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NVOCC

An NVOCC, or non-vessel-operating common carrier, is a company that acts as an ocean freight carrier to shippers by arranging transport on vessels operated by other carriers rather than operating the vessels itself.

In plain English

This is a company that serves shippers as the carrier for ocean freight. It gets the cargo moved by arranging space on ships run by other carriers instead of operating the ships itself.

In context

Here, NVOCC identifies the named company as the service provider acting as the ocean freight carrier to the shipper while arranging transport on vessels operated by other carriers.

Situation
Coordinating freight quotes, booking, consolidation, handoff, and transport documents
What it communicates
identifies the service-provider role of the company named in the communication.

Meaning limits

The term alone does not identify the vessel-operating carrier or describe any role beyond this ocean-freight carrier function.

Examples

“The shipper hired an NVOCC for the ocean move, even though the container sailed on a vessel operated by another carrier.”

Core meaning

“As the NVOCC for the shipment, the company dealt with the exporter as carrier and arranged carriage on another carrier's vessel.”

In context