Appendix I: Glossary

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Terms related to reporting forms

Advance Commercial Information (ACI): The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) introduced the ACI program to replace, at the first port of call, A6/A6A paper reporting with electronic reporting of key variables for vessels arriving from any port outside Canada. These include such information as name and nationality of vessel, net and gross register tonnage, last port of call and cargo particulars such as tonnage unloaded and handling port. The program was implemented in two phases. Phase 1 was implemented in April 2004 and applied to cargo loaded at foreign ports, excluding the United States. Cargo loaded in the United States will be required to be reported using ACI beginning in July 2006.

A6 General declaration: This is an administrative document which is submitted along with supporting cargo reports to Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA). The document should be completed for every vessel arriving from outside Canada or departing for any port or place outside Canada with the exception of those required to report using ACI. The A6 General Declaration provides such information as name and nationality of vessel, net and gross register tonnage, next/last port of call, and cargo particulars such as tonnage loaded or unloaded, and handling port.

S.4 Towboat and ferry operators shipping report: This report is used principally by members of the British Columbia Council of Marine Carriers to report the domestic shipping activities of tug, barge, scow and ferry operators on the west coast. The report is filed on a monthly basis and excludes ballast movements.

S.1 Domestic shipping report: This report is completed by ships' officers or operators of vessels engaged in domestic shipping arriving at or departing from Canadian ports. It contains such information as: vessel name, net and gross register tonnage, commodity description and tonnage, ports of loading and unloading. This is the principal source of data for the production of domestic shipping statistics.

Terms related to cargo

Ballast movement (arrival or departure): An arrival at a port is considered ballast if there is no cargo unloaded from the vessel at that port. A departure from a port is considered ballast if there is no cargo loaded on the vessel at that port. Ferry (passenger and cars) movements also count as ballast movements since there is no loading/unloading of commercial cargo.

Commodity: Cargo loaded or unloaded is classified according to a structure based on Statistics Canada's Standard Classification of Transported Goods (SCTG).

Lightering: This term refers to the loading/unloading of cargo in a harbour rather than at a dock or wharf. Cargo tonnage is included with port totals.

In-transit cargo: Foreign cargoes handled at Canadian ports en route for or from a third country. Since tonnages are included in port totals, the statistics do not necessarily reflect import and export tonnages, but are rather focused on port activity.

Terms related to ports

Destination: The port of unloading of cargo is considered the port of destination. This is not necessarily the point of ultimate destination of cargo, which may be inland. Relative to the international shipping sector, this is the foreign port or country of unloading and not necessarily the ultimate country of destination.

Origin: The port of loading of cargo is considered the port of origin. This is not necessarily the point of actual origin of cargo, which may be inland. Relative to the international shipping sector, this is the foreign port or country of loading and not necessarily the actual point of origin.

Handling port: The Canadian port of loading/unloading of cargo. This does not necessarily coincide with the Customs Port, or the municipality of the same name.

Atlantic region: This region consists of Canadian ports on the Atlantic Ocean and Arctic Waters, and that portion of the Gulf of St. Lawrence which is east of the inland waters as defined in the Canadian Shipping Act.

Great Lakes region: This region consists of Canadian ports located along the St. Lawrence river west of the Ontario-Quebec border, and on the Great Lakes.

Pacific region: This region consists of Canadian ports located on the Pacific Coast and the Mackenzie River.

St. Lawrence River region: This region consists of Canadian ports located on the St. Lawrence river from the Ontario-Quebec border eastward, along the north shore to 63° west longitude and along the south shore to Cap des Rosiers.

Terms related to vessels

Gross register tonnage: The capacity in cubic feet of the spaces within the hull and of the enclosed spaces above the deck of a vessel, divided by 100. This is the figure as reported on the A6 General Declaration or the S1 and S4 reporting forms.

Net register tonnage: The gross register tonnage (as defined above) minus the capacity utilized by propelling machinery, fuel, and personnel accommodation.

In ballast: A vessel is considered arriving or departing "in ballast" if no cargo is loaded when leaving a Canadian port or no cargo is unloaded when arriving at a Canadian port.

LO LO: an acronym for "lift on, lift off". System of loading and discharging whereby cargo is lifted on and off a ship by the use of cranes.

RO RO: An acronym for "roll on, roll off". System of loading and discharging a ship whereby the cargo is driven on and off.