L

Loss and Damage.

L.

Laden

L. def.

Latent defect

L.A.S.H.

Lighter aboard ship

L.A.T.

Linseed Association Terms

L.A.T.F.

Lloyd's American Trust Fund

L.A.U.A.

Lloyd's Aviation Underwriters' Association

L.A.U.T.R.O.

Life Assurance and Unit Trust Regulatory

L.B.H.

Length / breadth / height

L.C.

London clause (chartering), Label clause

L.C.L.

Less than full container load

L.C.T.A.

London Corn trade

L.H.A.R.

London, Hull, Antwerp or Rotterdam

L.I.B.C.

Lloyd's Insurance Brokers' Committee

L.I.M.

London Insurance Market

L.I.M.D.S.M.

London Insurance Market Data Standards Manual

L.I.M.T.C.G.

London Insurance Market Technical Co-ordination Group

L.I.P.

Life Insurance Policy

L.L.T.

London Land Terms

L.M.C.

Lloyd's machinery certificate

L.M.C.C.

Lloyd's machinery certificate, continuous survey

L.N.G.

Liquified natural gas carrier

L.P.G.

Liquified petroleum gas carrier

L.P.S.O.

Lloyd's Policy Signing Office

L.R.M.C.

Lloyd's refrigerating machinery certificate

L.S. Cls.

Livestock clauses

L.S.H.W. Liab.

Longshoremen's and Harbor Workers' Liability

L.S.T.

Local standard time

L.T.

Liner Terms;Long tons

L.T.A.

Long term agreement

L.U.A.

Lloyd's Underwriters' Association

L.U.A.A.

Lloyd's Underwriting Agents Association

L.U.A.M.C.

Leading underwriter agreement for marine cargo

L.U.A.M.H.

Leading underwriter agreement for marine hull

L.U.C.R.O.

Lloyd's Underwriters' Claims andRecoveries Office

L.U.T.I.R.O.

Life and Unit Trust Intermediaries Regulatory Organization

L.W.

Low water

L.W.O.S.T.

Low water, ordinary spring tides

L.d.d.

Loss during discharge

L/A

Letter of authority. Landing account. Lloyd's agent

L/C

Letter of Credit

L/D

Loading/discharging

L/I

Letter of indemnity

L/P

Loading Port

L/S

Lumpsum

L/T

Long tons (2,240 lbs.).

L/U

Leading Underwriter

LA

Los Angeles

LAES

Latin American Economic System

LAFTA

Latin American Free Trade Association

LAIA

Latin American Integration Association

LAID-UP TONNAGE

Ships not in active service; a ship which is out of commission for fitting out, awaiting better markets, needing work for classification, etc.

LAKER

Type of ship which trades only in the Great Lakes of North America. They usually carry grain and ore cargoes.

LANBY

Large automatic navigation buoy

LANE METER

whereby each unit of space (Linear Meter) is represented by an area of deck 1.0 meter in length x 2.0 meters in width.

LASH

A maritime industry abbreviation for Lighter Aboard Ship. A specially constructed vessel equipped with an overhead crane for lifting specially designed barges and stowing them into cellular slots in an athwartship position.

LASH SHIPS

LASH stand for Lighter Aboard Ship. It is a specialized container ship carrying very large floating containers, or lighters. The ship carries its own massive crane, which loads and discharges the containers over the stern. The lighters each have a capacity of 400 tons and are stowed in the holds and on deck. While, the ship is at sea with one set of lighters, further sets can be made ready. Loading and discharge are rapid at about 15 minutes per lighter, no port or dock facilities are needed, and the lighters can be grouped for pushing by towboats along inland waterways.

LASH VESSELS

Barges specifically designed to load on a vessel internally and for quick vessel turnaround. The concept is to quickly float the barges to the vessel (using tugs or ships wenches), load the barges through the rear of the vessel, then sail. Upon arrival at the foreign port, the reverse happens. Barges are quickly floated away from the vessel and another set of waiting barges quickly are loaded. Usually crane-equipped, these barges handle mostly breakbulk cargo.

LAT

Latitude; Lowest Astronomical tide

LAY DAYS

The dates between which a chartered vessel is to be available in a port for loading of cargo.

