Glossary of Shipping Terms:

M

Malpractice

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.

Mandamus

A writ issued by a court; requires that specific things be done.

Manifest

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.

Marine Insurance

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.

Maritime

Business pertaining to commerce or navigation transacted upon the sea or in seaports in such matters as the court of admiralty has jurisdiction.

Marking

Letters, numbers, and other symbols placed on cargo packages to facilitate identification. Also known as marks.

Marlinespike

A pointed metal spike, used to separate strands of rope in splicing.

Master Inbond

U.S. Customs' automated program under AMS. It allows for electronic reporting of inbound (foreign) cargoes in the U.S.

Mate's Receipt

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.

MBM

1,000 board feet. One MBM equals 2,265 C.M.

MCFS

Abbreviation for "Master Container Freight Station." See CFS.

Measurement Cargo

Freight on which transportation charges are calculated on the basis of volume measurement.

Measurement Ton

40 cubic feet.

Mechanically Ventilated Container

A container fitted with a means of forced air ventilation.

Memorandum Bill of Lading

An in-house bill of lading. A duplicate copy.

Memorandum Freight Bill

See Multiple Containerload Shipment.

Meter

39.37 inches (approximately).

Metric Ton

2,204.6 pounds or 1,000 kilograms.

Microbridge

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.

Mile

A unit equal to 5,280 feet  on land.  A nautical mile is 6076.115.

Mini Landbridge

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).

Minimum Bill of Lading

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.

Minimum Charge

The lowest charge that can be assessed to transport a shipment.

Mixed Container Load

A containerload of different articles in a single consignment.

MLB

Abbreviation for "Mini Landbridge."

M.M.F.B.

Middlewest Motor Freight Bureau.

Modified Atmosphere

A blend of gases tailored to replace the normal atmosphere within a container.

MT

Abbreviation for "Metric Ton."

Multimodal

Synonymous for all practical purposes with "Intermodal."

MultiTank Container

A container frame fitted to accommodate two or more separate tanks for liquids.