A contract made between a ship owner and a merchant for the carriage of cargo is

A contract made between a ship owner and a merchant for the carriage of cargo is known as a "charter party." A charter party is an agreement between the two parties that sets out the terms and conditions of the cargo transportation, including the type and quantity of goods to be transported, the route to be taken, the freight charges, and the responsibilities of each party. The ship owner agrees to provide the ship and crew to transport the cargo, while the merchant agrees to pay the agreed-upon freight charges and take responsibility for the cargo. In other words, "charter party" is the correct answer.