LAY-UP

Temporary cessation of trading of a ship by a shipowner during a period when there is a surplus of ships in relation to the level of available cargoes. This surplus, known as overtonnaging, has the effect of depressing freight rates to the extent that some shipowners no long find it economical to trade their ship, preferring to lay them up until there is a reversal in the trend.

LAY/CAN

Laydays/canceling

LAYCAN

Laydays/Cancelling (date): Range of dates within the hire contract must start.

LAYTIME

Time allowed by the shipowner to the voyage charterer or bill of lading holder in which to load and/or discharge the cargo. It is expressed as a number of days or hours or as a number of tons per day.

LB

Long Beach

LBP

Length between perpendiculars.(of a Ship)

LC

London clause

LCB

Local Competitive Bidding

LCBC

Lake Chad Basin Commission

LCL

Abbreviation for Less than Container Load. The quantity of freight which is less than that required for the application of a container load rate. Loose Freight.

LCR

Lowest current rate

LDC

Less Developed Country

LDCs

Least developed countries

LDD

Leaded

LDG

Loading

LDN

Laden

LDO

Light diesel oil

LDPT

Load Port

LDT

Light Displacement Tonnage, weight of an empty vessel (usually in Long Tons).

LEGAL WEIGHT (LCL)

LESS THAN CONTAINER LOAD (1) A consignment of cargo which is inefficient to fill a shipping container. It is grouped with other consignments for the same destination in a container at a container freight station. (2) The weight of the goods plus any immediate wrappings that are sold along with the goods, e.g., the weight of a tin can as well as its contents. (See also Gross Weight)

LESS THAN TRUCKLOAD (LTL)

Rates applicable when the quantity of freight is less than the volume or truckload minimum weight.

LETTER OF CREDIT (Confirmed)

A letter of audit issued by one bank to which another bank added its irrevocable confirmation to pay, thereby obligating itself in the same manner as the opening bank. For example, we hereby confirm this credit and undertake to pay drafts drawn in accordance with the terms and conditions of the letter of credit.

LETTER OF CREDIT (Cumulative)

A revolving letter of credit which permits any amount not utilized during any of the specified periods to be carried over and added to the amounts available in subsequent periods.

LETTER OF CREDIT (Deferred Payment)

A letter of credit issued for the purchase and financing of merchandise, similar to acceptance letter of credit, except that it requires presentation of sight drafts which are payable on installment basis usually for periods of 1 year or more. Under this type of credit, the seller is financing the buyer until the stipulated time his drafts can be presented to the bank for payment. There is a significant deference in the bank's commitment, depending on whether the negotiating bank advised or confirmed the letter of credit.

LETTER OF CREDIT (L/C)

A document issued by a bank per instructions by a buyer of goods authorizing the seller to draw a specified sum of money under specified terms. Issued as revocable or irrevocable.

LETTER OF CREDIT (McLean)

A letter of credit which requires the beneficiary to present only a draft or a receipt for specified funds before he receives payment.

LETTER OF CREDIT (Negotiable)

A letter of credit issued in such form that it allows any bank to negotiate the documents. Negotiable credits incorporate the opening bank's engagement, stating that the drafts will be duly honored on presentation, provided they comply with ail terms of the credit.

LETTER OF CREDIT (Non-Cumulative)

A revolving letter of credit which prohibits the amount not utilized during the specific period to be available in the subsequent periods.

LETTER OF CREDIT (Revocable)

This type of letter of credit is not as legally binding as an irrevocable credit. It can be modified or canceled without the beneficiary's consent, unless the negotiation has already taken place. The issuing bank must honor the drafts negotiated before the notice of revocation or amendment has been made. Negotiability is restricted to the advising bank and confirmation is usually not available.

LETTER OF CREDIT (Revolving)

A credit which includes a provision for reinstating its face value after being drawn under within a stated period of time. This kind of credit facilitates the financing of on going regular purchases.

LETTER OF CREDIT (Standby)

One issued for the express purpose of effecting payment in the event of default. The issuing bank is prepared to pay but does not expect to as long as the underlying transaction is properly fulfilled.

