Twenty-foot Equivalent Unit, a standard measure of container ship capacity based on the dimensions of a standard 20-foot intermodal container (approximately 6.1 metres long, 2.44 metres wide, and 2.59 metres high). TEU is used to express the carrying capacity of container ships and the throughput of container terminals.
Also known as: Twenty-foot Equivalent Unit.
Category: Cargo & Trade
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ManifestA comprehensive document listing all cargo carried on a vessel for a particular voyage, including descriptions, quantities, weights, shippers, and consignees.Spot RateThe current market price for chartering a vessel or shipping cargo for immediate or near-term loading, as opposed to long-term contract rates.Stowage FactorThe volume in cubic metres or cubic feet occupied by one metric tonne of a particular cargo when stowed in a vessel's hold.SupercargoA person employed by the cargo owner or charterer to travel on a vessel and oversee the loading, stowage, care, and discharge of the cargo.Time CharterA charter party agreement in which the shipowner provides a manned and equipped vessel to the charterer for a specified period.Voyage CharterA charter party agreement in which the shipowner agrees to carry a specific cargo between named ports for a negotiated freight rate.
Back to DictionaryEntry updated May 2026