Non-Vessel Operating Common Carrier / NVOCC

NVOCC stands for Non Vessel Operating Common Carrier. The term describes a special type of transport company that carries out sea transport in its own name without having any shipping space itself. Colloquially, instead of NVOCC, a “shipowner without a ship” is also spoken of.
For the transport, the NVOCC books shipping space from a carrier in advance and sells it on to its customers in smaller parts. In this sense, he acts as a consolidator by making it possible to combine smaller loads in a larger transport contingent.

The room contingents are usually purchased well in advance (months, sometimes years). Due to the large volume of space, the NVOCC can usually achieve better conditions than a single freight forwarder and can therefore calculate more cheaply. The NVOCC acts as a freight forwarder with its own bill of lading for its customers.