ATD (Actual Time of Departure)

Actual Time of Departure (ATD) refers to the actual date and time when a vessel leaves the port of loading. It is a key time point in international cargo transportation. It is often used to determine whether the shipment date meets the latest shipment date stipulated in a letter of credit or contract, and is also the basis for calculating freight, insurance commencement, demurrage, and judging whether delayed delivery has occurred. Unlike Estimated Time of Departure (ETD), ATD is an actual time confirmed after the event and has legal and settlement effect. Use cases include: letter of credit document presentation, bill of lading confirmation, shipment notice, insurance declaration, etc. Notes: ATD is usually based on the 'On Board Date' on the bill of lading or the carrier's system record. If the letter of credit requires 'shipment no later than a certain date', the bank will review whether the ATD is compliant; if the actual departure is later than required, it may constitute a discrepancy. It should be distinguished from terms such as ETD, ETA (Estimated Time of Arrival), and ATA (Actual Time of Arrival). ATD emphasizes 'actual departure from port', while ETD is only a planned time and may change. Foreign trade practitioners should closely monitor ATD, update documents in a timely manner, and avoid payment collection risks caused by information delays.