# Bunker Quotation ETA Change: How to Re-Quote > How bunker suppliers read anchorage queues and ETA changes at a congested port, then re-quote a stem without losing it. A practical routine with a worked example. URL: https://vesselreach.si/blog/bunker-quotation-eta-change-how-to-re-quote | Published: 2026-10-23 | Guide | Topic: Finding port-call opportunities ## In short A bunker quotation ETA change is a re-quote triggered when a vessel's arrival window moves, and the supplier who re-prices fastest usually keeps the stem. VesselReach's advice is to treat the ETA as a moving number: read the anchorage queue, confirm whether the new time is a berth window or an anchorage arrival, re-check the delivery point, restate price validity against the new window, and send the revision in the original thread with the same quote reference. ## Key takeaways - Re-quote from the anchorage queue, not the original enquiry, because a queue at a closed anchorage is not a queue you can serve. - Ask the agent or technical superintendent whether the new ETA is a berth window or an anchorage arrival before planning barge allocation. - Hold the fuel reference and restate only the validity period, quoting any revised stem size as a separate line. - Send the revision in the same thread with the original quote reference and a clear acceptance deadline to avoid fresh comparison shopping. - Gibraltar recorded 477 bunker calls in September 2026, up 11% on 431 a year earlier, per Gibraltar Port Authority data reported by Hellenic Shipping News. ## At a glance - **What: What happened at Zhoushan's bunker anchorages?** Bunker operations at Zhoushan's outer Tiaozhoumen and Xiazhimen anchorages were suspended because of rough weather from Typhoon Champi, while operations continued at the more sheltered Xiushandong and inner Mazhi anchorages. ([Hellenic Shipping News](https://www.hellenicshippingnews.com/typhoon-champi-causes-halt-in-bunker-operations-at-zhoushans-outer-anchorages/)) - **Who: Who reported the Zhoushan suspension?** Hellenic Shipping News reported the suspension on 20 October 2026, citing a source, and noted Champi had strengthened into a super typhoon with maximum sustained winds of 230 km/h near its centre. ([Hellenic Shipping News](https://www.hellenicshippingnews.com/typhoon-champi-causes-halt-in-bunker-operations-at-zhoushans-outer-anchorages/)) - **Where: Which port was showing congestion strain in the Middle East?** Khor Fakkan appeared to be showing signs of buckling under pressure after replacing Jebel Ali calls, according to The Loadstar, as Gemini prepared to relaunch Far East to Middle East connections. ([The Loadstar](https://theloadstar.com/gemini-relaunch-likely-to-add-to-congestion-pressure-at-khor-fakkan/)) - **When: When did the congestion outlook shift in Asia?** On 22 October 2026, The Loadstar reported intra-Asia rates softening as bottlenecks at major Chinese and other Asian ports began to ease, and separately warned Typhoon Champi could undo those gains. ([The Loadstar](https://theloadstar.com/intra-asia-rates-soften-as-congestion-at-major-ports-begins-to-ease/)) - **Why: Why is arrival timing uncertain for berth planning?** A 2022 study in the Flexible Services and Manufacturing Journal notes that actual vessel arrival times are uncertain because of external influences such as cross wind and sea current, so it used machine learning forecasts with dynamic time buffers. ([Flexible Services and Manufacturing Journal (Springer Science+Business Media)](https://doi.org/10.1007/s10696-022-09462-x)) - **How: How busy was Gibraltar's bunker market in September 2026?** Gibraltar recorded 477 bunker calls in September 2026, up 11% from 431 in the same month the previous year, according to Gibraltar Port Authority data reported by Hellenic Shipping News. ([Hellenic Shipping News](https://www.hellenicshippingnews.com/gibraltar-sees-busiest-september-for-bunker-calls-since-2021/)) A bunker quotation ETA change is a re-quote triggered when a vessel's arrival window moves, and the supplier who re-prices fastest usually keeps the stem. Treat the ETA as a moving number, not a fixed date, and build a routine that re-quotes from the queue rather than from the original enquiry. That routine matters more in weeks when weather and schedule changes stack up. In October 2026, Typhoon Champi forced a halt at Zhoushan's outer Tiaozhoumen and Xiazhimen anchorages (the exposed waiting areas outside the port), according to [Hellenic