LETTER OF CREDIT (TRAVELER'S)

A letter of credit which is issued by a bank to a customer preparing for an extended trip. The customer pays for the letter of credit at the time of issuance, and a bank issues the letter for a specified period of time in the amount purchased. The bank furnishes a list of correspondent banks where drafts against the letter of credit will be honored. The bank also identifies the customer by exhibiting a specimen signature of the purchaser in the folder enclosing the list of correspondent banks. Each bank, which honors a draft, endorses on the letter of credit the date when a payment was made, the bank's name, the amount drawn against the letter of credit, and charges the issuing bank's account

LETTER OF CREDIT, CONFIRMED

A letter of credit containing a guarantee on the part of both the issuing and advising banks of payment to the seller, provided the seller's documentation is in order and the terms of the letter of credit are met.

LGC

Liquified gas carrier

LGFM

London Grain Fixtures Market

LGT

LenGThened

LHAR

London, Hull, Amsterdam or Rotterdam

LIB

Limited International Bidding

LIBID

London Interbank Bid Rate

LIBOR

London Interbank Offered Rate

LIFEBOAT

A specially constructed double ended boat which can withstand heavy, rough seas.

LIFEBOAT DRILL

The master of every vessel is bound by international law to make the officers, crew and passengers adequately acquainted with the procedures of lowering and the use of lifeboats in case of emergency.

LIFFE

London International Financial Futures and Options, Exchange

LIFO

Liner in, Free out; Last in, First out

LIGHT DISPLACEMENT TONNAGE

The weight of a ship's hull, machinery, equipment, and spares. This is often the basis on which ships are paid for when purchased for scrapping. The difference between the loaded displacement and light displacement is the ship's deadweight.

LIGHTER

(1) General name for a broad, flat-bottomed boat used in transporting cargo between a vessel and the shore. The distinction between a lighter and a barge is more in the manner of use than in equipment. The term lighter refers to a short haul, generally in connection with loading and unloading operations of vessels in harbor while the term barge is more often used when the cargo is being carried to its destination over a long distance. (2) An open or covered barge equipped with a crane and towed by a tugboat. Used mostly in harbors and inland waterways.

LIGHTER ABOARD SHIP

An ocean ship which carries barges. These barges are loaded with cargo, often at a variety of locations, towed to the ocean ship, sometimes referred to as the mother ship, and lifted or, in some cases, floated on board. After the ocean crossing, the barges are off-loaded and towed to their various destinations. The ocean ship then receives a further set of barges which have been assembled in readiness. This concept was designed to eliminate the need for specialized port equipment and to avoid transshipment with its consequent extra cost.

LIMEAN

London Interbank Mean Rate

LIMNET

London Insurance Market Network

LINEHAUL

The management of freight between cities, usually more than 1000 miles.

LINER SERVICE

Vessels operating on fixed itineraries or regular schedules and established rates available to all shippers. The freight rates which are charged are based on the shipping company's tariff or if the company is a member of a liner conference, the tariff of that conference.

LIQUIDATION

The finalization of a customs entry.

LKG. & BKG.

Leakage and Breakage.

LL

Laden legs; Loadlines

LLDCs

Lesser Developed Countries

LLOYD'S REGISTER OF SHIPPING

British classification society.

LLT

London landed terms

LM

Lane meters

LMMA

London Maritime Arbitration Association

LNG

Liquefied Natural Gas, or a carrier of LNG.

LNG CARRIER

Liquefied natural gas carrier, perhaps the most sophisticated of all commercial ships. The cargo tanks are made of a special aluminum alloy and are heavily insulated to carry natural gas in its liquid state at a temperature of -2850F. The LNG ship costs about twice as much as an oil tanker of the same size.

LNG Tanker

A tanker for the bulk carriage of Liquefied Natural Gas (primarily methane) in independent insulated tanks. Liquefaction is achieved at temperatures down to -163 deg C

LO

Lubricating oil

LO/LO

Load-on and load-off or Lift-on and lift-off vessel

LO/LO (LIFT-ON/LIFT-OFF)

ocean vessel, which in this case is by the use of a crane.

LOA

Length Overall (of the vessel)

LOAD FACTOR

Percentage of cargo or passengers carried e.g. 4000 tons carried on a vessel of 10000 capacity has a load factor of 40%

LOAD LINE

The line on a vessel indicating the maximum depth to which that vessel can sink when loaded with cargo. Also known as marks.

