Estimated Time of Departure (ETD)

Estimated time of departure (ETD) is the predicted clock time a vessel will sail from a berth, anchorage, or port. Brokers, agents, charterers, and terminals use it with the ETA to plan berth allocation, pilot and tug booking, cargo operations, and onward scheduling. It is an operational estimate, not a contractual notice; it is updated as loading or discharge progresses. Under a charter party the binding instruments are the notice of readiness and laytime clauses, not the ETD, which carries no laytime or demurrage consequence on its own.