Open date
Meaning
A ship's open date and open port are when and where it will finish its current employment and be free to load its next cargo.
Also written as Open, Open port
Open date explained
Ships are marketed by where and when they open: “Aframax open Rotterdam 14 March”. The charterer then works out whether the ship can ballast from there to the load port in time for the laycan.
Related terms
Position list
A position list is a broker's list of ships open in a region, showing where and when each one will be available for its next cargo.
Ballast leg
The ballast leg is the empty voyage a tanker makes to reach its next load port, carrying sea water as ballast instead of cargo.
Laycan
Laycan is the window of dates in which the ship must arrive and tender notice of readiness, ending with the charterer's right to cancel.