Why it happens:
A confirmed booking often feels final, but in ocean freight it is not a guarantee that cargo will load on the planned vessel. Bookings depend on multiple operational factors, and when capacity becomes constrained, carriers may still roll out shipments.
What it is:
A rollover occurs when a container planned for one vessel is moved to a later sailing. The booking remains active, but the cargo does not move as scheduled.
How it works:
Carriers regularly overbook vessels to protect utilization. As sailing approaches, they finalize loading based on actual capacity, stowage limits, congestion, and commercial priorities. When space is tight, some containers are removed from the load list, even if they are confirmed and gated in on time. Once a shipment is rolled, it often has lower priority for the next sailing, increasing the risk of additional delays.
Examples:
- A container gates before cut-off, but the vessel is over capacity.
- A planned vessel is replaced with a smaller one.
- Congestion forces the carrier to reduce intake at the origin port.
Facts:
- Rollovers are a common cause of ocean freight delays.
- Missing one weekly sailing can add 7–14 days to transit time.
- Multiple consecutive rollovers are common on congested lanes.
Misinterpretations:
- A confirmed booking does not guarantee that a container will be loaded on the planned vessel.
- Rollovers are not always caused by shipper actions; many occur due to carrier or port constraints.
- Cargo that is rolled does not necessarily move on to the next available sailing.
Who solves it:
Skypace evaluates rollover risk during the planning stage by analyzing historical rollover patterns, typical vessel utilization levels, and the availability of alternative sailings on each route. By identifying services with limited recovery options, the system helps shippers understand where a missed sailing is likely to result in extended delays and adjust routing decisions before booking.
