Nautical Mile
Distance of one minute of longitude at the equator, approximately 6,076.115. The metric equivalent is 1852.

N.C.I.T.D.
National Committee on International Trade Documentation.

NEC
Abbreviation for "Not Elsewhere Classified."

Negotiable Instruments
A document of title (such as a draft, promissory note, check, or bill of lading) transferable from one person to another in good faith for a consideration. Non-negotiable bills of lading are known as "straight consignment." Negotiable bills are known as "order b/l's."

NES
Abbreviation for "Not Elsewhere Specified."

Nested
Articles packed so that one rests partially or entirely within another, thereby reducing the cubic-foot displacement.

Net Tare Weight
The weight of an empty cargo-carrying piece of equipment plus any fixtures permanently attached.

Net Tonnage (NT)
(0.2+0.02 log₁₀(Vc)) Vc (4d/3D)², for passenger ships the following formula is added: 1.25 (GT+10000)/10000 (N1+(N2/10)), where Vc is the volume of cargo holds, D is the distance between ship's bottom and the uppermost deck, d is the draught N1 is the number of cabin passengers, and N2 is the number of deck passengers.) "Ton" is figured as an 100 cubic foot ton.

Net Weight
Weight of the goods alone without any immediate wrappings, e.g., the weight of the contents of a tin can without the weight of the can.

Neutral Body
An organization established by the members of an ocean conference acts as a self-policing force with broad authority to investigate tariff violations, including authority to scrutinize all documents kept by the carriers and their personnel. Violations are reported to the membership and significant penalties are assessed.

N.M.F.C.
National Motor Freight Classification.

NOI
Abbreviation for "Not Otherwise Indexed."

NOIBN
Abbreviation for "Not Otherwise Indexed By Name."

Nomenclature of the Customs Cooperation Council
The Customs tariff used by most countries worldwide. It was formerly known as the Brussels Tariff Nomenclature and is the basis of the commodity coding system known as the Harmonized System.

Non-Dumping Certificate
Required by some countries for protection against the dumping of certain types of merchandise or products.

Non-Vessel Operating Common Carrier (NVOCC)
A cargo consolidator in ocean trades who will buy space from a carrier and subsell it to smaller shippers. The NVOCC issues bills of lading, publishes tariffs and otherwise conducts itself as an ocean common carrier, except that it will not provide the actual ocean or intermodal service.

NOR
Notice of Readiness. (When the ship is ready to load.)

NOS
Abbreviation for "Not Otherwise Specified."

Nose
Front of a container or trailer - opposite the tail.

No-show
Cargo which has been booked but does not arrive in time to be loaded before the vessel sails. See also "Windy Booking."

N.P.C.F.B.
North Pacific Coast Freight Bureau.