Citpl Vessel — Berthing Schedule

The vessel berthing schedule for Chennai International Terminals Private Limited (CITPL) , also known as PSA Chennai , is managed by PSA India and integrated with the Chennai Port Authority How to Access the Official CITPL Schedule

You can find real-time vessel schedules and berthing reports through the following official channels: PSA Chennai Customer Portal PSA India Vessel Schedule page provides direct links to registration and vessel tracking. CITPL Tracking Portal CITPL Container Tracking

tool for specific container history and vessel movement logs. Chennai Port Authority Daily Berth Allotment Details

page lists all vessels scheduled to berth across the port, including the three deep-draft berths allocated to CITPL. Key Schedule Information Provided Standard berthing schedules for CITPL typically include: ONE : eCommerce Vessel Name & Voyage Number : Unique identifiers for the ship and its specific trip. ETA (Estimated Time of Arrival) : When the vessel is expected at the port. ETB (Estimated Time of Berthing) citpl vessel berthing schedule

: The critical window when the ship is actually expected to dock and start cargo operations. ETD (Estimated Time of Departure) : The planned time for the vessel to leave the berth. Port Cut-Off Time

: The deadline for export containers to be gated in before berthing (often 4 hours prior). Berth Capabilities at CITPL Number of Berths

: 3 dedicated deep-draft container berths at the East Quay (EQ). Draft Depth : Designed to accommodate vessels with a draft up to 15.5 meters Strategic Design On-time berthing rate (%) Average anchorage waiting time

: The quay faces west, protected from Bay of Bengal swells, ensuring reliable operations during varying weather conditions. Secondary Tracking Tools

If official portals are unavailable, third-party AIS tracking provides live updates for vessels in the Chennai area:

ETA, ETB, ETD, ATD and ATA in Shipping: India -USA FCL Guide How the CITPL Berthing Schedule Works Unlike smaller

KPIs to track

• On-time berthing rate (%)
• Average anchorage waiting time (hours)
• Average berth time / turnaround (hours)
• Berth utilization rate (%) per berth
• Crane/equipment utilization (%)
• Number of schedule disruptions and root causes

How the CITPL Berthing Schedule Works

Unlike smaller ports, CITPL follows a "First-Come, First-Served" principle with priority classifications. Here is the typical hierarchy:

1. Previous backlog (vessels that missed the previous tide).
2. Vessels with "firm" nominations (confirmed cargo and customs clearance).
3. Vessels requiring tidal berthing (larger Capesize vessels that need high tide to enter).
4. General queue (Handymax and Panamax vessels).

C. Third-Party Logistics Portals

Several maritime data aggregators (like MarineTraffic, Equasis, or Indian trade logistics portals) display real-time berthing data for CITPL. These are useful for tracking the physical location of the vessel (whether it is currently at anchor or alongside the berth).

❌ Cons / Common Complaints:

• Frequent Last-Minute Changes – Users report that schedules often change due to tides, weather, priority cargo, or equipment breakdowns, but updates are not always pushed in real time.
• Limited User Interface – Many port schedules are still shared as static PDFs or basic web tables, lacking interactive features (drag timelines, filter by cargo, ETA alerts).
• Integration Gaps – Does not always sync with vessel AIS data or terminal operating systems, leading to discrepancies between planned and actual berthing.
• Access Restrictions – Some users find the schedule behind a login portal or requires direct coordination with the berth planning department, reducing convenience.

Key Factors That Reshuffle the Schedule

• Draft restrictions: Paradip Port has a limited draft (~12.8m to 15.2m depending on tide). If a vessel exceeds the draft, it is moved down the list until the next high tide.
• Rail/Rake connectivity: CITPL often coordinates with Indian Railways. If rakes are not available to evacuate coal from the stockyard, the berthing schedule is paused (stacking limit reached).
• Maintenance windows: The terminal has high-capacity unloaders. A breakdown in unloader #2 will instantly delay the schedule by 24-48 hours.

3. Why the Schedule is Important

Monitoring the CITPL schedule is vital for several reasons:

• Export Planning: Shippers must ensure their cargo reaches the port before the "Port Cut-off" or "Gateway Cut-off" time listed against the vessel. Missing this window means cargo will be "shut out" and rolled to the next vessel.
• Import Clearance: Consignees can track when a vessel docks to estimate when their cargo will be available for pickup. Import availability usually begins a few hours after berthing, once the vessel starts discharging.
• Trucking & Transport: Transporters use the schedule to plan vehicle placement to avoid congestion and demurrage charges at the port gates.

Berth utilization

• Berth 1: Container and general cargo — 72% utilization; average turnaround 26 hours
• Berth 2: Bulk and project cargo — 64% utilization; average turnaround 31 hours
• Berth 3: RoRo and multipurpose — 58% utilization; average turnaround 29 hours