Maritime Legal Glossary: R

Radio operator: an officer who operates and controls the shipboard communication equipment.

Reasonable care: the level of care a typical person would use if faced with the same circumstances. 

Re-direct examination: questioning a witness about matters brought up during cross examination.

Reefer: refrigerator ship: a vessel designed to carry goods requiring refrigeration, such as meat and fruit. A reefer ship has insulated holds into which cold air is passed at the temperature appropriate to the goods being carried.

Reefer box: an insulated shipping container designed to carry cargoes requiring temperature control. It is fitted with a refrigeration unit which is connected to the carrying ship's electrical power supply.

Relay: to transfer containers from one ship to another when both vessels are controlled by the same network (carrier) manager.

Remand: when an appellate court sends a case back to a lower court for further proceedings.
Res ipsa loquitur: a latin phrase, that means "the thing speaks for itself." refers to situations when it's assumed that a person's injury was caused by the negligent action of another party, because the accident was the sort that wouldn't occur unless someone was negligent. 

Retainer: refers to the up front payment a client gives a lawyer to accept a case. The client is paying to "retain" the lawyer's services. 

Retaining lien: gives a lawyer the right to hold on to your money or property until you pay his bill. 

Return cargo: a cargo which enables a ship to return loaded to the port or area where her previous cargo was loaded.

Revenue ton: a ton on which the shipment is freighted.

Rolling cargo: cargo which is on wheels, such as truck or trailers, and can be driven or towed on to a ship.

Ro/ro ship: freight ship or ferry with facilities for vehicles to drive on and off (roll-on roll-off); a system of loading and discharging a ship whereby the cargo is driven on and off on ramps. Equipped with large openings at bow and stern and sometimes also in the side, the ship permits rapid loading and discharge with hydraulically operated ramps providing easy access. Fully loaded trucks or trailers carrying containers are accommodated on the deck.