BACKLETTER - Where a seller/shipper issues a Letter

 of Indemnity in favour of the carrier in exchange for a

 clean Bill of Lading

 BAF - Bunker Adjustment factor, A fuel surcharge

 added or subtracted from the freight amount

 BALE - Cubic Capacity of a vessels hold to carry

 packaged dry cargo such as bales or pallets

 BALLAST - Weight, often seawater needed for stability

 and safty for trading a vessel which have no cargo or

 only part-cargo onboard

 BB or BALLAST BONUS - Compensation paid by

 Charterers for relatively long ballast voyage, prior 

 loading Charterers cargo

 BALTIME - Time charter party

 BBB - Before breaking bulk

 BC - Bulk Carrier or British Columbia

 BDI - Both dates inclusive

 BEAM or BM - The maximum breadth of a vessel 

 BE or BENDS - Both ends

 BEH - Basis empty holds

 B4 - Before

 BFC - Baltimore Form C Berth Grain Charter Party