Shipping News](https://www.hellenicshippingnews.com/typhoon-champi-causes-halt-in-bunker-operations-at-zhoushans-outer-anchorages/) (20 October 2026). Operations continued at the sheltered Xiushandong and inner Mazhi anchorages. ## What an ETA change actually does to a bunker quote A bunker quote is built on a delivery window, a barge slot and a fuel price reference. When the ETA moves, all three move with it. The supplier's job is to decide which parts of the quote survive and which must be re-based. - **Delivery window:** a vessel pushed back 18 hours may now clash with another stem already booked on the same barge. - **Barge and anchorage allocation:** exposed anchorages may be closed, so the delivery point changes. - **Price validity:** a quote held for a fixed number of days may expire before the new window opens. - **Quantity:** a longer wait can mean more consumption before delivery, so the stem size may rise. Arrival times are genuinely hard to pin down. A 2022 study in the Flexible Services and Manufacturing Journal used machine learning on AIS (the Automatic Identification System, which broadcasts a ship's position and identity) data to forecast vessel arrival times for berth scheduling, and built time buffers whose length depended on how reliable the forecast was ([Springer](https://doi.org/10.1007/s10696-022-09462-x)). Suppliers face the same uncertainty, one barge at a time. ## Read the anchorage queue before you re-quote The anchorage queue tells you more about the next 24 hours than the agent's latest ETA message does. Count what is waiting, and where. 1. **Split the queue by anchorage.** At Zhoushan, the outer anchorages and the inner ones behaved differently under the same typhoon, per [Hellenic Shipping News](https://www.hellenicshippingnews.com/typhoon-champi-causes-halt-in-bunker-operations-at-zhoushans-outer-anchorages/) (20 October 2026). A queue at a closed anchorage is not a queue you can serve. 2. **Note the direction of travel.** Congestion can ease and tighten in the same week. [The Loadstar](https://theloadstar.com/intra-asia-rates-soften-as-congestion-at-major-ports-begins-to-ease/) reported on 22 October 2026 that bottlenecks in major Chinese and other Asian ports were subsiding, while the same day it warned that Typhoon Champi could undo those gains ([The Loadstar](https://theloadstar.com/another-typhoon-threatens-recovery-of-east-asian-ports-from-congestion/)). 3. **Watch ports absorbing diverted calls.** Khor Fakkan was showing signs of strain after replacing Jebel Ali calls, according to [The Loadstar](https://theloadstar.com/gemini-relaunch-likely-to-add-to-congestion-pressure-at-khor-fakkan/) (14 October 2026). A port taking extra calls has a longer queue and tighter barge availability. 4. **Check whether the queue is weather-driven or demand-driven.** Weather clears; demand does not. Re-quote differently for each. ## A four-step re-quote routine Run the same four steps every time an ETA moves by more than a few hours. The point is to keep the conversation alive with a fresh, defensible number. ### 1. Confirm the new window with the party who controls it Ask the agent or the technical superintendent (the shore manager responsible for the vessel's machinery and stores) whether the new ETA is a berth window or an anchorage arrival. They are different commitments and lead to different barge plans. ### 2. Re-check the delivery point If the vessel will wait at an exposed anchorage, quote for the sheltered alternative or for delivery alongside. Say plainly which anchorage your quote assumes, so the buyer can compare like with like. ### 3. Re-base price validity, not the whole price Hold your fuel reference and restate the validity period against the new window. If the stem size changes because of extra waiting, quote the revised quantity as a separate line so the buyer sees what moved. ### 4. Send the revision in the same thread Keep the original quote reference, state what changed and why, and give a clear deadline for acceptance. A revision that arrives as a new document invites a fresh round of comparison shopping. ## What to do when the stem is at risk Some ETA changes are large enough that the original stem will not survive on price alone. In those cases, protect the relationship rather than the margin. - Offer a split delivery if the barge schedule allows it. - Confirm in writing which anchorage and which barge you are proposing. - Tell the buyer what would have to