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What is SO document?
SO is the English abbreviation of shipping order, that is, booking order, usually issued to the shipping company Booking to apply for pre-allocated schedule, after the shipowner to get verified will receive the SO. get the booking order can be based on the shipowner cut-off time, reasonable arrangements for time to pick up the container in the designated location, and towing the container to the loading place for loading operations.
How to read the SO document?
Different shipping companies provide different SO numbers, but the information shown is basically the same.
When you get the booking form from the shipping company, you should check the following information:
SO number / container type / container volume / port of departure / port of destination / opening time / cut-off weight / cut-off document / cut-off customs / vessel name voyage / ETD
Opening time: the earliest time when you can pick up the empty container, if it is not yet the opening time, you can not pick up the empty container to the terminal or the designated place of the shipping company.
Cut-off time: the cut-off time from taking heavy container to returning heavy container. It can also refer to the last time of receiving the heavy container in the port area.
CY cutoff time - Each vessel has a limited operating time at the terminal, so there is a cutoff time called CY cutoff or CY closing, which is the cutoff time for receiving containers at the terminal.
VGM cut-off time: i.e. Verification of Gross Container Weight (VGM) of the loaded container
VGM=Total cargo weight in container+Container weight, if no VGM data is submitted, it is not allowed to go on board.
Cut-off time for documents: also known as cut-off time for replenishment, CSI or SI in English, it is the latest time for the consignor to submit the required information to the shipping company for making the bill of lading. Before the cut-off time, the bill of lading is submitted to the shipping company for replenishment, and then changes are made, which will result in the cost of changing the bill of lading.
If you cannot submit the B/L supplement to the shipping company in time, you can apply for SI Late Come, i.e., apply for an extension of the cut-off time. It depends on the situation of the shipping company to apply for the extension of the cut-off time, if the ship is in port in time, the cut-off time will not be extended.
Time of Customs clearance/release: It means the time to cut off the Customs clearance, the cargo must do the work of Customs clearance before this time, and submit the Customs release note to the shipping company. After this time, the shipping company will regard the goods as not cleared for customs clearance and will not be allowed to board the ship.
ETD: Estimated Time of Disembarkation
ETA: Estimated Time of Arrival