Legal Definitions - port of call

A port of call refers to a scheduled intermediate stop that a ship, boat, or other vessel makes during its voyage. It is a designated location where the vessel docks, typically to allow passengers to disembark or embark, or for cargo to be loaded or unloaded, before continuing its journey to a final destination or another stop.

• Example 1: A luxury cruise liner embarking on a two-week journey through the Mediterranean Sea lists Barcelona, Rome, and Athens as its primary ports of call.

  Explanation: Each of these cities represents a planned stop where the cruise ship will dock, allowing passengers to go ashore and explore the local attractions before returning to the ship to continue their voyage to the next destination.

• Example 2: A large commercial cargo ship transporting electronics from Shanghai to New York has a scheduled port of call in Los Angeles to unload a portion of its containers before proceeding through the Panama Canal.

  Explanation: Los Angeles is a specific, pre-arranged stop on the cargo ship's route where it will perform part of its commercial operation (unloading goods) before continuing the remainder of its journey.

• Example 3: A research vessel conducting oceanographic studies in the Pacific Ocean makes a port of call in Honolulu, Hawaii, to resupply its provisions, refuel, and allow its scientific crew to rotate.

  Explanation: Honolulu serves as a necessary and planned stop for the research vessel to address logistical needs and personnel changes during its extended mission at sea, rather than being its ultimate destination.