Load List and Bay Plan standard

Accurate information about container volumes and stowage details is vital to ensure efficient port operations. For terminals, this information is required for estimating the number of moves and how much equipment and manpower is needed for loading and discharging a ship’s cargo, as well as how the cargo needs to be handled. Without this information, terminals cannot plan port operations and resource usage accordingly, which can lead to longer dwell times and a lack of predictability. This creates service delays at port and inland, as well as other inefficiencies that decrease supply chain reliability, hinder effective decision making and ultimately disrupt business performance.  

Currently, carriers often share this information using different versions of EDI. Terminals and other stakeholders must create bespoke channel integrations for each version of EDI. This is expensive and limits the number of partners that can be involved in a transaction.   

DCSA Load List and Bay Plan Definitions establishes a guideline for the communication of container volumes and stowage details between VSA (vessel sharing agreement) partners, terminals and ports. The guideline includes standardised event definitions, a recommended version of EDI for message exchange and a messaging timeline. By aligning these aspects of data communication, the DCSA framework enables timely exchange of unambiguous cargo data. This provides carriers and terminals with information they need to maximise operational efficiency and optimise port call planning. Ultimately, this allows for faster and more predictable turnaround times which helps increase supply chain reliability, lower costs and improve decision making.