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Glite Dictionary
lighterage

lighterage

9.9
Money paid to move goods by a small flat boat between ship and shore
  • noun
  • /ˈlaɪtərɪdʒ/
  • Specialized
translation icon : carga
  • The shipping company added lighterage to the final invoice for delivering the cargo to the shore.

Examples

  • Negotiating lower lighterage fees helped the exporters save money on transportation.

  • Due to the use of lighters in the harbor, their lighterage costs increased last year.

  • The lighterage fees increased this year.

  • How much does lighterage cost for bulk goods?

  • The shipping company added lighterage fees to the invoice for transporting goods from the vessel to the dock.

  • Negotiating lower lighterage costs can significantly reduce shipping expenses for importers.

  • Before confirming the delivery, the manager requested a detailed breakdown of the lighterage charges.

Synonyms

lightering
vslighterage
  • Specialized
1 9.3

Moving cargo from a large ship to smaller ships to reduce weight for entering shallow ports

is regular transport using flat-bottomed barges or its charge rather than a temporary transfer
cartage
vslighterage
  • Archaic
1 8.4

The cost of moving goods a short distance by truck or cart

is water barge transport or its cost rather than short land moves
haulage
vslighterage
  • UK
1 6.2

The moving of goods by road or rail

is specifically barge-based moving or charging, not road or rail transport
portage
vslighterage
8.3

A charge for carrying goods over land between rivers or lakes

is the waterborne transport charge not the overland carrying fee
freightage
vslighterage
  • Specialized
7.7

The transport of large amounts of goods by ship or truck for pay

is the barge transport or its fee rather than general commercial bulk shipping

Surface Forms

lighterage singular
lighterages plural

Morphology

lighterage = lighter (semi-transparent) = lighter + age

The word is built from 'lighter' + '-age', but the shipping sense is specialized, so the meaning is not fully obvious for many learners.

Etymology

The word lighterage comes from lighter, a 'small flat boat' or 'barge' used to carry goods between a big ship and the shore, plus the ending -age meaning a 'cost' or 'act'. So, lighterage is the charge or process of moving goods by lighter, which is why it means the cost of transporting goods by that kind of barge.