Meter
The standard of marine insurance policy used in the London market by both Lloyd's and companies
Minimum and deposit premium
Marine and war risks
Marine Audio-Visual Instruction Systems
Machinery breakdown
Machinery certificate
Maximum foreseeable loss
Main Hatch
Mean High Water Spring
Marine Insurance Policy
Mean Low Water Springs
Mercantile Marine
Middlewest Motor Freight Bureau.
Managed Network Steering Committee
Maximum probable loss
Mate's receipt
Motor ship, Machinery survey
Mean Time
Mean tidal level
Metalling clause (marine insurance), Machinery certificate
Memorandum of deposit
Main Engine
Minimum / maximum
Mate's Receipt.
Motor ship
Metric tons (2,250 lbs.).
Motor Vessel
Motor Vessel.
Motor yacht
Malicious damage
Months after sight
Cubic Meter
Mina Al Ahmadi
The main continuous deck of a ship running from fore to aft; the principle deck; the deck from which the freeboard is determined.
The process of maintaining roadbed (rail, ties, ballast, bridges etc.) These materials are hauled in special maintenance of way cars, which also include cars that are equipped with heavy equipment, such as cranes and tie replacing machines
The minimum number of officers and crew members that can be engaged on a ship to be considered as sufficient hands with practical ability to meet every possible eventuality at sea.
Mono-ammonium phosphate
A U.S. government agency, while not actively involved in vessel operation, that administers laws for maintenance of merchant marine for the purposes of defense and commerce.
A claim which attaches to the res, i.e., the ship, freight, or cargo.
A branch within the Maritime Administration which deals with Operating Differential Subsidy and Construction Differential Subsidy.
The abbreviated term for the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution by Ships (MARine POLlution) The International regulations concerning the construction of vessels and procedures to be followed to prevent pollution of the sea by oil, no
The International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships, 1973, as modified by the Protocol of 1978.
Nautical Institute Marine Accident Reporting System
Highest officer aboard ship. Oversees all ship operations. Keeps ships records. Handles accounting and bookkeeping. Takes command of vessel in inclement weather and in crowded or narrow waters. Handles communications. Receives and implements instructions from home office.
Material(s)
Max But As Close To As Possible
Merchant Broker
Motor blocks/ turnings
1,000 board feet. One MBM equals 2,265 C.M.
Methyl tert-butyl ether
Minister Counsellor
Abbreviation for Master Container Freight Station. See CFS.
Militarily Critical Technologies List
Multilateral Development Banks
Marine diesel oil
Metric DeadWeight tons
Main Engine
The measurement ton (also known as the cargo ton or freight ton) is a space measurement, usually 40 cubic feet or one cubic meter. Cargo is assessed a certain rate for every 40 cubic feet or one cubic meter it occupies.
Mediterranean
Middle East Gulf
Moment
A trade alliance between Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay, with Chile and Bolivia as associate members.
Most Environmentally Sensitive Area
Mexico
Medium Frequency
Arrangement Regarding International Trade in Textiles (Multifibre Arrangement)
Most Favored Nation Treatment
Master''s general account
Main Gas Oil
Main hatch
Mean Higher High Water
Ministry of Health and Welfare
Mean high water neaps: and
Mean High water Springs
Megahertz
Marine Insurance Act
Man-in-charge
Member of The Institute of Chartered Shipbrokers, London
Middle
Multilateral Investment Fund
Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency
Minimum / maximum
Millon(s)
Marine insurance policy
Manufactured Imports Promotion Organization
Maritime Institute for Research and Industrial Development.
Miscellaneous
Japan's Ministry of International Trade and Investment
A shipment consisting of more than one commodity, articles described under more than one class or commodity rate item in a tariff.
Matchmaker Program
Motor launch
Abbreviation for Mini Landbridge.
Meters of Liquid Column
Moulded
Mean low low water
Miles
Mean low water
Mean low water neaps. Average depths of water available at the times of low and of high tides during periods of Neap Tides
Mean low water Springs
Mercantile Marine.
Maximum Most Probable Discharge
Maritime Mobile Selective Call Identity Code
Managing Owner
Memorandum of agreement
Market-Oriented Cooperation Plan
Mobile Offshore Drilling Unit.
China's Ministry of Foreign Economy Relations and Trade
More or Less
More Or Less CHarterers OPtion
More or Less Charterers Option
More or Less Charterers Option
More or Less Owners Option
MONitors (fire)
A cable or line to tie up a ship.
