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FCL Shipment Setup Timeline

Baudouin de Dreuille 2024-07-05 5 min

FCL Shipment Setup Timeline

Category: Logistics Author: Baudouin de Dreuille Date: 5/7/2024 Reading time: 5 min

An FCL shipment goes through numerous steps before the vessel departs. This requires careful planning. This article outlines the key milestones to keep in mind.

This is a “standard” timeline under normal market conditions, as it can vary. For example, in France, during strikes, timelines were significantly extended due to difficulties accessing terminals.

Day 0

  • Quotation acceptance / shipment confirmation
  • Booking request sent to the shipping line

Day 1

  • Booking confirmation received
  • Container positioning request sent and positioning scheduled with the warehouse

Day 4

  • Empty container picked up from a depot or terminal

Day 5

  • Positioning / pickup day
  • Container and cargo information collected to prepare the Bill of Lading (B/L)

Day 5/6

  • Container delivered to the terminal on the same day as positioning or the following morning

Day 6

  • Container at terminal and export customs clearance completed before the FCL cutoff

Day 7-8

  • Cutoff day: customs must be cleared (customs cutoff), the container must be at the terminal (FCL cutoff), and the B/L must be finalized (SI cutoff)

Day 10

  • Vessel departure

Good to know! Under normal conditions, the earliest possible FCL export departure is 10 days from the CRD.

Choosing the right vessel is crucial to minimize the time between the CRD (Cargo Ready Date) and the vessel’s ETD (Estimated Time of Departure). However, targeting a vessel with an ETD that is too close is risky, as you may miss the cutoffs. This decision requires a quick analysis of the various deadlines.

A Closer Look at the Different Deadlines

  • Terminal cutoff or FCL cutoff: deadline for the container to enter the terminal. If the container is not at the terminal by this date, it may be removed from the vessel’s loading list.

    • Date: typically 2–3 days before the vessel’s ETD

  • Customs cutoff: deadline by which the container must be customs cleared. The container can only be cleared once it is at the terminal. This cutoff is often at the same time as the FCL cutoff.

    • Date: typically 2–3 days before the vessel’s ETD

  • CFS (Container Freight Station) cutoff: specific cutoff for LCL. This is the deadline by which the cargo must be delivered to the consolidator’s CFS.

    • Date: typically 7 days before the vessel’s ETD

  • Documentary cutoff / SI (Shipping Instructions) cutoff: deadline by which Bill of Lading instructions must be submitted to the shipping line.

    • Date: typically 3–4 days before the vessel’s ETD

  • VGM (Verified Gross Mass) cutoff: deadline by which the container’s VGM weight (total loaded weight) must be declared to the shipping line.

    • Date: typically 3–4 days before the vessel’s ETD

  • AMS (Automated Manifest System) cutoff: applies only to ocean exports to North America (United States and Canada). Customs information must be transmitted to North American authorities.

    • Date: 24 hours before the ETD

Conclusion

Meeting these deadlines is essential to ensure the smooth execution of an FCL shipment and avoid any delays or complications. Quickly analyzing and selecting the right vessel helps minimize risks and optimize transit time.