change for the original terms to apply again. - Log the reason for the change so the next quote for that operator starts from better assumptions. Volume trends at a port also shape how much flexibility you have. Gibraltar recorded 477 bunker calls in September 2026, up 11% on 431 in the same month a year earlier, according to Gibraltar Port Authority data reported by [Hellenic Shipping News](https://www.hellenicshippingnews.com/gibraltar-sees-busiest-september-for-bunker-calls-since-2021/) (22 October 2026). A busy port with a stable queue tolerates re-quotes better than a congested one with a barge shortage. Where the disruption is weather-led, the wider congestion picture is worth tracking alongside your own queue; our guide to [typhoon port congestion and what it means for suppliers](https://vesselreach.si/blog/typhoon-port-congestion-what-it-means-for-suppliers) covers how closures ripple through a region. When a berth window opens at short notice instead, the same-day quoting routine in [same-day quoting when a berth window opens](https://vesselreach.si/blog/same-day-quoting-when-a-berth-window-opens) applies. ## How VesselReach helps Re-quoting well depends on seeing the ETA move before the buyer tells you. VesselReach is a maritime sales intelligence and outreach platform built by CatalystIQ for bunker suppliers and other port service businesses. - **Scheduled and expected arrivals at your chosen ports:** you see vessels due at your anchorages and berths, which means you can re-open a quote when the window shifts rather than waiting for a chase email. - **AI company targeting and decision-maker discovery:** VesselReach identifies the right company behind each vessel and finds the operations, chartering and procurement contacts, which means your revision reaches the person who can accept it. - **Staged outreach on email, WhatsApp and phone with automated follow-ups:** your revised quote goes out on the channel the buyer uses, and a follow-up runs if there is no reply. Book a VesselReach demo to see the arrival view for your ports; a 10-day free trial follows the demo meeting. ## Key facts - According to Hellenic Shipping News (20 October 2026), Typhoon Champi forced a halt at Zhoushan's outer Tiaozhoumen and Xiazhimen anchorages, while operations continued at the sheltered Xiushandong and inner Mazhi anchorages. ([Hellenic Shipping News](https://www.hellenicshippingnews.com/typhoon-champi-causes-halt-in-bunker-operations-at-zhoushans-outer-anchorages/)) - According to Gibraltar Port Authority data reported by Hellenic Shipping News (22 October 2026), Gibraltar recorded 477 bunker calls in September 2026, up 11% on 431 in the same month a year earlier. ([Hellenic Shipping News](https://www.hellenicshippingnews.com/gibraltar-sees-busiest-september-for-bunker-calls-since-2021/)) - The Loadstar reported on 22 October 2026 that bottlenecks in major Chinese and other Asian ports were subsiding, while warning the same day that Typhoon Champi could undo those gains. ([The Loadstar](https://theloadstar.com/intra-asia-rates-soften-as-congestion-at-major-ports-begins-to-ease/)) - According to The Loadstar (14 October 2026), Khor Fakkan was showing signs of strain after replacing Jebel Ali calls. ([The Loadstar](https://theloadstar.com/gemini-relaunch-likely-to-add-to-congestion-pressure-at-khor-fakkan/)) - A 2022 study in the Flexible Services and Manufacturing Journal used machine learning on Automatic Identification System (AIS) data to forecast vessel arrival times for berth scheduling and built time buffers whose length depended on how reliable the forecast was. ([Flexible Services and Manufacturing Journal (Springer Science+Business Media)](https://doi.org/10.1007/s10696-022-09462-x)) ## Frequently asked questions ### How should a bunker supplier re-quote when a vessel's ETA changes? Confirm whether the new time is a berth window or an anchorage arrival, re-check the delivery point, restate price validity against the new window, and send the revision in the original thread with the same quote reference so the buyer can compare directly. ### Why do anchorage closures matter for a bunker quotation? A closed anchorage removes the delivery point your quote assumed. When Typhoon Champi halted operations at Zhoushan's outer Tiaozhoumen and Xiazhimen anchorages in October 2026, supply continued only at the sheltered inner anchorages, according to Hellenic Shipping News. ([Hellenic Shipping