Muriate of Potash
Loan issued against some security
Months
Market-Oriented, Sector-Selective
Ministry Of Transpory; Monthly OverTime
Memorandum of Understanding
Memorandum of Understanding (Paris)
Major Projects Agreement
Market Promotion Program
Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications
Medium range
Mutual Recognition Agreement
Morning
Medium range cross-purpose tanker
Motor shop; motor spirit; machinery survey
Merchant Shipping Act
Maritime Subsidy Board.
Manchester Ship Canal; Maritime Safety Committee
Material Safety Data Sheet
Marine Safety Office (U.S. Coast Guard)
Marine Spill Response Corporation
Motor support vessel
Multilateral Trade Organization
Empty.
MTBE is not covered under the chemical code and thus is not subject to the exemptions for carriage of chemicals. MTBE has become a large trade and is often carried in oil vessels as well as chemicals ones. The product is volatile and there is no technic
Maritime Transport Committee, OECD
Months
Mean tidal level
Multilateral Trade Negotiations
Multimodal transport operator
Metric Tonnes
Million metric tonnes per annum
Metric Tonnes
Any ship capable of carrying different types of cargo which require different methods of handling. There are several types of ships falling into this category, for example, ships which can carry roll on/roll off cargo together with containers.
Motor Vessel
Minimum Weight Factor.
Meter Water Column
Motor yacht
The Maastricht Treaty (named for the Dutch town in which the treaty was signed) is also known as the Treaty of European Union. The treaty creates a European Union by: (a) commiting the 12 member states of the European Economic Community to both European Monetary Union (EMU) and political union; (b) introducing a single currency (European Currency Unit, ECU); (c) establishing a European System of Central Banks (ESCB); (d) creating a European Central Bank (ECB); and (e) broadening EEC integration by including both a common foreign and security policy (CFSP) and cooperation in justice and home affairs (CJHA). The treaty, negotiated in 1991 and signed in February 1992, entered into force on November 1, 1993.The Maastricht Treaty envisioned EMU being achieved in three stages: - A first stage (encompassing treaty negotiations and lasting through January 1, 1994) concludes with ratification of treaty amendments needed to establish EMU, including participation by all 12 EEC member states in the Exchange Rate Mechanism; - A second stage (January 1, 1994 through no later than January 1, 1999) involves establishment of the European Monetary Institute (EMI) to support development of a single currency (the ecu) and development of the ECB; - A third stage (starting no later than January 1, 1999) involves irrevocable fixing of exchange rates and the debut of the ECB with transfer of powers necessary for administering economic and monetary union. See: European Central Bank European Currency Unit European Monetary Institute European System of Central Banks Exchange Rate Mechanism
Machinery
The Maghreb states include the three nations of Algeria, Morocco, and Tunisia. The European Community concluded a trade and aid agreement in 1976 with these states. The term Maghreb states sometimes also includes Libya and Mauritania. The five Maghreb states created the Arab Maghreb Union. See: Arab Maghreb Union Comite Permanent Consultatif du Maghreb.
A jack up offshore maintenance platform
A semi submersible offshore maintenance platform
Malicious damage
A carrier giving a customer illegal preference to attract cargo. This can take the form of a money refund (rebate); using lower figures than actual for the assessment of freight charges (undercubing); misdeclaration of the commodity shipped to allow the assessment of a lower tariff rate; waiving published tariff charges for demurrage, CFS handling or equalization; providing specialized equipment to a shipper to the detriment of other shippers, etc.
A writ issued by a court; requires that specific things be done
Document that lists in detail all the bills of lading issued by a carrier or its agent or master for a specific voyage. A detailed summary of the total cargo of a vessel. Used principally for Customs purposes.
The MRU advances common policies and cooperation on tariffs and customs regulations, on development projects, and in other economic areas. The Union instituted a common external tariff in 1977. The MRU was established in 1973; headquarters are in Freetown, Sierra Leone.
MIPRO is a non-profit organization, established in 1978 by the joint efforts of the Japanese Government and the private sector to promote imports of foreign manufactured products by hosting exhibitions and providing a wide range of market information. MIPRO's activities are broadly classified into three categories: (a) holding imported product trade exhibitions for buyers and the general public; (b) disseminating information regarding imported products and the Japanese market; and (c) promoting sales of foreign products to Japanese consumers to promote recognition of the quality of imported goods
The maquiladora (or in-bond industry) program allows foreign manufacturers to ship components into Mexico duty-free for assembly and subsequent reexport. Industry established under the maquiladora program is Mexico's second largest source of foreign revenue (following oil exports). The maquiladora programs was established in 1965; in December 1989, the Mexican government liberalized the maquiladora program to make this a more attractive and dynamic sector of the economy. As a result, maquiladora operations may import, duty and import license free, products not directly involved in production, but that support production, including computers and other administrative materials and transportation equipment.
