In the shipping industry, there are several important terms that have significant impact on proper planning of the container transportation. Among these are, the “estimated time of arrival”, or ETA and the “Vessel Departure”. What do these terms mean and how are they related, or why should they form an important concern for the stakeholders involved in the shipping process?
ETA Meaning
ETA is a term that has been used in almost every industry; in container transportation, this phrase specifically means the expected date and time when the container-carrying vessel is to reach the port of destination (POD). This estimation depends on such parameters as the speed of the vessel, the shortest route, and the existing sea state. ETA information allows shippers & consignees, as well as the port authorities, to plan their operations properly.
Vessel Departure
Vessel departure refers to the ship movement, defined as when a docked ship proceeds to the next destination. It is the beginning of another segment in a ship’s voyage and holds significance for the stakeholders and port authorities.
Shippers as well as cargo owners are required to make sure their cargoes are on board before the vessel sails, and all required paperwork is provided. The ship crew are also required to perform preliminary inspections for the ship and other cargo to determine its seaway worthiness and to ascertain that all the needs of the voyage are availed on board.
The Relation between ETA and Vessel Departure
ETA largely centers on the time at which a vessel arrives at a specific destination, and it directly correlates with vessel departure. Once a ship sets a sail from a port, the ETA assumes a central policy point where different stakeholders have to organize their work around it. In this case, vessel departure time is preferable to be accurate so that shipping companies can be in a position to determine accurate ETAs. This assists them to reduce time, course and schedules duration that hinders them to continue with the next route. As a shipper, you should be aware of your container’s ETA and vessel departure for a proper supply-chain flow. At this point, Shipsgo can help you by providing any related status information on your container. ETA, vessel departure, vessel name, arrival date and many more. You can try Shipsgo for free and see container status yourself.
