1. 船期: Sailing Schedule
Sailing schedule refers to the fixed timetable released by shipping lines, detailing departure and arrival times of vessels at specific ports. It serves as a cornerstone for shippers, freight forwarders, and port authorities to plan cargo loading, customs clearance, and onward transportation. For example, a typical sailing schedule might list a vessel departing Shanghai on July 15th, arriving in Los Angeles on July 28th, with subsequent stops in Long Beach and Oakland. Delays due to weather or port congestion can disrupt sailing schedules, emphasizing the need for real-time updates in logistics management.2. 航程: Voyage
Voyage denotes the entire journey of a ship from its origin port to the final destination, including intermediate stops. Unlike sailing schedule (a planned timetable), voyage focuses on the actual execution of the journey, encompassing factors like route, duration, and navigational conditions. A trans-Pacific voyage, for instance, may cover 10,000 nautical miles and take 12–14 days, depending on vessel speed and ocean currents. Voyage efficiency directly impacts shipping costs and delivery timelines, making it a key metric for carriers and clients.3. 堆场: Container Yard
Container yard (CY) is a designated area within ports or logistics hubs for storing, organizing, and maintaining shipping containers. It acts as a temporary holding space for full containers (loaded with cargo) and empty containers before they are loaded onto vessels or transported to consignees. Operations in a container yard include container stacking, inventory checks, and equipment handling (e.g., gantry cranes, reach stackers). For example, a container arriving at a port is first moved to the CY for inspection, then loaded onto a truck for inland delivery or onto a vessel for export.These terms—sailing schedule, voyage, and container yard—form the backbone of maritime logistics, ensuring seamless communication and operational efficiency in global trade.