Shipping Line

Overview

Shipping Line is a master data document that stores information about ocean carriers that provide vessel services for sea freight shipments. This master data is referenced in Sea Shipments, Master Bills, and Consolidation documents.

Purpose

The Shipping Line master is used to: - Store information about ocean carriers - Link shipping lines to Customer/Supplier masters for accounting - Associate Cargo Terminal Operators (CTOs) with shipping lines - Track shipping line codes and SCAC codes - Manage active/inactive shipping line status

Document Structure

The Shipping Line document contains the following sections:

Basic Information

• Code: Unique identifier for the shipping line (auto-generated or manual, unique)
• Shipping Line Name: Full name of the shipping line
• SCAC: Standard Carrier Alpha Code (4-letter code used in North America)
• Is Active: Checkbox to indicate if the shipping line is currently active

Organizations Tab

Contains accounting links:

• Customer Link: Link to Customer master if the shipping line is also a customer
• Supplier Link: Link to Supplier master if the shipping line is also a supplier

Cargo Terminal Operators Tab

Contains linked Cargo Terminal Operators:

• CTOs: Table of Shipping Line CTO
  • Cargo Terminal Operator
  • Terminal details
  • Relationship information

Creating a Shipping Line

Step 1: Basic Information

1. Navigate to Sea Freight > Master > Shipping Line
2. Click New
3. Enter Code (unique identifier) - can be auto-generated or manual
4. Enter Shipping Line Name
5. Enter SCAC (Standard Carrier Alpha Code) if applicable
6. Check Is Active if the shipping line is currently active

Step 2: Accounting Links

1. Go to Organizations Tab
2. If the shipping line is a customer, select Customer Link
3. If the shipping line is a supplier, select Supplier Link

Step 3: Cargo Terminal Operators

1. Go to Cargo Terminal Operators Tab
2. In CTOs table, click Add Row
3. Select Cargo Terminal Operator
4. Enter any additional relationship details
5. Repeat for all associated CTOs

Step 4: Save

1. Review all information
2. Click Save

Key Fields Explained

Code

Unique identifier for the shipping line. This code is used throughout the system to reference the shipping line. It can be: - Auto-generated based on naming rules - Manually entered - Must be unique across all shipping lines

Shipping Line Name

Full name of the shipping line. This is the display name used in lists and reports.

SCAC (Standard Carrier Alpha Code)

A 4-letter code used in North America to identify carriers. This is required for certain operations and documentation in North American markets.

Is Active

Checkbox indicating whether the shipping line is currently active. Inactive shipping lines will not appear in selection lists for new documents, but will remain visible in historical records.

Customer Link

Link to Customer master if the shipping line is also a customer. This enables: - Integrated accounting - Customer-specific pricing - Customer relationship management

Supplier Link

Link to Supplier master if the shipping line is also a supplier. This enables: - Integrated accounting - Supplier management - Purchase order processing

Cargo Terminal Operators

Table of Cargo Terminal Operators associated with this shipping line. This helps manage terminal relationships and operations.

Usage

Shipping Line is referenced in:

• Sea Shipment: Selected as the ocean carrier
• Master Bill: Linked to master bill of lading
• Sea Freight Consolidation: Selected for consolidation operations
• Sea Freight Rate: Used in rate configuration
• Reports: Used in various sea freight reports

Best Practices

1. Unique Codes: Use consistent naming conventions for shipping line codes
2. Complete Names: Enter full shipping line names for clarity
3. SCAC Codes: Maintain SCAC codes for North American operations
4. Active Status: Keep shipping line status updated (active/inactive)
5. Accounting Links: Link to Customer/Supplier masters for integrated operations
6. CTO Relationships: Maintain accurate CTO relationships
7. Regular Updates: Review and update shipping line information regularly

Naming Conventions

Recommended naming conventions for shipping line codes:

• Use shipping line abbreviations (e.g., "MAEU" for Maersk)
• Use standard industry codes when available
• Keep codes short and memorable
• Maintain consistency across the system

Inactive Shipping Lines

When a shipping line is marked as inactive:

• It will not appear in selection lists for new documents
• Historical records will still reference the shipping line
• Existing documents linked to the shipping line remain valid
• Reports will still include inactive shipping lines for historical data

Related Documents

• Sea Shipment: Uses shipping line for carrier information
• Master Bill: Links to shipping line
• Sea Freight Consolidation: References shipping line
• Cargo Terminal Operator: Linked in CTOs table
• Customer: Linked via Customer Link
• Supplier: Linked via Supplier Link

Next Steps

• Learn about Sea Shipment management
• Understand Master Bill operations
• Review Master Data setup

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For setup instructions, refer to the Setup Guide.