GlossaryEN1 min readUpdated: Jul 27, 2026
Round Voyage Time
Round voyage time – in liner shipping also called rotation time – is the time a vessel needs for one complete operating cycle on its service loop: from the first departure through all port calls back to the starting point.
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Definition & Explanation
Round voyage time – in liner shipping also called rotation time – is the time a vessel needs for one complete operating cycle on its service loop: from the first departure through all port calls back to the starting point. Carriers deploy their fleets so that a weekly schedule is covered with a defined number of vessels. If the round voyage lengthens, for example due to Cape Route diversions or port congestion, additional ships are required or schedule gaps arise through blank sailings. For freight forwarders the metric is central because it directly drives sailing frequency, available slots and therefore booking conditions and freight rates. In road and rail transport the equivalent concept is used for the operating cycle of vehicles and loading equipment. Not to be confused with terminal turnaround time, which only covers a ship's stay in port between arrival and departure, nor with the transit time of an individual shipment.
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Transit index
Check transit time: city-to-city index
P50/P80 transit times for sea, air and road — sourced and confidence-rated, not a carrier quote.
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