Broadly, insurance covering loss of, or damage to, goods at sea. Marine insurance typically compensates the owner of merchandise for losses in excess of those which can be legally recovered from the carrier that are sustained from fire, shipwreck, piracy, and various other causes. Three of the most common types of marine insurance coverage are free of particular average (f.p.a.), with average (w.a.), and All Risks Coverage.
Broadly, insurance covering loss or damage of goods at sea. Marine insurance typically compensates the owner of merchandise for losses sustained from fire, shipwreck, etc., but excludes losses that can be recovered from the carrier.
Business pertaining to commerce or navigation transacted upon the sea or in seaports in such matters as the court of admiralty has jurisdiction.
Market access refers to the openness of a national market to foreign products. Market access reflects a government's willingness to permit imports to compete relatively unimpeded with similar domestically produced goods.
Market disruption refers to the situation which is created when a surge of imports in a given product line causes sales of domestically produced goods in a particular country to decline to an extent that the domestic producers and their employees suffer major economic hardship.
The Market Promotion Program (MPP) was authorized by the Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990 and is administered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Foreign Agricultural Service. Under the MPP, surplus stocks or funds from the Commodity Credit Corporation are used to partially reimburse agricultural organizations conducting specific foreign market development projects for eligible products in specified countries. Proposals for MPP programs are developed by trade organizations and private firms. Activities financed by the programs vary from commodity to commodity, and include activities such as market research, construction of a three-story wood demonstration building, construction of a model feed mill, and consumer promotion activities. (MPP is broader in scope than the Targeted Export Assistance [TEA] program, repealed by the 1990 Farm Bill, whose purpose was to assist exports of commoditis hurt by unfair foreign trade practices.)
The MOCP, established in 1990, is aimed at improving long-term business relations between Japan's automotive manufacturers and U.S. auto parts suppliers.
The MOSS talks were begun in January 1985 as bilateral trade discussions between the U.S. and Japan in an effort to remove many trade barriers at once in a given sector. MOSS talks have focused on five sectors: (a) telecommunications, (b) medical equipment and pharmaceuticals, (c) electronics, (d) forest products, and (e) auto parts. Overall, the talks focus high-level attention on reducing certain market obstacles opening communication channels to resolve follow-up disputes
Letters, numbers, and other symbols placed on cargo packages to facilitate identification. Also known as marks.
The physical markings on a product that indicate the country of origin where the article was produced. Customs rules require marks of origin of most countries.
A pointed metal spike, used to separate strands of rope in splicing.
U.S. Customs' automated program under AMS. It allows for electronic reporting of inbound (foreign) cargoes in the U.S.
Matchmaker trade delegations are organized and led by the International Trade Administration to help new-to-export and new-to-market firms meet prescreened prospects who are interested in their products or services in overseas markets. Matchmaker delegations usually target two major country markets and limit trips to a week or less. This approach is designed to permit U.S. firms to interview a maximum number of prospective overseas business partners with a minimum of time away from their home office. The program includes U.S. embassy support, briefings on market requirements and business practices, and interpreter services. Matchmaker events, based on specific product themes and end-users, are scheduled for a limited number of countries each year
An archaic practice. An acknowledgement of cargo receipt signed by a mate of the vessel. The possessor of the mate's receipt is entitled to the bill of lading, in exchange for that receipt.
Merchandise
Freight on which transportation charges are calculated on the basis of volume measurement.
A lifting dock facility using winches to lower and raise platform
A container fitted with a means of forced air ventilation.
Unfreighted B/L with no charges listed.
See: International Agreements.
An in-house bill of lading. A duplicate copy.
See Multiple Containerload Shipment.
See: Balance of Payments
Mercosur (Spanish; Mercosul in Portuguese; or Southern Common Market) is comprised of Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, and Uruguay. Mercosur is scheduled to enter into force in December 1994 for Argentina and Brazil and to enter into force in December 1995 for Paraguay and Uruguay. Mercosur, modeled similarly to the European Community's Treaty of Rome, will establish a common external tariff and eliminate barriers to trade in services. While in the Southern Cone, Chile has not sought entry to Mercosur, but does have an agreement with Argentina which will provide for some similar benefits.
