What “Pending Vessel” Really Means on CMA CGM Tracking

Quick answer: “Pending” is a placeholder state, not a diagnosis. It usually means a voyage or leg is not yet confirmed in customer facing data, or that the first actual vessel events have not posted. When Load on Vessel or Departure Actual arrives, the page replaces placeholders with named vessels and timestamps. Note that “Pending” also appears as part of a terminal name in Malaysia. Do not confuse that proper noun with a status.

Where CMA CGM shows “pending”

Schedules and service PDFs. Some schedule lines show “Pending” where dates or calls are not yet confirmed. This is a placeholder for planning.
Shipment view before transmission. The shipment page may look blank or show planned values until data is transmitted after sail off. That is normal behavior before the first actual events.
Proper noun caveat. “Pending Terminal” in Kuching, Sarawak is a real terminal name. It is not a status.

Map “pending” to standardized milestones

Planned or Estimated stage. Vessel name or date can change. A “pending” cell in a schedule reflects this pre actual state.
Actual stage begins. The pending state clears once Load on Vessel and the first Departure Actual post. Downstream data firms up after that.

What flips a pending state

Allocation to a named voyage. A schedule shows a vessel and rotation rather than a placeholder.
Load on Vessel actual. Confirms the box is on the ship.
Vessel departure actual. Confirms the leg has started and recalculates ETA.

Practical steps when you see a pending state

Check Voyage Finder. Confirm the intended vessel and window while the shipment page is in a pending state.
Wait for post sailing transmission. Recheck after one business day. That covers the typical transmission window.
Enable alerts. Turn on notifications for the BL or container so you catch the first actual milestone.
Validate identifiers. If “pending” persists well after sail off, confirm your BL or container number and contact support.

Realistic example

A feeder departs at origin overnight. The mainline assignment is not yet visible in the shipment view. A schedule PDF shows “Pending” on a transfer line for the next leg. Six to eight working hours after the feeder departure posts as an actual, the shipment view updates with “shipped on board” and a named mainline vessel for the next leg.

What could still be confusing

“Pending” does not always signal a roll. It often reflects normal planning and data handoffs. Read the next expected actual event. That is the real transition out of the pending state.

Methods and sources

Method: Decode “pending” using standardized event classes. Cross check with CMA CGM schedule artifacts and Customer Essentials guidance on when data becomes visible. Link to the official tools readers use daily.

DCSA glossary of terms: dcsa.org/standards/shipping-glossary
DCSA Track and Trace standard overview: dcsa.org/standards/track-and-trace
CMA CGM tracking: cma-cgm.com/ebusiness/tracking
CMA CGM Voyage Finder: cma-cgm.com/ebusiness/schedules/voyage
CMA CGM Customer Essentials examples with “usually transmitted 8 working hours after the vessel sails” and notifications:
Schedule artifacts showing “Pending” placeholders for calls or dates:
- Ocean Alliance FAL 1 service PDF
Proper noun caveat, example:
- “Pending Terminal” in Kuching, Malaysia

Next steps

See vessel assignments across carriers in one place. Try our tracking page. Need alerts when a pending state flips to loaded or departed. Talk to us.

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