On the operations desk, FAS tells a freight forwarder that the seller's obligation ends once the goods sit alongside the named vessel, so loading on board, the contract of carriage, and onward movement fall to the buyer, who also nominates the vessel and the port. The decision the term drives is where to draw the handover at the quayside and which party arranges and pays for loading and carriage from that point. The confusable to watch is FOB (Free On Board): under FAS risk passes when the goods are placed alongside the ship, whereas under FOB it passes only once the goods are on board, and although both rules apply to sea or inland-waterway transport only, the clean line is alongside versus on board.
Glossary
FAS (Free Alongside Ship)
Free Alongside Ship (FAS) is the Incoterm under which the seller delivers when the goods are placed alongside the vessel nominated by the buyer, such as on the quay or on a barge, at the named port of shipment, after which the buyer bears all costs and risks, and it is for sea or inland-waterway transport only.