GlossaryEN1 min readUpdated: Jun 26, 2026
Port Call
Shipping companies and port operators plan every port call as a distinct, time-critical event in a vessel's voyage schedule: arrival, stay, and departure at a specific port to load or discharge cargo, take on bunkers, change crew, or use other maritime services.
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Source: https://www.britannica.com/topic/port-of-call
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Definition & Explanation
Shipping companies and port operators plan every port call as a distinct, time-critical event in a vessel's voyage schedule: arrival, stay, and departure at a specific port to load or discharge cargo, take on bunkers, change crew, or use other maritime services. Each call is a defined node in the overall route—delays at one port cascade directly to subsequent calls and can trigger contractual penalties. Costs associated with a port call include berth fees, pilotage, towage, and crane operations; these are typically settled between the shipowner and local agent as port disbursements and feed directly into freight rate calculations. A port call differs from a transit call, where a vessel stops at a port without carrying out commercial cargo operations.
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⚖️ ICC Incoterms 2020
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