The port of discharge — sometimes called the port of unloading — is the port where the container or cargo is discharged by a shipper (i.e. where a ship or aircraft unloads its goods). At a port of discharge, a vessel will voluntarily offload part or all of its cargo to the respective consignee or recipient. The port of discharge may also be the port of destination, though this is not always the case for every importing shipment or shipping company.