contract of affreightment

contract of affreightment ([schwa]-frayt-m[schwa]nt).Maritime law. An agreement for carriage of goods by water. • A contract of affreightment may employ a bill of lading, a charterparty, or both to ship the goods. — Abbr. COA. — Also termed contract of carriage. See CHARTERPARTY. [Cases: Shipping 104. C.J.S. Shipping §§ 247–250, 252–254.]