Call Letters - The letters assigned to the ship's radio (station).

Camber - The arching of the deck upward measured at the centerline in inches per foot beam.

Calibration - The process of adjusting, or of measuring the performance of a device.

Calibration Tables (Gauge Or Tank Tables, Innage/ Ullage Tables) - Tables developed by recognized industry methods that represent volumes in each tank according to the liquid (innage) or empty space (ullage) measured in the tank. The tables are entered with linear measurements (for example, feet, inches, meters, centimeters) to obtain calibrated volumes (for example, barrels, cubic meters or cubic feet).

Canceling Date - A stated date after which, if a vessel is not ready to load, the intending charterers have the option of canceling the charter. The passing of the canceling date leaves the owner's obligation unimpaired unless the charterer releases him.

Cancellation Clause - A clause in a charter party whereby the charterer reserves the right to cancel the charter if the ship fails to arrive, ready to load, on a specified date at a named port.

Capacity - The volume of a container or tank filled to a specified level.

Capacity Plan - A general plan or inboard profile which gives all data relating to the capacity of cargo spaces, tanks, bunkers and storerooms.

Capping - Routing a vessel around the Cape of Good Hope, South Africa.

Cargo Hose - A hose usually of 6 to 10 inches in diameter used for the transfer of cargo from ship to shore and vice versa.

Cargo Plan - A plan giving the quantities and description of the various grades carried in the ship's cargo tanks.

Cargo Pump - Pump used on tankers for discharging cargo and loading or discharging ballast. Located, at the bottom of the pump room, these pumps are usually of the common duplex type, or turbine type of which the centrifugal is the most common.

Cargo Quantity Option Certificate - A certificate signed by vessel and shore representatives acknowledging the amount of cargo intended to load.

Catwalk - A raised bridge running fore and aft from the Midship House, and also called "walkway." It affords safe passage over the pipelines and other deck obstructions.

Centerline - A horizontal fore-and-aft reference line, dividing the vessel into two symmetrical halves.

Center Tanks - Cargo tanks located on the vessel's centerline.

Centrifugal Pump - A pump consisting of a shaft to which vanes are attached and which rotates in a circular casing. Water or liquid flows into the casing near the center of the rotating shaft and is propelled outward along the vanes by centrifugal force. It escapes through a discharge pipe at the circumference of the casing.

Chain Locker - The compartment for storing the anchor chains, located near the bow of the ship.

Charterer - The company or person given the use of the vessel for the transportation of cargo or passengers for a specified time.

Charter Party - A document of contract, or agreement, by which a ship- owner agrees to lease, and a charterer agrees to hire, an entire ship, or all or part of the cargo space to carry cargo for an agreed sum under certain conditions.

Bareboat Charter - Owner lets an unmanned ship for a long period at a rate that covers any depreciation and nominal return. Charterer mans the vessel and pays all operating expenses.

To Fix A Charter - To reach final agreement on the terms of a charter party.

Charter Rates - The tariff applied for chartering tonnage in a particular trade.

Disponent Owner - Charterer who has sublet the vessel and is acting as the owner per the terms of the contract.

Charter Types

Contract of Affreightment (COA) - A service contract under which a ship owner agrees to transport a specified quantity of fuel products or specialty products, at a specified rate per ton between designated loading and discharge ports. This type of contract differs from a spot or consecutive voyage charter in that no particular vessel is specified. (Rates are usually discounted below other forms of contracts.)

Period Charter - Refers to consecutive voyage (C/V) exceeding four voyages, time charters (T/C) and bareboat charters. - Note: Loose term may have other connotations.

Spot (Voyage) Charter - A charter for a particular vessel to move a single cargo between specified loading port(s) and discharge port(s) in the immediate future. Contract rate (spot rate) covers total operating expenses such as port charges, bunkering, crew expenses, insurance, repairs, and canal tolls. The charterer will generally pay all cargo-related costs.

Time Charter (T/C) - A charter for varying periods of time, usually between two and ten years, under which the owner hires out the vessel to the shipper fully manned, provisioned, stored and insured. The charterer is usually responsible for bunkers, port charges, canal tolls and any crew overtime connected with the cargo. The charter rate (hire) is quoted in terms of a cost per month per deadweight ton.

Classification of Petroleum - Classes "A-C" of petroleum are considered flammable and have a flash point of 80° F or below. Examples of these classes range from very light napthas (Class A) to most crude oils (Class C). Class D cargoes such as kerosene and heavy crudes are considered combustible and have a flash point above 80° F but below 150° F. Class E cargoes are the heavier fuel oils and lubricating oils and have a flash point above 150° F.

Classification Society - The professional organizations which class and certify the strength and seaworthiness of vessel construction. Class and certification issued to each vessel may be required for insurance purposes. American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) and Lloyds Register of Shipping are two of the most well known classification societies in the world today.

Clean Service - Tanker transportation of products lighter than residual fuels, e.g. distillates, including No. 2 Heating Oil.

Clean Ship - Refers to tankers that have their cargo tanks free of traces of dark persistent oils that remain after carrying crudes and heavy fuels oils.

Clingage - The residue that adheres to the inside surface of a container, such as a ship's tank or shore tank, after it has been emptied.

Closed Gauging System - A method of obtaining measurements of the tank contents without opening the tank. This may be accomplished by using automatic tank gauges or by taking measurements through a pressure/vapor lock standpipe. This type of gauging is done extensively on vessels with inert gas systems. Such a system that allows no vapors to be lost to the atmosphere is a true closed system while other types that allow minimum vapors to be lost to the atmosphere are called "restricted systems."

Cofferdam - The narrow, empty space between two adjacent watertight or oiltight compartments. This space is designed to isolate the two compartments from each other and/or provide additional buoyancy. It prevents any liquid contents of one compartment from entering the other in the event of a bulkhead failure. In oil tankers, cargo spaces are usually isolated from the rest of the ship by cofferdams fitted at both ends of the tank body.

Coiled Ship - Refers to a tanker that is equipped with heating coils in the cargo tanks to permit the heating of cargo if necessary.

Consignee - The person to whom cargo is consigned as stated on the bills of lading.

Consignor - The shipper of the cargo.

Contamination - The result from commingling of a grade of cargo with a sufficient quantity of another grade to destroy the characteristics of the cargo.

Contract of Affreightment, (COA) - A service contract under which a Ship owner agrees to transport a specified quantity of fuel products or specialty products, at a specified rate per ton, between designated loading and discharging ports. This type of contract differs from a spot or consecutive voyage charter in that no specific vessel is specified. (Rates are usually discounted below other forms of contracts.)

Controlled Fleet - All ships owned and period chartered by affiliate(s).

Crosshaul - Two ships on intersecting trade routes. This voyage pattern may indicate uneconomic vessel allocation.

Crude Oil Wash (COW) - A method of cleaning tanks using oil from the ship's cargo. COW is normally used when a tanker is discharging. Oil is taken from the tanks and pumped through a special line to fixed or semi-fixed tank washing machines where it is sprayed against all inside surfaces of the tank. This procedure removes any cargo which is 'clinging' to the surfaces of the tank.

Cubic Capacity - The inside measurement of a tanker's cargo compartments or tanks, usually expressed in barrels or cubic feet/meters.

Cubic Limitation - Reaching cargo tank capacity before vessel sinks to its load-line. This is usually caused by loading a light crude (crude with a high API) or clean products.