B-6-10- Liner Terms and Incoterms ©


Liner terms deal with port passage and are applicable to shipping companies.

They include within the marine freight, costs incurred "from under ship's tackle", docking and on board.

Liner terms are economical.

The maritime company costs include transport costs. The next stakeholder, according to the chosen Incoterms, will have to pay them and thus factor the costs into the price.

Liner Terms are related to the transport contract.

Some Incoterms variations, like, for example, "FOB stowed," are directly related to the liner Terms.

Port operations include dock transport, loading, unloading and placement under ship's tackle. We also have on-board slinging, rigging and hoisting, unloading and docking.

The number of possibilities will therefore be very important.

Liner Terms are very complex and differ from one port to another, from one country to another, and may even be regulated by the state. It is recommended you contact your freight forwarder for additional guidance.

The following is possible:
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  • Dock-to-dock the ship pays all handling costs at the point of departure. The ship incurs the costs of shipment and unloading on arrival and at the warehouse.
  • From tackle-to-tackle:at the departure, the shipper pays the approach and the other costs, The ship pays the stowage costs and the hoisting costs of the goods on board. At destination, the carrier pays for the unstowing costs. The importer pays for disconnection, slinging withdrawal and transport to the warehouse.
  • from on-board to under-tackle: at departure the carrier pays the approach and other costs. Upon arrival, unstowing is paid for by the carrier. The importer pays for sling withdrawal, under-tackle goods recovery and finally placement in the warehouse.
  • from on-board to on-board: at the departure the carrier pays approach costs, the ship pays stowage costs. At the destination, the ship pays unstowing costs and the other costs are paid by the importer.
  • from under-tackle to quay:Upon departure the carrier pays approach costs, the ship pays for the stowage costs and shipment. At the arrival, the ship pays for the unloading, shipment and placement of the goods in the warehouse.


                     Dock Under-tackle On-board Under-tackle       Dock
Liner Terms          
From dock-to-dock          
From under-tackle to under-tackle          
From on-board to under-tackle          
From on-board to on-board          
From under-tackle to on-board