LOADED LEG

Subdivision of a ship's voyage during which the ship is carrying cargo.

LOCAL MOVE

A railroad movement in which only one road haul carrier participates. The one carrier serves both the origin and destination station

LOGISTICS MANAGEMENT

The efficient and cost-effective management of the physical movement of goods from supply points to final sale and the associated transfer and holding of such goods at various intermediate storage points.

LOI

Letter of indemnity

LOLO

Lift On Lift Off ship

LONG

Longtitude

LOOKOUT

A member of the crew stationed on the forecastle, or on the bridge, whose duty it is to watch for any dangerous objects or for any other vessels heaving into sight.

LOT

Load On Top

LOW

Last open water

LPD

Load port disbursements

LPG

Liquefied Petroleum Gas, or a carrier of LPG.

LPG Barge, propelled

A self propelled tanker barge for the bulk carriage of Liquefied Petroleum Gas

LPG Tank Barge, non propelled

A non propelled tank barge for the carriage of LPG

LPG Tanker

A tanker for the bulk carriage of Liquefied Petroleum Gas in insulated tanks, which may be independent or integral. The cargo is pressurised (smaller vessels), refrigerated (larger vessels) or both ('semi-pressurised') to achieve liquefaction.

LPG/Chemical Tanker

An LPG tanker additionally capable of the carriage of chemical products as defined in the International Bulk Chemical Code

LPGC

Liquified petroleum gas carrier

LPL

Liverpool

LPS

Lumpsum

LQT

Liverpool quay terms

LR

Lloyds Register of Shipping

LRATE

Load rate

LRF

Lloyds Register Fairplay: Publications such as the Register of Ships and the World Shipping Directory, Lloyd's Register - Fairplay also provides bespoke data services and market analyses.

LS

Lumpsum;Lumber (timber) summer loadline

LSA

Liner Shipping Agreements.

LSD

Landing Ship Dock; Landing Storage and Delivery; Lashed Secured Dunnaged

LSLSDU

Loaded, stowed, lasned, secured, dunnaged and unlashed

LT

Long Ton = 1016.05 kilogram

LTBENDS

Liner terms, both ends

LTD

Limited (Liability)

LTFV

Less Than Fair Value

LTGE

Lighterage

LTL

Less than Truck Load quantity refers to weights of less than 40,000 lbs unless otherwise stated.

LTL Carrier

Trucking company which consolidates less-than-truckload cargo for multiple destinations on one vehicle.

LTONS

Long tons

LTS

Laytime saved

LTSBE

Laytime saved both ends

LUBS

Lubricants

LUF

Lifting unit frame

LUMPER

A person hired to help unload a trailer

LUMPS

Lumpsum

LUMPSUM FREIGHT

Money paid to shipper for charter of a ship (or portion) up to stated limit irrespective of quantity of cargo

LW

Low Water

LWNA

Lumber Winter North Atlantic

LWOST

Low Water On Ordinary Spring Tides

LWT

Lightweight tons

LYCN

Laydays/Canceling date

La Zone Franc

See: Franc Zone.

Labor Advisory Committee

A committee of private sector advisors, consisting of trade union representatives and other experts, which advises the Labor Department and the United States Trade Representative on U.S. trade policy matters.

Laden

Loaded aboard a vessel.

Lading

Refers to the freight shipped; the contents of a shipment.

Laisser Passer

A document accorded by a host government to foreign diplomatic personnel, which permits them to pass freely across the border of that country.

Lake Chad Basin Commission

The LCBC recommends plans for developing the Chad Basin and coordinates research programs. The Commission was established in 1964; headquarters are in N'Djamena, Chad. LCBC members include: The Cameroon, Chad, Niger, and Nigeria.

Landbridge

Movement of cargo by water from one country through the port of another country, thence, using rail or truck, to an inland point in that country or to a third country. As example, a through movement of Asian cargo to Europe across North America.

Landed Cost

The total cost of a good to a buyer, including the cost of transportation

Landing Certificate

Certificate issued by consular officials of some importing countries at the point or place of export when the subject goods are exported under bond.

