The dates at a glance
| Term | Stands for | What it tells you |
|---|---|---|
| ETD | Estimated time of departure | When the vessel (or truck, or flight) is expected to leave |
| ATD | Actual time of departure | When it really left |
| ETA | Estimated time of arrival | When it is expected to arrive at the next port or the destination |
| ETB | Estimated time of berthing | When the vessel is expected at the berth — it can arrive and wait at anchor first |
| ATA | Actual time of arrival | When it really arrived |
| Cut-off | — | The last moment to gate in the container or submit documents for a sailing |
| Free time | — | Days allowed before demurrage or detention starts |
Where the dates come from
Schedule dates come from the carrier's published schedule and are fixed at booking. Carrier milestone dates update as the carrier and terminals report events. A predictive ETA is calculated from where the vessel actually is and how it is moving, so it can react before the carrier's schedule does.
Why the arrival date keeps changing
- Port congestion and waiting time at anchor.
- Weather and slow steaming.
- A transshipment connection that is missed, or a rollover.
- Skipped or added port calls.
Other terms you will meet
- POL / POD — port of loading / port of discharge.
- Transshipment — the container changes vessel at an intermediate port.
- Gate in / gate out — the container enters or leaves the terminal.
For 100 more terms, see the glossary; for how ShipTastic calculates its arrival time and shows its basis, see how our ETA works.