GlossaryEN1 min readUpdated: Jun 16, 2026
Booking Slot Coordination in Ports
As soon as a vessel schedules a port call, booking slot coordination begins: the terminal or Port Community System (PCS) assigns a berth time window based on existing bookings, available berths, and port craft resources such as tugs and pilots.
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Source: https://www.porttechnology.org/news/booking-slots-a-new-dimension-in-terminal-scheduling
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Definition & Explanation
As soon as a vessel schedules a port call, booking slot coordination begins: the terminal or Port Community System (PCS) assigns a berth time window based on existing bookings, available berths, and port craft resources such as tugs and pilots. Without this scheduling mechanism, vessels queue outside the harbour, generating demurrage costs for carriers and shippers and triggering cascading delays across connected services. Modern ports operate automated PCS booking systems through which shipping lines and terminal operators request, adjust, and confirm slots. Slot coordination is closely linked to pilot assignments and crane scheduling, making it the operational backbone of vessel traffic management at the terminal.
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