An Ocean Transportation Intermediary is either an ocean freight forwarder or a non-vessel operating common carrier (“NVOCC”).
Ocean Freight Forwarder
An Ocean Freight Forwarder is an individual or company in the United States that dispatches shipments from the United States via common carriers and books or otherwise arranges space for those shipments on behalf of shippers. Ocean freight forwarders also prepare and process the documentation and perform related activities pertaining to those shipments.
NVOCC
An NVOCC is a common carrier that holds itself out to the public to provide ocean transportation, issues its own house bills of lading or equivalent document, but does not operate the vessels by which ocean transportation is provided, and is a shipper in relation to the involved ocean common carrier