A manifest, within the context of shipping, is a comprehensive, organized, and authoritative document that details critical information pertaining to the ship's contents and occupants. This information may include a categorized inventory list of cargo items with descriptions, quantities, and values; the full names, ages, and nationalities of all passengers onboard, and data on the ship's crew members. It serves a regulatory purpose and is primarily used by customs officials or other relevant authorities. They use the manifest to conduct necessary inspections, ensure adherence to shipping regulations, validate the legality of the goods and people on board, assist in the calculation of applicable tariffs, and aid in the prevention of illegal activities.

1. John, a custom officer, was checking the manifest of a large cargo ship that had just arrived in the harbor. The document listed over 3,000 containers of goods, 25 passengers, and a crew of 18 people. 2. During a high seas investigation, the Coast Guard requested the captain to produce the ship's manifest to verify what it was carrying and who was on board. 3. The airline manifest was checked carefully by the immigration officials. It provided detail on all the passengers on the flight, the amount of carry-on luggage and the names of the flight crew. 4. After a severe storm, the cruise ship's manifest was crucial to account for all the passengers and crew, showing that there were no missing people. 5. In the excitement of seizing a suspect vessel, the coast guard team forgot to ask for the ship's manifest. This led to confusion about how many crew members were on board and a potentially dangerous situation.

The term manifest, in its nautical context, has historical roots in international trade and shipping. This detailed document is now considered an indispensable element of maritime law and international commerce. However, what you may not know is that the term "manifest" originates from the Latin phrase "manifestus," which means "caught in the act" or "obvious." In the 14th century, ship captains were required to "manifest" or declare their cargo, crew, and passengers onboard to the customs officials, thus getting caught in the act of transporting goods or people. Today, a ship's manifest is a transparency measure that provides precise tracking of goods and people during long and often complicated naval journeys. So, despite its slightly cheeky etymology, the manifest has a serious and critical role in modern trade and navigation.