From the time a ship berths in a port, all efforts are geared to ensure that she sails as soon as possible. Delays cost money as a ship pays port dues for the time she is in port. Delays to cargowork can also cause additional costs if labour has to be kept on standby. To minimize delays, all aspects of her port stay need to be arranged carefully.

Cargowork must be thoroughly planned so that work goes smoothly.

Cargowork must get under way as soon as possible after she berths.

Cargowork must continue with as few interruptions as possible.

The best-suited cargo equipment must be used to ensure that the rate of cargowork is maintained. (Some bulk cargoes, for example, can be discharged by using vacuum discharge which will be much faster than using skips.)

If necessary, special equipment to handle cargo needs to be arranged before the ship arrives e.g. a heavylift cargo may need a special crane to discharge the item.

Land transport arrangements for the cargo must be made well before the arrival of ship so that loading and/or discharging is not interrupted by a shortage of railway trucks or road trucks.

Sufficient workers (stevedores) must be contracted to ensure that a lack of manpower does not delay cargowork.

If the cargo is weather-sensitive (e.g. bags of cement; paper; sugar) a special watch will need to be kept if rain is expected, and loading will need to stop immediately rain threatens, and resume immediately the rain is over.

If the ship also needs other services while in port (e.g. bunkering, repair work, taking stores, crew changes, etc.) these should be arranged so that they are provided while cargowork is underway. This saves time.

Sometimes, weather will delay a ship from sailing. Strong winds could disrupt container handling or cause a delay in sailing as the pilot believes it is too dangerous to maneuver the ship in the wind. Rain will interrupt loading or discharging of weather-sensitive cargo. A weather delay (e.g. wind causing the stoppage of container handling) will mean that the ship may have to speed up to reach her next port on time. To maintain a faster speed, the ship will use more fuel and that will cost more money.