A non-vessel-operating common carrier: a company that acts as an ocean carrier to shippers, issuing its own bills of lading, while buying space on ships operated by others.

What is the difference between an NVOCC and a freight forwarder?

Under US law, an ocean freight forwarder books space with carriers on behalf of shippers; an NVOCC is itself a carrier to its shippers and issues its own house bill of lading. Many companies hold both licences.

What bond does an NVOCC need?

USD 75,000 for a licensed NVOCC, and USD 150,000 for a registered NVOCC based outside the US, under 46 CFR 515.21. A licensed ocean freight forwarder needs USD 50,000.

Term

NVOCC (non-vessel-operating common carrier)

An NVOCC, or non-vessel-operating common carrier, is an ocean carrier that owns no ships: it buys space from shipping lines and resells it to shippers, issuing its own house bill of lading. To the shipper it is the carrier; to the shipping line it is the shipper. In US trades, the Federal Maritime Commission licenses or registers it.

Also called non-vessel-operating common carrier, NVO, NVOCC licenceApplies in USUpdated 12 October 2026

What US law says

46 U.S.C. § 40102: a common carrier that does not operate the vessels that carry the goods, and is a shipper in its relationship with an ocean common carrier.
It issues its own house bill of lading or equivalent document.
It must publish a tariff — or use negotiated rate arrangements (NRAs), which exempt NVOCCs from the tariff rate publication and adherence requirements.

The rate a shipper pays is therefore the NVOCC's own, set in its tariff or a negotiated rate arrangement with that shipper. What the NVOCC pays the line is a separate contract, and the shipper does not see it.

Licence and bond

Type	Financial security (46 CFR 515.21)
Licensed ocean freight forwarder	USD 50,000
Licensed NVOCC	USD 75,000
Registered NVOCC — based outside the US, registered rather than licensed	USD 150,000

Worked example: consolidating a box

Suppose an NVOCC buys a 40 ft container from a shipping line for USD 1,600 and fills it with four shippers' LCL cargo of 15 m³ each, sold at USD 45 per m³.

Sold = 4 × 15 × 45 = USD 2,700 · Bought = USD 1,600 · Gross margin = USD 1,100, before handling at both ends

Four house bills (NVOCC to each shipper) and one master bill (line to NVOCC) cover the same container.

The mistake people make

Claiming against the shipping line. A shipper holding an NVOCC's house bill has its contract of carriage with the NVOCC; the line's master bill is between the line and the NVOCC. A cargo claim, a rate dispute or a release problem goes to the company that issued the shipper's bill.

FAQ