What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
lightering
Example
The tanker was too large to enter the port, so they had to use lightering to transfer the oil to a smaller vessel. [lightering: noun]
Example
The crew spent the day lightering the cargo onto the waiting barges. [lightering: verb]
transshipment
Example
The container was transshipped from the ship to the truck for delivery to the warehouse. [transshipment: noun]
Example
The cargo had to be transshipped twice before reaching its final destination. [transshipped: past participle]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Transshipment is more commonly used than lightering in everyday language. Transshipment is a widely used term in the shipping industry and is often used in logistics and supply chain management. Lightering, on the other hand, is a more specialized term that is used in specific contexts, such as in the oil and gas industry.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between lightering and transshipment?
Both lightering and transshipment are technical terms used in the shipping industry and are therefore considered formal language.