Waiting time refers to the period a ship must wait before it can berth at a port. This can be due to several factors such as port congestion, tidal restrictions, or availability of loading/unloading facilities. Key aspects include:

Operational Efficiency: High waiting times can indicate bottlenecks in port operations and can significantly impact the efficiency of cargo throughput.
Cost Implications: Longer waiting times can lead to higher operational costs for shipping companies, including fuel costs and potential penalties.
Contractual Impacts: Waiting time can affect laytime calculations in shipping contracts, potentially leading to demurrage charges.

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