Container bookings

A container booking records the container number, vessel, estimated arrival and free days for one linked load. The Dispatcher can keep the booking in draft while confirming these details, then submit the revision for a Transport Supervisor decision. The load remains the operating shipment record; the booking describes the container movement within it.

The booking has its own status, revision and decision date. That separation matters when a load carries a delivery promise that differs from a vessel ETA. The reviewer can make a decision about the booking without silently rewriting pickup, dispatch or freight terms on its parent load.

• Identify the container. Check the number and vessel against the load that will move it.
• Keep the ETA separate. Update the vessel estimate without changing the load promise.
• Review the revision. Read the decision and receipt, then check the booking status before the handoff.

Agree which team maintains the vessel and container identifiers, how revised ETA information arrives, and which contract defines free time. An estimate alone does not establish a demurrage amount. Keep actual eligible time and contractual terms in the external process that supplies that calculation.

The Dispatcher should submit the selected load and current booking revision. The Transport Supervisor checks the submitted details and records a reason for approval or rejection. A revised booking returns to review instead of using an earlier decision as authority. Recording the decision alone does not change the booking status.

Suppose a container is booked on a named vessel with several free days and a Wednesday ETA. A later carrier update changes the ETA. The Dispatcher records the new estimate, while the load still shows its promised delivery date. The reviewer sees the booking revision, makes a fresh decision and leaves evidence tied to the linked load.

On the rejected case, inspect the reason and receipt against the load before another Dispatcher edits the booking. When the vessel estimate changes again, confirm the new revision is the one submitted. Check the booking status separately; the review record itself does not move it to Approved or Rejected.

• Free-Time Board — Compare the stage of container bookings across active work.
• Container Booking Register — Review vessel, ETA, free days and decision dates.
• Bookings awaiting review — Open submitted bookings for the supervisor decision.

Read the operating process and the related handoff. Set up roles and rehearse the case in implementation.