I was monitoring the ship SILVER NAVIGATOR which I knew was going from Fujairah port in UAE to Savannah Port in USA. It’s ETA reporting went like this:
Fujairah → Suez Canal
Suez Canal → Gibraltar
Gibraltar → Savannah
I kinda understand why it reported Suez Canal but it didn’t even stop in Gibraltar. Are there any regulations regarding a vessel’s ETA reporting? Couldn’t it just report it’s final destination Savannah?
Normally, the captain only enters the NEXT destination port and ETA, not the final destination of the journey. So if the vessel is scheduled to make five stops along its route at different ports, the captain will only report the next port of call each time they depart from each port.
Though it is possible that a vessel would change its port of call (or ETA) after departing a port, but, as far as I know, it would require approval and coordination with the appropriate authorities and stakeholders involved in the vessel’s voyage.
That’s correct, @aydin-mammadov. It’s important to note that the ship’s ETA is usually reported in this manner because it’s often subject to change due to various factors like weather conditions, traffic at the port, or even changes in the ship’s schedule. So, it’s more efficient and accurate to report the next port of call rather than the final destination.
As for SILVER NAVIGATOR reporting Gibraltar as a stop, it could be due to several reasons, even though it didn’t physically stop there. It’s possible that the ship passed through the Strait of Gibraltar and needed to report it for navigational purposes, or it might have been a planned stop initially but got canceled later in the journey. Regardless, it’s always better to keep an eye on the vessel’s AIS (Automatic Identification System) data for the most up-to-date information on its location and ETA.
Because in certain cases this may be the required course of action by the Coastal Safety authorities.
We can take a look at the Turkish Strait User Guide for example:(https://kiyiemniyeti.gov.tr/Data/1/Files/Document/Documents/9S/6R/yY/wu/TSVTS_User_Guide_21.05.20.pdf)
A ship might report the Bosphorus Strait as their Estimated Time of Arrival (ETA) even if they are not planning on anchoring there because they are required to keep the relevant Vessel Traffic Service Center (VTSC) informed about their progress and any deviations from the Traffic Separation Scheme (TSS) or delays in their ETA exceeding 2 hours.
By reporting their ETA for the Bosphorus Strait, the ship is providing the VTSC with crucial information regarding their position, speed, and intended route, allowing the VTSC to manage traffic and ensure the safety of navigation, protection of life, property, sea, and environment in the Turkish Straits. Additionally, it helps to prevent potential collisions or conflicts with other vessels navigating through the straits.
Even if the ship is not planning on anchoring, it may still important to maintain communication with the VTSC to ensure overall safety and to comply with the rules and procedures for passing through the Turkish Straits.
Hope this helps!
It’s very likely that the ship was lined up in that channel and anchored. Because there is usually a queue in the channels and the ship waits for its turn at anchor or in drift. As this information is reported by the operational manager beforehand, it determines the ship’s ETA according to the channel.