Landing Craft

An open deck cargo vessel onto which cargo is loaded and unloaded over a bow door/ramp

Landing Gear

A support fixed on the front part of a chassis (which is retractable); used to support the front end of a chassis when the tractor has been removed

Landing Ship (Dock Type)

A combat vessel designed for the transport of troops, using a semi submersible dock to launch landing craft or helicopters, and with ro-ro ramp facilities

Latex Tanker

A tanker for the bulk carriage of latex

Latin American Association of Development Fin

The Association promotes cooperation among members in ways which support the integration of Latin American economies, including efforts to improve the flow of information among members and encouraging studies of problems of common interest. Members include 24 Latin American countries and several countries in Europe and North America. The Association was established in January 1968; headquarters are in Lima, Peru.

Latin American Export Bank

See: Banco Latinoamericano de Exportaciones.

Latin American Free Trade Association

See: Latin American Integration Association.

Ldg. & Dly.

Landing and delivery

League of Arab States

The League of Arab States (or Arab League) is a regional grouping aimed at improving relations among Arab nations. Members include: Algeria, Bahrain, Djibouti, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Mauritania, Morocco, Oman, Palestine, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, Yeman Arab Republic, Yemen People's Democractic Republic. The League was established in March 1945; headquarters are in Cairo, Egypt. See: Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa Arab Fund for Economic and Social Development.

Leg. Chgs.

Legal charges

Less Developed Country

An LDC is a country with low per capita gross national product. Terms such as third world, poor, developing nations, and underdeveloped have also been used to describe less developed countries.

Less Than Truckload

Also known as LTL or LCL.

Lesser Developed Countries

The classification LLDC (sometimes also known as Least Developed Countries) was developed by the United Nations to give some guidance to donor agencies and countries about an equitable allocation of foreign assistance. The criteria for designating a country an LLDC, originally adopted by the UN Committee for Development Planning in 1971, have been modified several times. Criteria have included low: per-capita-income, literacy, and manufacturing share of the country's total gross domestic product. There is continuing concern that the criteria should be more robust and less subject to the possibility of easy fluctuation of a country between less developed and least developed status.

Letter of Credit

A financial document issued by a bank at the request of the consignee guaranteeing payment to the shipper for cargo if certain terms and conditions are fulfilled. Normally it contains a brief description of the goods, documents required, a shipping date, and an expiration date after which payment will no longer be made.- An Irrevocable Letter of Credit is one which obligates the issuing bank to pay the exporter when all terms and conditions of the letter of credit have been met. None of the terms and conditions may be changed without the consent of all parties to the letter of credit.- A Revocable Letter of Credit is subject to possible recall or amendment at the option of the applicant, without the approval of the beneficiary.- A Confirmed Letter of Credit is issued by a foreign bank with its validity confirmed by a U.S. bank. An exporter who requires a confirmed letter of credit from the buyer is assured payment from the U.S. bank in case the foreign buyer or bank defaults.- A Documentary Letter of Credit is one for which the issuing bank stipulates that certain documents must accompany a draft. The documents assure the applicant (importer) that the merchandise has been shipped and that title to the goods has been transferred to the importer.

Letter of Credit (LC)

A document, issued by a bank per instructions by a buyer of goods, authorizing the seller to draw a specified sum of money under specified terms, usually the receipt by the bank of certain documents within a given time. Some of the specific descriptions are:

Letter of Credit ADVICE OF CREDIT

Communication by the advising bank that a letter of credit has been issued. The primary responsibility of the advising bank is to take care in establishing the authenticity of the credit.

Letter of Credit ADVISING BANK

A bank which acts as an agent of the issuing bank of a letter of credit in supplying the details of the letter of credit to its beneficial, without any responsibility or engagement on its part.

Letter of Credit-ACCEPTANCE FINANCING

An acceptance transaction unrelated to a letter of credit, created for the purpose of borrowing, is referred to as acceptance financing. In contrast to direct loans, the bankers acceptance provides a vehicle of financing customers without the use of bank funds. By accepting a draft the bank merely adds its name to a bill which then can be used to raise funds by selling in the open market.

Letter of Indemnity

In order to obtain the clean bill of lading, the shipper signs a letter of indemnity to the carrier on the basis of which may be obtained the clean bill of lading, although the dock or mate's receipt showed that the shipment was damaged or in bad condition.

Liab.

Liability

Licenses

- Some governments require certain commodities to be licensed prior to exportation or importation. Clauses attesting to compliance are often required on the B/L.

