We continue our popular Alternative Maritime Glossary, this time focusing on three-letter acronyms or abbreviations (TLAs). The TLA idea was suggested by a reader, James Tweed, managing director of Coracle Online Ltd. The thing with acronyms is that they can have more than one meaning. And, as we’ve pointed out, the traditional or standard definition doesn’t always match reality. This winds up our AMG series. Enjoy reading!

AIS – Automatic tracking system for identifying and locating vessels, not for determining whether the captain and his crew are competent

CAS – Condition Assessment Survey, with a silent ‘H’ at the end since such surveys are not free of charge

COA – Contract Of Allotment, a document obliging a seaman to regularly send money to his wife – or else. Known to shipowners and shippers as Contract of Affreightment.

DOC – Document Of Compliance (part of ISM Code) but can also mean ‘doctor’ – e.g., to doctor ship documents to show compliance with international maritime regulations

DWT – The weight of a person when he or she is dead. Also applicable to idle or non-productive employees

ETA – A very rough estimate of the time of arrival

ETC – Estimated Time of Completion, also a very rough estimate because of the etceteras that need to be attended to

FOB – Free On Board, meaning to mooch or act like a parasite

GPS – Global Prowling System, used by wives to pinpoint the location of their husbands after office hours

ISM – Intended Safety Management

LSA – Life Saving Appliances, a big misnomer when there are not enough of them on board a vessel or when they are not in working condition

MLC (Maritime Labour Certificate) – A piece of paper purporting to show compliance with ILO Maritime Labour Convention, 2006. The related document, Declaration of Maritime Labour Compliance or DMLC, has the same intent

P&I (Protection and Indemnity) – Two things often denied to seafarers

PSC – Can mean ‘Port State Control’ of ‘Port State Cash’ depending on the integrity of the PSC inspectors

SMC – Acronym of the company that brews the world-famous San Miguel beer. For the teetotaler or sober, it stands for Safety Management Certificate

SSP – Supposed Ship Security Plan

USD – The reason Filipinos want to become seafarers, or United States Dollar

VTS – A system to monitor vessel traffic but not necessarily to prevent collision between the vessels being monitored

~Barista Uno

Feel free to comment on this article. You may also like to read:

Alternative maritime glossary – Part II

Alternative maritime glossary for the times