ETA, ETB and ETD at one port
A single port call carries three estimates. They sit close together on a quiet day and drift apart when a port is busy. The gap between ETA and ETB is the waiting time, and it is the first number to grow when berths are scarce. Definitions vary, and some carriers use ETA to mean berthing, so check which moment a date refers to before planning around it.
- ETA: expected arrival at the port or its anchorage
- ETB: expected time alongside the berth, ready to work
- ETD: expected departure once cargo work is done
Sources for berthing estimates
Terminals publish vessel schedules that show the ETB for each call, and they update it as the ship approaches and berths come free. Port authorities and shipping agents often issue berthing line-ups too. Carriers may or may not show ETB separately in their tracking. CargoScope shows the carrier's latest ETA, so for berth timing the terminal's own schedule is the place to look.
Planning work around the berthing time
The ETB drives most of what happens next at the port. Discharge starts after berthing, so the earliest pickup date follows the ETB rather than the ETA. Export cut-offs are tied to the vessel's stay, and rail and truck plans for the first containers off the ship depend on it. When the ETB slips, check whether cut-offs, appointments and rail bookings need to move as well.
Example
A vessel has an ETA at Singapore of Monday morning, but the terminal's schedule shows an ETB of Tuesday night because its berth is still occupied.
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Questions
What does ETB (Estimated Time of Berthing) mean?
ETB, or estimated time of berthing, is when a vessel is expected to be secured at its berth and ready to start cargo work. It can be later than the ETA, which often refers to reaching the port, the pilot station or the anchorage.
What is the difference between ETA and ETB?
ETA is when the vessel is expected to arrive, often at port limits or the anchorage. ETB is when it is expected to be alongside its berth and ready to work cargo, which can be hours or days later.
Is ETB the same as ATB?
No. ETB is the estimated berthing time. ATB, the actual time of berthing, is recorded once the ship is secured alongside, and it replaces the estimate in terminal schedules.