0.    INTRODUCTION

       This specification provides the definition of the Vessel
       departure message (VESDEP) to be used in Electronic Data
       Interchange (EDI) between trading partners involved in
       administration, commerce and transport.

1.    SCOPE

1.1   Functional Definition

       A message from a stevedore to a liner agent or from a liner
       agent to a local authority (e.g. port authority) to inform the
       latter party of the departure of a vessel and giving
       information on the actual container or cargo operations.
       
       This message is part of a total set of container-related
       messages. These messages serve to facilitate the intermodal
       handling of containers by streamlining the information
       exchange.
       The business scenario for the container messages is clarified
       in a separate document, called: 'Guide to the scenario of
       EDIFACT container messages'.

1.2   Field of Application

       The Vessel departure message may be used for both national and
       international applications. It is based on universal practice
       related to administration, commerce and transport, and is not
       dependent on the type of business or industry.

1.3   Principles

       In the context of the 'Guide to the scenario of EDIFACT
       container messages' (as referred to at the start of section 1)
       the following guidelines, rules and functionality apply to this
       Vessel departure message:
       
       *   A message will contain information on only one means of
       transport/conveyance.
       
       *   Separate messages (Call information message and Vessel
       departure message) will be used for the means of transport in
       order to cater for opening and closing of the information
       exchange related to that means of transport. Updates for these
       messages may be sent.
       
       *   The message contents can be uniquely identified by a
       combination of the following data elements:
       - ordering customer/principal
       - ordering customer agent
       - mode of transport
       - conveyance reference number/voyage number
       
       The ordering customer agent is to supplement the unique
       identification only when several agents are acting on behalf of
       the same shipping line for the same voyage number.
       
       *   The message contents can be uniquely identified by a
       combination of the following message level data elements:
       -   voyage number or indication of sea transport (TDT or RFF)
       -   vessel radio call sign (TDT)
       -   shipping line (TDT)
       
       *   The message content includes the date and/or time on which
       all vessel operations have been completed.
       
       *   If containers have been loaded or discharged on or from the
       vessel, information on the actual handling of containers can be
       completed.

2.    REFERENCES

       See UNTDID, Part 4, Chapter 2.6 UN/ECE UNSM - General Introduction,
       Section 1.

3.    TERMS AND DEFINITIONS

3.1   Standard terms and definitions

       See UNTDID, Part 4, Chapter 2.6 UN/ECE UNSM - General Introduction,
       Section 2.

4.    MESSAGE DEFINITION

4.1   Data Segment Clarification

       This section should be read in conjunction with the Segment
       Table which indicate mandatory, conditional and repeating
       requirements.

   UNH, Message header
       A service segment starting and uniquely identifying a message.
       The message type code for the Vessel departure message is
       VESDEP.
       
       Note: Vessel departure messages conforming to this document
       must contain the following data in segment UNH, composite S009:

       Data element  0065 VESDEP
                     0052 D
                     0054 98A
                     0051 UN

   BGM, Beginning of message
       A segment to indicate the beginning of a message and to
       transmit identifying number.

   DTM, Date/time/period
       A segment to indicate a date and/or time applying to the whole
       message, such as date and time of document or message issue.

   FTX, Free text
       A segment to specify free format supplementary information:
       -   change information
       -   additional remarks


   Segment group 1: RFF-DTM
       A group of segments to specify a reference relating to the
       whole message, and its date and/or time.

      RFF, Reference
          A segment to provide a reference relating to the whole
          message, such as:
          -   reference to previous message

      DTM, Date/time/period
          A segment to indicate date and/or time related to the
          reference.


   Segment group 2: NAD-SG3
       A group of segments to identify a party and related contacts.

      NAD, Name and address
          A segment to identify a name and address of a party, such
          as:
          -   message sender
          -   message recipient
          -   ordering customer/principal
          -   ordering customer agent


      Segment group 3: CTA-COM
          A group of segments to identify a contact and its
          communications related to the party.

         CTA, Contact information
             A segment to identify a person or department for the
             party, such as:
             -   information contact

         COM, Communication contact
             A segment to identify a communication number of a person
             or department to whom communication should be directed.


   Segment group 4: TDT-RFF-LOC-DTM-MEA
       A group of segments to specify details of the departing means
       of transport.

      TDT, Details of transport
          A segment to identify the transport details of the departing
          vessel, such as voyage number or an indication of the
          transport method.

      RFF, Reference
          A segment to identify a relevant reference number, such as:
          -   voyage number

      LOC, Place/location identification
          A segment to specify a place or port of call of the means of
          transport or conveyance, such as:
          -   Maritime Mobile Ship Identifier (MMSI number)

      DTM, Date/time/period
          A segment to identify a date and time related to the
          departure of the means of transport, such as:
          -   actual sailing date/time

      MEA, Measurements
          A segment to specify a measurement related to the means of
          transport, such as:
          -   gross tonnage (of the vessel)


   Segment group 5: QTY-FTX
       A group of segments to specify total numbers.

      QTY, Quantity
          A segment to specify the actual number of segments in the
          message and the control reference number of the message.

      FTX, Free text
          A segment to provide supplementary information related to
          the actual number of operations on equipment.

   UNT, Message trailer
       A service segment ending a message, giving the total number of
       segments in the message and the control reference number of the
       message.

4.2   Data segment index (Alphabetical sequence by tag)

          BGM Beginning of message
          COM Communication contact
          CTA Contact information
          DTM Date/time/period
          FTX Free text
          LOC Place/location identification
          MEA Measurements
          NAD Name and address
          QTY Quantity
          RFF Reference
          TDT Details of transport
          UNH Message header
          UNT Message trailer

Contents of VESDEP