Port Calls

What Is a Port of Call?

A port of call is a designated location where a vessel stops during its voyage to load or unload cargo, embark or disembark passengers, refuel, undergo inspections, or complete required documentation. Unlike the final destination, a port of call is typically one of multiple stops a ship makes along its route. Port of calls are critical to supply chain efficiency, port operations, and global trade logistics. 

What is a Port Call?

A port call refers to the specific event of a vessel arriving, staying at, and departing from a port. It includes all the operational activities that occur during that time, such as berthing, cargo handling, and customs clearance. Unlike a port of call, which is the physical stop on a voyage, a port call focuses on the logistics, coordination, and timing of the vessel’s stay. Accurate port call tracking is essential for schedule reliability, resource planning, and supply chain optimization.

What Activities Take Place at a Port of Call?

A wide range of essential operations occur during a port call, based on the vessel type, cargo, and purpose of the visit. These activities are crucial to maintaining smooth maritime logistics.

Common port call activities include:

• Loading and unloading cargo: bulk carriers, container ships, and tankers handle cargo transfers
• Customs inspections and documentation: regulatory compliance checks
• Crew changes: some ports serve as designated hubs for crew rotations
• Vessel servicing: refueling (bunkering), waste management, and routine maintenance tasks
• Health and safety protocols: especially after the COVID-19 pandemic, port health checks have become a global priority
• Passenger embarkation and disembarkation: cruise ships facilitate tourism and support local economies 

According to Statista, more than 166 million TEUs were shipped by sea in 2024, highlighting the importance of port calls in facilitating this flow.

Why Do Port Calls Matter in Maritime Operations?

Efficient port calls are a critical component of global shipping. Delays or mismanagement at a port of a port call can lead to detention fees, missed transshipments, demurrage costs, and lost revenue. For charterers, freight forwarders, and fleet managers, understanding port call dynamics is essential.

Windward’s Ocean Freight Visibility solution provides real-time visibility into port calls, helping clients predict delays, optimize routing, and reduce fuel consumption. 

What Are Some Challenges in Port Calls?

Despite technological advances, port calls remain complex, with multiple stakeholders and dynamic conditions.

Common challenges include:

• Congestion: popular ports like Singapore, Rotterdam, and Shanghai often experience high vessel traffic
• Weather disruptions: adverse conditions can delay docking or offloading
• Data fragmentation: lack of standardized data sharing between shipping lines, terminals, and authorities
• Manual processes: some ports still rely on manual reporting and communication methods
• Regulatory variability: different countries and ports apply diverse rules and paperwork requirements

What Are Effective Strategies for Optimizing Port Calls?

Optimizing a port of call involves planning, technology, and coordination. Windward’s clients benefit from predictive insights powered by Maritime AI™, which reduces uncertainty and improves scheduling.

Effective port call strategies include:

• Predictive ETA management: leverage AIS and behavioral analytics to improve arrival accuracy and timing 
• Digital document exchange: streamline workflows using electronic documents and pre-clearance to minimize dwell time
• Collaborative data sharing: enable real-time synchronization between ships, ports, and authorities
• Performance benchmarking: analyze historical port performance data to guide routing decisions
• Port risk assessment: evaluate ports based on the likelihood of delays, DSPs, or regulatory bottlenecks

What Role Do Port Calls Play in Supply Chain Visibility?

Port calls are central to maritime operations and supply chain coordination. A delay at a single port of call can create ripple effects across multiple geographies, resulting in late deliveries, idle inventory, or missed manufacturing windows.

For logistics managers, integrating port calls into supply chain visibility platforms allows for better exception management and smarter decision-making. This enables stakeholders to monitor vessels before, during, and after their port of call, helping reduce detention and demurrage costs across complex trade lanes.

What Operational Components Are Part of Port Call Operations?

Here’s a breakdown of the operational components of a typical port call:

This level of detail allows organizations to identify process inefficiencies and streamline turnaround times.

How Is Digital Technology Improving Port Calls?

Digital transformation has drastically improved port call efficiency. Technologies like AI, blockchain, and the Internet of Things (IoT) have automated traditional bottlenecks and increased transparency.

For example, Windward’s platform analyzes millions of maritime shipping data points daily to alert operators about schedule deviations, port congestion, or unexpected anchorage delays. These alerts support proactive decisions and improved data accuracy across teams.

Emerging technologies also reduce data latency, providing stakeholders with up-to-the-minute situational awareness. This is particularly valuable in high-risk zones where data integrity is crucial.

How Are Port Calls Tracked?

Port calls are primarily tracked using AIS (Automatic Identification System) signals, which broadcast a vessel’s position, speed, and other metadata in near real-time. Combined with GNSS and port call reporting systems, this allows companies to monitor and predict vessel behavior globally.

How Long Does a Port Call Typically Last?

Port call duration can range from under 12 hours for container ships to several days for tankers or bulk carriers, depending on the cargo, port congestion, and customs clearance time.

How Do Weather and Geopolitical Events Affect Port Calls?

Weather conditions and geopolitical events are unpredictable and often disruptive. Severe storms, typhoons, hurricanes, or fog can delay berthing, create safety risks, or force port closures. These disruptions can result in anchorage delays, higher fuel use, and missed cargo windows, all of which can cascade into broader supply chain delays.

Similarly, geopolitical instability, such as trade embargoes, sanctions, or regional conflicts, can make ports inaccessible or less secure, requiring vessels to reroute at a cost. These disruptions demand agile scheduling and rapid response. Over time, persistent geopolitical issues can even shift trade lanes and influence long-term port selection strategies, as demonstrated by the ongoing crisis in the Red Sea.

Ultimately, this reinforces the need for flexible voyage planning and real-time visibility when managing port calls.