Shipment Delay

Shipment Delay refers to a carrier vessel failing to arrive at the port of loading or destination according to the scheduled timetable, causing cargo loading or delivery to occur later than planned. Common causes include severe weather, port congestion, mechanical failure, strikes, and route adjustments. Usage scenarios: the seller notifying the buyer of delayed shipment, the buyer urging delivery, amending the letter of credit shipment date, negotiating demurrage charges or claims. Precautions: delays may trigger buyer claims, letter of credit discrepancies, and increased storage fees; a distinction should be made between 'shipment delay' and 'delivery delay'—the former is a transportation issue, while the latter may result from production or documentation problems. It differs from 'Rollover,' which is when the shipping company temporarily moves cargo to the next voyage, whereas shipment delay is the vessel itself arriving late. Foreign trade practitioners should promptly obtain delay certificates from the shipping company to communicate with customers or apply for force majeure exemption.