Glossary

CargoDocs has a lot of business terminology that is usually difficult to get from a developer's point of view. There are references to documentation standards used across the API and day-to-day business transactions.

The purpose of this script is to provide an inclusive glossary of all essDOCS terminology explained for the users to better understand each status and action you will come across using our eBLs solution.

Terminology	Description
Advising Bank	The exporter’s bank.
Bill of lading (BoL)	BoL if in paper or eBoL.
Buyer	The purchaser of goods, and typically the consignee on the bill of lading
CargoDocs	A technical and legal platform that uses original electronic bills of lading and supporting documents in cross-border shipments.
Company ID	The UUID is provided for the relevant Consignor, Consignee, Trader, End Receiver, Inspector, Bank, and/or Vessel/Line/NVOCC involved in a transaction.
Consignor / Shipper	The party identified as the Consignor on the eBoL.
Consignee	The party identified as the Consignee on the eBoL.
DSUA	The legal framework must be signed before using CargoDocs, as it ensures the validity of original electronic bills of lading across companies and countries.
eSet	A set of electronic documents comprises an eBoL or eWW and the support documents required to be delivered to the Consignee/buyer under the relevant sales contract; there is typically one eSet per parcel/lot.
Issuing Bank	The importer’s bank.
Line	A container line that issues an electronic Ocean BoL (eOBL).
MFA Token	A software token, required to CargoDocs web interface or action eDocs within CargoDocs via the API.
Negotiable BoL	a BoL that can be endorsed to a new holder; typically, a Negotiable BoL will be made out to the Consignee's legal name, their order (or equivalent wording), or To Bearer.
NVOCC	A non-vessel owning cargo carrier that issues an electronic House BoL (eHBL)
Non-Negotiable Copy	A copy of a BoL that is marked Non-Negotiable.
Official Copy	The output that has been pre-accepted by Import Customs Authorities, with some form of stamp that demonstrates it is not an original negotiable, such as For Customs Purposes Only.
Parcel	A specific amount of cargo of a specific grade + type, for a specific buyer; likely there will be more than one Parcel in any one shipment.
Parcel ID	The UUID is associated with a set/eSet of documents for the relevant Parcel.
Seller	The purchaser of goods, and typically the shipper on the bill of lading.
Ship Owner / Operator	The company that owns or operates the tramp Vessel, i.e., tanker of dry bulker.
Shipment Type	CargoDocs separates shipments into Liner (for containerized shipments), bulker (for all bulk shipments, including tanker and dry bulk), and Warehouse; for this API the Type is Bulker.
Vessel	The ship involved in shipping the cargo, or in a container movement the first ship carrying the cargo that is not a feeder's vessel.
Vessel UUID	The IMO number of the vessel.