What is First Port of Call?

For starters, let's give explanation to "Port of Call". Port of Call means an intermediate stop for a ship on its scheduled journey for cargo operation. For a cargo ship, "Port of Call" means the port where the ship halts to discharge or load the cargo. For a passenger ship, "Port of Call" means the port where the ship stops to embark or disembark people.

When a vessel makes the initial customs entry into a country, the first port which it will attend will be considered as the "First Port of Call".

For a seaport, being the First Port of Call can drive up its import volumes. For instance, the First Port of Call in the US is where imports are discharged. Since shippers are more inclined to unload as much cargo as possible at a vessel's First Port of Call, the First Port of Call will have more revenue as every container unloaded on the docks translates into more cash in port coffers.