A NVOCC agent (English acronym for Non Vessel Operating Common Carrier) is a natural or legal person that offers regular maritime consolidation services, through the reservation of ship space for shipments on behalf of the ship consignee.

As an intermediary in the field of maritime cargo transport, one of its main functions is the "consolidation", necessary to achieve profitability on regular lines. It is also responsible for processing documentation, can issue bills of lading type Bill of Lading and carry out other activities related to shipping, such as container leasing.

The NVOCC offers its services to freight forwarders, who in turn offer them to companies receiving or shipping goods. Currently the term NVOCC is used around the world to identify neutral maritime consolidation operators.

The figure of the NVOCC appears defined for the first time in the Navigation Act (Shipping Act) of 1984 created to regulate the maritime transport sector in the United States of America. The Act defines, among others, the oceanic transport intermediary referring to the freight forwarder or the NVOCC. If you are a freight forwarder, and for operations carried out in the US, you will be deemed to ship from the US via a carrier and will reserve or agree to have space for these shipments on behalf of the consignee.