39.37 inches (approximately).
2,204.6 pounds or 1,000 kilograms.
A cargo movement in which the water carrier provides a through service between an inland point and the port of load/discharge. The carrier is responsible for cargo and costs from origin on to destination. Also known as IPI or Through Service.
A unit equal to 5,280 feet on land. A nautical mile is 6076.115.
See: Conventional Arms Transfer.
The MTCL is a document listing technologies that the U.S. Defense Department considers to have current or future utility in military systems. The MCTL describes arrays of design and manufacturing know-how; keystone manufacturing, inspection, and test equipment; and goods accompanied by sophisticated operation, application, and maintenance know-how. Military justification for each entry is included in a classified version of the list.
Minimum Bill of Landing
A naval vessel equipped for detecting explosive marine mines
A naval vessel designed for laying marine mines
A naval vessel equipped for detecting, destroying, removing, or neutralizing explosive marine mines
An intermodal system for transporting containers by ocean and then by rail or motor to a port previously served as an allwater move (e.g., Hong Kong to New York over Seattle). The process of taking inland cargo bound for export to the coast by rail and loading it directly to the ship.
A clause in a Bill of lading which specifies the least charge that the carrier will make for issuing a lading. The charge may be a definite sum or the current charge per ton for any specified quantity.
The lowest charge that can be assessed to transport a shipment.
A vessel equipped for offshore mining operations, most commonly diamonds
The People's Republic of China (PRC) Ministry of Foreign Economic Relations and Trade, MOFERT, was established in March 1982 by combining former separate ministries. MOFERT implements national trade policies through administrative actions, drafting laws and issuing foreign trade regulations. MOFERT does not engage in foreign trade transactions but facilitates the foreign trading corporations (FTCs) which do
Under the Pharmaceutical Affairs Law, MHW is Japan's agency responsible for regulating medical products. The Ministry also is charged with determining Japanese healthcare expenditures.
MITI occupies a central position in Japan's economic bureaucracy and is regarded as one of the three most powerful and prestigious ministries of the central government (along with the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs). In formulating and implementing Japan's trade and industrial policies, MITI is responsible for funding most of Japan's export promotion programs (although operation of these programs is left to JETRO). The Ministry also supervises the export financing programs of Japan's Export-Import Bank, operates several types of export insurance programs, supports research organizations, and facilitates various types of overseas technical and cooperation training programs. Lately, MITI has assumed a role in encouraging imports of foreign products into Japan
MPT is Japan's telecommunications regulatory agency. The Ministry is authorized to adjust supply and demand among service providers to ensure that there is not excessive competition in a given market. To do so, MPT issues administrative guidance to the industry and recommends unification when there appears to be excessive competition in a given market.
The purpose of the MTCR is to limit the proliferation of missiles capable of delivering nuclear weapons, to increase regional stability, and to convey publicly the firm resolve of the partners to address this issue. In April 1987, Canada, France, Germany, Japan, the U.K., and the U.S. agreed to establish the MTCR. The regime expanded to include 23 countries, with the addition of Australia, Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, Greece, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, and Swizterland. The MTCR does not have permanent organizations but convenes regular meetings to exchange information and coordinate member country stands. Under the MTCR, each member administers missile-related export controls independently. After the MTCR agrees that certain goods and technologies should be controlled for missile proliferation reasons, each member must implement the controls in its own domestic legislation. There is no international entity that oversees the implementation and enforcement of MTCR controls. Items and technology agreed by the MTCR partners to be controlled are listed in the MTCR Annex. The Annex is divided into two groups: Category I (consisting of complete rocket and unmanned air vehicle systems and subsystems) and Category II (encompassing components, equipment, technology, materials used in missile design, development, production or use).
A mobile vessel used for missionary work
A containerload of different articles in a single consignment.
Mixed credit refers to the practice of combining concessional and market-rate export credit as an export promotion mechanism.
A blend of gases tailored to replace the normal atmosphere within a container.
