Collision Convention
1910 International Convention for the Unification of Certain Rules of Law respecting Collisions between Vessels—jurisdiction and liability rules.
G
Term
Definition
General Average
Principle requiring all interests in a sea venture to proportionately share losses resulting from voluntary sacrifice of part of ship or cargo to save whole.
Gross Negligence
High degree of negligence under limits regimes (LLMC; CLC Convention) that may invalidate limitation of liability if proven.
M
Term
Definition
MARPOL
International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (1973/78), addressing oil, chemicals, sewage, garbage, air pollution.
Mortgage, Ship
Security interest on a vessel, recorded in a national registry; rank determined by date of registration, following maritime lien priorities.
S
Term
Definition
Salvage
Rewarded service rendered voluntarily to save ship or cargo from peril; governed by Salvage Convention 1989 and Lloyd’s Open Form.
Sea Protest
Formal declaration by master before notary after voyage, recording facts and weather to rebut carrier’s liability under Hague-Visby Rules.
Shipbroker
Agent arranging charter parties or sale/purchase of vessels; duties governed by contract law and FOSFA/FBF standard terms.
SMCP
Standard Marine Communication Phrases—IMO standardized English phrases for safety and distress to minimize misunderstanding.
Y
Term
Definition
Yard Number
Unique builder’s serial number assigned by shipyard; used in documentation and lien priority tracking.
York-Antwerp Rules
International rules for adjustment of general average losses and expenses, updated periodically by Comité Maritime International.
