Non-Vessel Operating Common Carrier (NVOCC)
A carrier that issues bills of lading in its own name without owning ships.
An NVOCC buys space from ocean lines and resells it, contracting as the carrier with its own customers. It issues house bills in its own name and takes on carrier liability for the leg it covers.
That is the difference from a freight forwarder acting as agent, which arranges carriage in your name and issues nothing. Many companies do both, on different shipments.
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