Supercargo

3 definitions found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Supercargo \Su`per*car"go\, n. [Super- + cargo: cf. Sp.
     sobrecargo. Cf. {Surcharge}.]
     An officer or person in a merchant ship, whose duty is to
     manage the sales, and superintend the commercial concerns, of
     the voyage.
     [1913 Webster]



From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:

  supercargo
       n : an officer on a merchant ship in charge of the cargo and its
           sale and purchase
       [also: {supercargoes} (pl)]

From Bouvier's Law Dictionary, Revised 6th Ed (1856) [bouvier]:

  SUPERCARGO, mar. law. A person specially employed by the owner of a cargo to 
  take charge of the merchandise which has been shipped, to sell it to the 
  best advantage, and to purchase returning cargoes and to receive freight, as 
  he may be authorized. 
       2. Supercargoes have complete control over the cargo, and everything 
  which immediately concerns it, unless their authority is either expressly or 
  impliedly restrained. 12 East, R. 381. Under certain circumstances, they are 
  responsible for the cargo; 4 Mass. 115; see 1 Gill & John. 1; but the 
  supercargo has no power to interfere with the government of the ship. 3 
  Pardes. n. 646; 1 Boulay-Paty, Dr. Com. 421.