Difference between Vessel arriving and Vessel berthing?

Difference between ‘Vessel arriving’ and  ‘Vessel berthing’ in export import trade.

Vessel arriving and Vessel Berthing – two terms widely known in marine exports and imports. 

What is Vessel arrival and what does vessel berthing mean in marine exports and imports?

You (exporter) came to know that vessel (ship) in which your goods exported to your foreign buyer, already arrived at port of final destination. You may get next export order from the same buyer, once after taken delivery of the said shipment. So you  may be keen in arrival of said goods at destination and time of taking delivery. Once after arrival of vessel at port of discharge, you may contact with the shipping line at your place to know, the date of delivery of goods by your buyer. You know, the goods are very urgently required for the buyer and he will take delivery immediately up on arrival of goods at port of discharge. However, even after 10 days of arrival of vessel, your overseas buyer has not taken delivery of goods. You have enquired the reason of delay with your buyer. He informed you that the goods arrived at port only 3 days before and goods are under customs clearance. But you received information that the vessel arrived 10 days before. Then why did the goods not arrive at port of discharge. Once again you contacted your carrier at your place and enquired about the matter. The shipping company who carries the goods confirmed you that ‘the vessel arrived port of discharge 10 days before’, however, ‘the vessel not berthed’ port of discharge to unload the goods.

Here you can understand the meaning of “ship arrived”, but “ship not berthed”.

The arrival of vessel at port does not mean that the ship already berthed at port to unload your goods. In all major ports, there are many docks to birth the vessel. However, many ships also will be there operating in each major ports. So if no docks are vacant to birth, she waits outside docks. Once vessel arrived at docks to unload the cargo, we can call vessel (ship) berthed. If more congestion is there in a port, arrived vessel may have to wait for long period to get berthed. Once after berthing of vessel, cargo will be unloaded on the yard of docks. These cargoes are moved to nearest Container Freight Stations (CFS) of carrier, where in your buyer can customs clear the cargo and taken delivery of goods.

In this article I tried to differentiate between Vessel arrival and Vessel berthing. Do you wish to add more information about vessel berthing and vessel arriving? Share your experience about vessel berthing and vessel arriving in exports and imports business of international trade.