Lien

A legal claim upon goods for the satisfaction of some debt or duty

Life-Cycle Processing

An accounting approach in which a company sets product prices based on recovering costs over the life cycle of the product. U.S. authorities dispute the validity of this approach because projections of future yield improvements cannot be verified at the time of dumping calculations.

Lightening

A vessel discharges part of its cargo at anchor into a lighter to reduce the vessel's draft so it can then get alongside a pier.

Lighterage

Refers to carriage of goods by lighter and the charge assessed therefrom

Lighthouse Tender

A vessel equipped for supply of stores and personnel to lighthouses

Lightship

A vessel specifically designed for use as a lightship for use as a navigational mark

Limestone Carrier

A single deck cargo vessel for the carriage of limestone in bulk. There are no weather deck hatches. May be self discharging

Limited (Liability)

In the United Kingdom there are two types of limited companies: (a) a private limited company in which the public cannot be invited to subscribe to any share issue and (b) a public limited company (plc) which can raise funds through share issues. Before a limited company can go public, it must have a minimum share capital. A private limited company requires no minimum share capital.

Limited Appointment

Limited appointees to the U.S. and Foreign Commercial Service (or to other foreign services) are persons from the private sector or from the Federal Government who are non-career officers assigned overseas for a limited time.

Limited International Bidding

LIB is one of several forms of procurement made with World Bank financing. In some circumstances (such as: small purchases, urgent need, or few suppliers), suppliers or contractors of specialized goods and services participate by invitation rather than in response to an advertisement. See: International Business Opportunities Service International Competitive Bidding Local Competitive Bidding.

Line Release System

The Line Release System, a part of Customs' Automated Commercial System, is designed for the release and tracking of shipments through the use of personal computers and bar code technology. To qualify for line release, a commodity must have a history of invoice accuracy, and be selected by local Customs districts on the basis of high volume. To release the merchandise, Customs reads the bar code into a personal computer, verifies that the bar code matches the invoice data, and enters the quantity. The cargo release is transmitted to the Automated Commercial System, which establishes an entry and the requirement for an entry summary, and provides the Automated Broker Interface system participants with release information

Line-Haul

Transportation from one city to another as differentiated from local switching service.

Liner

A vessel sailing between specified ports on a regular basis.

Linkspan/Jetty

Any classified linkspan, jetty or floating access pontoon

Liquidated Damages

The penalty a seller must pay if the construction project does not meet contractual standards or deadlines.

Liquidation System

The Liquidation System, a part of Customs' Automated Commercial System, closes the file on each entry and establishes a batch filing number which is essential for recovering an entry for review or enforcement purposes. An entry liquidation is a final review of the entry. P.L. 95-410 (Customs Procedural Reform and Simplification Act of 1978) requires that all liquidations be performed within one year from the date of consumption entry or final withdrawal on a warehouse entry. Three one-year extensions are permitted.

List

The amount in degrees that a vessel tilts from the vertical.

Liter

1.06 liquid U.S. quarts or 33.9 fluid ounces.

Live Fish Carrier (Well Boat)

A vessel for the carriage of live fish in water tanks

Livestock Carrier

A cargo vessel arranged for the carriage of livestock

Lkg. & bkg.

Leakage and breakage

Ll. & Cos.

Lloyd's and Companies

Lloyds' Registry

An organization maintained for the surveying and classing of ships so that insurance underwriters and others may know the quality and condition of the vessels offered for insurance or employment.

Lo Ho

Lower Hold

Load Ratio

The ratio of loaded miles to empty miles.

Load on Top

The procedure where a crude oil cargo is loaded into tanks on top of residues from a previous cargo (these residues are normally held in a slop tank and are the result of tank washing and dirty ballast decanting operations on pre-MARPOL ships).

Local Cargo

Cargo delivered to/from the carrier where origin/destination of the cargo is in the local area.

Local Competitive Bidding

LCB is one of several forms of procurement made with World Bank financing. LCB is generally used for contracts involving: (a) labor intensive activities; (b) small value; (c) locally procurable services or goods priced below the world market; (d) intermittant work; or (e) activities to be performed at numerous sites. See: International Business Opportunities Service International Competitive Bidding Limited International Bidding.

