Best Practices
Use these best practices to keep voyage data accurate and useful for operations and customers.
Voyage creation
- Create voyages well in advance to support rate planning and customer bookings.
- Use consistent voyage ID formatting for easy tracking and reference.
- Double-check departure dates and transit times for accuracy.
- Ensure the correct vessel is selected for each voyage.
Voyage management
- Keep voyage schedules up to date with any changes from vessel operators.
- Review and update transit times if routes or speeds change.
- Archive or remove old voyages periodically to keep your list manageable.
- Maintain accurate ETAs to set proper customer expectations.
Schedule planning
- Plan voyage schedules to align with your rate validity periods.
- Coordinate with your vessel operators for confirmed sailing dates.
- Update voyages promptly if schedules change.
Data accuracy
- Verify all information before saving new voyages.
- Cross-reference with official sailing schedules from carriers.
- Ensure voyage IDs match carrier documentation for easy reconciliation.
- Keep transit times realistic based on actual sailing performance.
Common questions
What happens if a voyage is delayed?
Edit the voyage to update the departure date and/or transit time. The system will recalculate the ETA automatically.
Do I need to create vessels before creating voyages?
Yes, vessels must exist in the Vessel Management section before you can assign them to voyages.
Can multiple voyages use the same vessel?
Yes, the same vessel can have multiple voyages with different dates and voyage IDs (representing different sailings).
What’s the difference between Voyage ID and Vessel name?
The vessel name identifies the ship itself (e.g., “Hyundai dream”), while the voyage ID identifies a specific sailing of that ship (e.g., “0160” for one particular departure).
How does transit time affect my rates?
Transit time in voyages should align with the transit time you specify in your rates to ensure consistency for customers.