J

Jacket

A wood or fiber cover placed around such containers as cans and bottles.

Jacob's Ladder

A rope ladder suspended from the side of a vessel and used for boarding.

Jettison

Act of throwing cargo or equipment (jetsam) overboard when a ship is in danger.

JIT

Abbreviation for "Just In Time." In this method of inventory control, warehousing is minimal or nonexistent; the container is the movable warehouse and must arrive "just in time;" not too early nor too late.

Joint Rate

A rate applicable from a point on one transportation line to a point on another line, made by agreement and published in a single tariff by all transportation lines over which the rate applies.

The terms in this glossary have been carefully selected from the myriad of terms one can encounter in the shipping business. We hope you will find it useful.

This information is disseminated under the sponsorship of the Department of Transportation in the interest of information exchange. The U.S. Government assumes no liability for its contents or use thereof nor does it endorse products.

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