News](https://www.hellenicshippingnews.com/typhoon-champi-causes-halt-in-bunker-operations-at-zhoushans-outer-anchorages/)) ### How accurate are vessel arrival forecasts? Not exact. A 2022 study in the Flexible Services and Manufacturing Journal used machine learning on AIS data to predict arrival times and built time buffers whose length depended on the forecast's reliability, which is why suppliers should quote a window rather than a fixed hour. ([Flexible Services and Manufacturing Journal (Springer Science+Business Media)](https://doi.org/10.1007/s10696-022-09462-x)) ### Does port congestion always mean more re-quotes? Congestion raises the chance of ETA slippage, but the direction can change quickly. The Loadstar reported on 22 October 2026 that bottlenecks at major Asian ports were subsiding, while warning the same day that a new typhoon could reverse those gains. ([The Loadstar](https://theloadstar.com/intra-asia-rates-soften-as-congestion-at-major-ports-begins-to-ease/)) ### How can a bunker supplier spot an ETA change before the buyer calls? Track vessels near your ports plus scheduled and expected arrivals, and watch the anchorage queue split by anchorage. VesselReach shows arrivals at your chosen ports and identifies the company and decision-makers behind each vessel, so a revision can go out early. ## Sources 1. [Robust berth scheduling using machine learning for vessel arrival time prediction](https://doi.org/10.1007/s10696-022-09462-x), Flexible Services and Manufacturing Journal (Springer Science+Business Media), 2022-09-01 2. [Another typhoon threatens recovery of East Asian ports from congestion](https://theloadstar.com/another-typhoon-threatens-recovery-of-east-asian-ports-from-congestion/), The Loadstar, 2026-10-22 3. [Typhoon Champi causes halt in bunker operations at Zhoushan’s outer anchorages](https://www.hellenicshippingnews.com/typhoon-champi-causes-halt-in-bunker-operations-at-zhoushans-outer-anchorages/), Hellenic Shipping News, 2026-10-20 4. [Gibraltar sees busiest September for bunker calls since 2021](https://www.hellenicshippingnews.com/gibraltar-sees-busiest-september-for-bunker-calls-since-2021/), Hellenic Shipping News, 2026-10-22 5. [Gemini relaunch likely to add to congestion pressure at Khor Fakkan](https://theloadstar.com/gemini-relaunch-likely-to-add-to-congestion-pressure-at-khor-fakkan/), The Loadstar, 2026-10-14 6. [Intra-Asia rates soften as congestion at major ports begins to ease](https://theloadstar.com/intra-asia-rates-soften-as-congestion-at-major-ports-begins-to-ease/), The Loadstar, 2026-10-22 ## More on this topic A bunker quotation ETA change is simply a re-quote after the vessel's arrival window moves, and the supplier who answers it first usually keeps the stem. The practical routine is to read the anchorage queue before pricing anything: split it by anchorage, because exposed and sheltered areas can behave differently under the same weather, and check whether the queue is weather-driven or demand-driven. Then confirm whether the new time is a berth window or an anchorage arrival, re-check the delivery point, restate price validity against the new window, and send the revision in the original thread with the same quote reference. Arrival forecasts are never exact, so quote a window rather than a fixed hour. A bunker quotation ETA change is a re-quote triggered when a vessel's arrival window moves, and the supplier who re-prices fastest usually keeps the stem. Typhoon Champi showed why the anchorage matters: Zhoushan's exposed Tiaozhoumen and Xiazhimen anchorages halted bunker operations in October 2026 while the sheltered Xiushandong and inner Mazhi anchorages stayed open, per Hellenic Shipping News. The Loadstar noted Asian port bottlenecks easing on 22 October 2026 but warned the typhoon could reverse that, and flagged strain at Khor Fakkan after it absorbed Jebel Ali calls. VesselReach, built by CatalystIQ, is an AI-powered maritime sales intelligence and outreach platform for bunker suppliers, ship chandlers, port agents, repair yards and marine service companies; it shows scheduled and expected arrivals at chosen ports so a supplier can re-open a quote when the window shifts. --- VesselReach, built by CatalystIQ. CatalystIQ Data Classification and Analysis Services, Al Qusais, Dubai, P.O. Box 129882, United Arab Emirates. info@catalystiq.ae, +971 58 599 7894. Book a demo: https://vesselreach.si/#demo. Pricing: contact us for a quote (https://vesselreach.si/pricing).