ABS American Bureau of Shipping
ACOPS Advisory Committee on Protection of the Sea
AFRA Average freight rate assessments
AIMU American Institute of Marine Underwriters
AMVER Automated Mutual-Assistance Vessel Rescue System
ARPA Automatic radar plotting aids
ASEAN Association' of South East Asian Nations
ATL Actual total loss
BIFFEX The Baltic International Freight Futures Exchange
BIMCO The Baltic & International Maritime Council
BTU Bow thruster unit
BV Bureau Veritas
CARICOM Caribbean Community
CTL Constructive total loss
DISH Data interchange in shipping
DNV Del Norske Veritas
EDIFACT Electronic data interchange for administration, commerce and transport
EFTA European Free Trade Association
EPIRB Emergency position-indicating radio beacon
FACS Federation of American Controlled Shipping
FDWT Formula deadweight tonnage
FOC Flag of convenience
FONASBA Federation of National Associations of Shipbrokers and Agents
FSI Flag state implementation
GATT General agreement on tariff and trade
GL Germanischer Lloyd
GMDSS Global Maritime Distress & Safety System
GPS Global Positioning system
IACS International Association of Classification Societies
IALA International Association of Lighthouse Authorities
IAPH International Association of Ports and Harbours
ICC International Chamber of Commerce
ICES International Council for the Exploration of the Sea
ICHCA International Cargo Handling Coordination Association
1MB International Maritime Bureau
IMIF International Maritime Industry Forum
IMO International Maritime Organization
IMPA International Marine Purchasing Association
INMARSAT International Mobile Satellite Organization
INSA International Shipowners' Association
INTERCARGO International Association of Dry Cargo Shipowners
INTERTANKO International Association of Independent Tanker Owners
IRS Indian Register of Shipping
ISF International Shipping Federation
ISM International Safety Management
ISO International Organization for Standardization
ISSA International Ship Suppliers Association
ITF International Transport Workers Federation
ITOPF International Tanker Owners Pollution Federation
IDA International Underwriting Association

LANBY Large automated navigation buoy
LASH Lighter aboard ship
LIMNET London Insurance Market Network
LMIU Lloyd's Maritime Information Unit
LNG Liquefied natural gas carrier
LPG Liquefied petroleum gas carrier
LR Lloyd's Register
MARAD UnitecT States Maritime Administration
MARPOL International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships
MAVIS Marine audio-visual instruction system:
NKK Nippon Kaiji Kyokai
NUMAST National Union of Marine, Aviation & Shipping Transport Officers
NVOCC Non vessel operating common carrier
OBO Ore/bulk/oil carrier
OCIMF Oil Companies International Marine Forum
OECD Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development
OPA 90 United States Oil Pollution Act of 1990
OPEC Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries
OPRC Oil Pollution Preparedness, Response and Co-operation
P & I Protection and Indemnity
PRS Polskie Rejestr Statkow
RCC Rescue Co-ordination Centre
RINA Registro Italiano Navale
RINAVE Registro Internacional Navale SA
RINET Reinsurance and Insurance Network
RMT National Union of Rail, Maritime & Transport Workers
RNLI Royal National Life-boat Institution
SAR Search and rescue
SART Survival craft radar transponders
SIGTTO Society of International Gas Tanker & Terminal Operators
SITPRO Simplification of Industrial Trade Procedures Board
SNAME Society of NavaJ Architects and Marine Engineers
SOLAS Safety of life at sea
STCW Standards of Training, Certification & Watchkeeping
TEU Twenty foot equivalent unit
TOVALOP Tanker Owners Voluntary Agreement concerning Liability for Oil Pollution
U/C Under construction
ULCC Ultra large crude carrier
UNCLOS United Nations Conference on the Law < the Sea
UNCTAD United Nations Conference on Trade am Development
USNH United States North of Hatteras
VDMA German Machinery Manufacturers & Plantmakers Association
VLCC Very large crude carrier
WMO World Meteorological Organisation
WNA Winter North Atlantic