Log Tipping Ship

A vessel equipped to transport logs discharge them into the water by tipping itself

Logistics Vessel (Naval Ro-Ro Cargo)

A naval auxiliary vessel. With ro-ro capability

Lombard Rate

The Lombard rate is one of the official interest rates in Germany used to regulate the money market. Other countries use the term Lombard to describe rates which function somewhat like the Lombard rate. The Swiss, for example, have their own Lombard rate. In France, it's called the Central Bank Intervention rate but performs the same function.

Lome Convention

The Convention is an agreement concluded at Lome, Togo in February 1975 and which entered into force in April 1976. The orginal Convention has been followed by several additional Lome Conventions which expanded the scope of the original agreement. The Convention is between the European Community (EC) and 62 African, Caribbean, and Pacific states (mostly former colonies of the EC members). The agreement covers some aid provisions as well as trade and tariff preferences for the ACP countries when shipping to the EC. Lome grew out of the 1958 Treaty of Rome's association with the 18 African colonies/countries that had ties with Belgium and France. The ACP members are: Angola, Bahamas, Barbados, Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Comoros, Congo, Cote d'Ivoire, Djibouti, Dominica, Equatorial Guinea, Ethiopia, Fiji, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Grenada, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Jamaica, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mauritius, Mauritania, Mozambique, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, Papua New Guinea, Rwanda, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent, Samoa, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Solomon Islands, Somalia, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Tanzania, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Uganda, Zaire, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.

London Club

The London Club, a creditor cartel of commercial banks, evolved in the early 1980s. Debt rescheduling (i.e., constructing new repayment profiles over a specific period of time) was a primary function of the club. The Brady deals on debt restructuring (i.e., renegotiating the entire stock of outstanding debt at a discount), obviated the need to reschedule repayments every couple of years. In some respect, the Bank Advisory Committee has replaced the London Club. The Paris Club, also concerned with debt repayment, is an association of official creditors. See: Bank Advisory Committee.

London Interbank Bid Rate

LIBID is the rate of interest paid for funds in the London interbank market. The bid to Libor's offer has been used as a reference for floating rate payments for especially strong borrowers.

London Interbank Mean Rate

Abbreviated as LIMEAN, this is the midpoint of the LIBOR-LIBID spread. LIMEAN has been used as a reference for floating rate payments.

London Interbank Offered Rate

LIBOR, the most prominent of the interbank offered rates, is the rate of interest at which banks in London lend funds to other prime banks in London. LIBOR is frequently used as a basis for determining the rate of interest payable on Eurodollars and other Eurocurrency loans. The effective rate of interest on these Eurocredits is LIBOR plus a markup negotiated between lender and borrower. See: Interbank Offered Rate.

London International Financial Futures and Op

LIFFE, Europe's leading exchange, trades in futures contracts including short-term interest rates, government bonds, stock indices, and traded options on these instruments. The Exchange was established in 1982 to provide a means for hedging interest rates and currency exposures against volatility. Originally called the London International Financial Futures Exchange, LIFFE merged in March 1992 with the London Traded Options Market (LTOM) and retained the original acronym.

Long Form B/L

B/L form with all Terms & Conditions written on it. Most B/L's are short form which incorporate the long form clauses by reference

Long Ton

2,240 pounds

Long-Dated Forward

The long-dated forward is a foreign exchange contract whose maturity exceeds one year; a few have extended over ten years.

Longshoreman

Individual employed in a port to load and unload ships.

Loose

Without packing.

Louvre Accord

The Louvre Accord (February 1987) attempted to stop the dollar's fall and stabilize currency relationships by introducing reference ranges among the G-7 currencies. See: Plaza Accord.

Low-Boy

A trailer or semi-trailer with no sides and with the floor of the unit close to the ground.

Lt. V

Light vessel

Lt.-v.

Light-vessel

Ltr.

Lighter

Lubricating Oil

Is a Clean Petroleum Product (CPP) as defined in this section. It is a product of many specialist grades derived through the blending of components known as Base Oils.

Lusophone Countries

Lusophone countries are those in which the official language is Portuguese: Angola, Brazil, Cape Verde, Guinea-Bissau, Mozambique, Portugal, and Sao-Tome and Principe.