A tanker for the bulk carriage of molasses
A tanker for the bulk carriage of molten sulphur in insulated tanks at a high temperature
A mooring buoy
A vessel equipped to assist with the mooring and/or anchoring of larger vessels. Typically it will have a frame to prevent the ropes and chains fouling on the superstructure
A naval auxiliary vessel designed to assist with the mooring and or anchoring of larger vessels
Mortality
A commitment that a country will extend to another country the lowest tariff rates it applies to any other country. All contracting parties undertake to apply such treatment to one another under Article I of GATT. When a country agrees to cut tariffs on a particular product imported from one country, the tariff reduction automatically applies to imports of this product from any other country eligible for most-favored nation treatment. This principle of nondiscriminatory treatment of imports appeared in numerous bilateral trade agreements prior to establishment of GATT. A country is under no obligation to extend MFN treatment to another country unless both are bilateral contracting parties of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade or MFN treatment is specified in a bilateral agreement
When one country accords another most-favored-nation status, it agrees to extend that country the same trade concessions it grants to any other MFN recipients. For example, in the tariff area, goods from a country accorded MFN status by the U.S. would be assessed the lower column 1 duties in the U.S. tariff schedule. This concept may apply to non-tariff measures as well. GATT members have agreed to accord each other MFN status. Preferential treatment accorded to developing countries, customs unions, and free trade areas all represent allowable exceptions to the MFN concept
Measurement
The MFA is an international umbrella compact, authorized by the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT), that allows contracting parties to negotiate bilaterally quantitative restrictions on textile imports (which normally would be considered contrary to GATT provisions) to the extent the importing country considers them necessary to prevent market disruption. The Uruguay Round Agreement on Textiles and Clothing contains an agreed schedule for the gradual phase-out of quotas established pursuant to the MFA over a ten-year transition period, after which textile and clothing trade will be fully integrated into the GATT and subject to the same disciplines as other sectors. See: Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements
A container frame fitted to accommodate two or more separate tanks for liquids.
An international compact in which three or more parties participate.
There are five MDBs. See: African Development Bank Asian Development Bank European Bank for Reconstruction and Development Inter-American Development Bank World Bank.
The MIF provides program and project grants to advance investment reform and technical assistance for privatization movements in Latin America and the Caribbean and to encourage domestic and foreign investment in the area. The Fund, an outgrowth of the Enterprise for the Americas Initiative, is administered by the Inter-American Development Bank. MIF was established in January 1993. See: Enterprise for the Americas Initiative.
MIGA was established in April 1988 as a part of the World Bank Group. MIGA encourages equity investment and other direct investment flows to developing countries through the mitigation of noncommercial investment barriers. The agency offers investors guarantees against non-commercial risks; advises developing member governments on the design and implementation of policies, programs, and procedures related to foreign investments; and sponsors a dialogue between the international business community and host governments on investment issues. MIGA provides coverage for equity interests, other forms of direct investment, industrial cooperation such as management and service contracts, licensing and franchising agreements, turnkey contracts, and arrangements concerning transfer of technology and know-how in which the investor assumes a stake in the performance of the venture. See: World Bank
Attainment of an MSA was an achievement intended as part of the Steel Trade Liberalization Program and resulting the Bilateral Consensus Agreements. The MSA would have addressed the underlying causes of unfair trade in steel by eliminating tariffs, nontariff measures such as quotas, and most subsidies in the steel sector, and established a dispute-settlement mechanism. The United States and 34 other countries participated in negotiations for an MSA under the general auspices of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade. MSA negotiations were suspended in March 1992, coincident with the expiration of the steel voluntary restraint agreements
A term describing the eight multilateral rounds of negotiations held under the auspices of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade since 1947. See: Rounds.
Eight rounds of multilateral trade negotiations have been held under GATT auspices since 1947. Each negotiation has had the goal of reducing or eliminating tariffs among signatory countries. The Tokyo and Uruguay Rounds have focused on non-tariff measures as well.
Synonymous for all practical purposes with Intermodal.
A multinational corporation is a business which owns or controls product or service facilities outside the country in which it is based.
A naval auxiliary Vessel for the carriage of munitions
A stationary vessel of interest preserved as a museum exhibit.
MRAs are negotiated on a sectoral basis (such as: telecommunciations, medicial devices, pharmaceuticals, chemicals, processed foods) and allow countries to accept each other's final test results, although quality assurances may be required. Under MRAs, the entire testing and certification process may occur outside the importing country. Under MRA's with the European Community, a U.S. firm would obtain product certification on an EC-wide basis, enabling the firms to market its products throughout the Community. Based on private-law contractual negotiations, subcontracting permits a notified body of the EC to delegate some of its testing responsibilities to a third-country testing lab or quality assessment body. However, the notified body retains ultimate responsibility for final decisions relating to EC certification. Formal discussions between representatives of the U.S. Government and the European Economic Community on entering MRSs began in October 1992.