diff --git a/config_src/mct_driver/ocn_comp_mct.F90 b/config_src/mct_driver/ocn_comp_mct.F90
index 5b581e0427..a7495d7a7f 100644
--- a/config_src/mct_driver/ocn_comp_mct.F90
+++ b/config_src/mct_driver/ocn_comp_mct.F90
@@ -109,8 +109,9 @@ subroutine ocn_init_mct( EClock, cdata_o, x2o_o, o2x_o, NLFilename )
   type(mct_aVect)             , intent(inout) :: o2x_o       !< Fluxes from ocean to coupler, computed by ocean
   character(len=*), optional  , intent(in)    :: NLFilename  !< Namelist filename
 
-  !  local variables
-  type(time_type)         :: time0                !< Model start time
+  !  local variable
+  type(time_type)         :: time0                !< Start time of coupled model's calendar.
+  type(time_type)         :: time_start           !< The time at which to initialize the ocean model
   type(ESMF_time)         :: time_var             !< ESMF_time variable to query time
   type(ESMF_time)         :: time_in_ESMF         !< Initial time for ocean
   type(ESMF_timeInterval) :: ocn_cpl_interval     !< Ocean coupling interval
@@ -202,11 +203,16 @@ subroutine ocn_init_mct( EClock, cdata_o, x2o_o, o2x_o, NLFilename )
 
   call set_calendar_type(NOLEAP)  !TODO: confirm this
 
-  ! Get the initial time
-  call ESMF_ClockGet(EClock, currTime=time_var, rc=rc)
+  ! Get start time
+  call ESMF_ClockGet(EClock, StartTime=time_var, rc=rc)
   call ESMF_TimeGet(time_var, yy=year, mm=month, dd=day, h=hour, m=minute, s=seconds, rc=rc)
   time0 = set_date(year, month, day, hour, minute, seconds, err_msg=err_msg)
 
+  ! Get current time
+  call ESMF_ClockGet(EClock, currTime=time_var, rc=rc)
+  call ESMF_TimeGet(time_var, yy=year, mm=month, dd=day, h=hour, m=minute, s=seconds, rc=rc)
+  time_start = set_date(year, month, day, hour, minute, seconds, err_msg=err_msg)
+
   ! Debugging clocks
   if (debug .and. is_root_pe()) then
     write(glb%stdout,*) 'ocn_init_mct, current time: y,m,d-',year,month,day,'h,m,s=',hour,minute,seconds
@@ -279,7 +285,7 @@ subroutine ocn_init_mct( EClock, cdata_o, x2o_o, o2x_o, NLFilename )
   runtype = get_runtype()
   if (runtype == "initial") then
     ! startup (new run) - 'n' is needed below since we don't specify input_filename in input.nml
-    call ocean_model_init(glb%ocn_public, glb%ocn_state, time0, time0, input_restart_file = 'n')
+    call ocean_model_init(glb%ocn_public, glb%ocn_state, time0, time_start, input_restart_file = 'n')
   else  ! hybrid or branch or continuos runs
     ! get output path root
     call seq_infodata_GetData( glb%infodata, outPathRoot=restartpath )
@@ -295,7 +301,7 @@ subroutine ocn_init_mct( EClock, cdata_o, x2o_o, o2x_o, NLFilename )
       write(glb%stdout,*) 'Reading restart file: ',trim(restartfile)
     end if
     call shr_file_freeUnit(nu)
-    call ocean_model_init(glb%ocn_public, glb%ocn_state, time0, time0, input_restart_file=trim(restartfile))
+    call ocean_model_init(glb%ocn_public, glb%ocn_state, time0, time_start, input_restart_file=trim(restartfile))
   endif
   if (is_root_pe()) then
     write(glb%stdout,'(/12x,a/)') '======== COMPLETED MOM INITIALIZATION ========'
diff --git a/config_src/nuopc_driver/mom_cap.F90 b/config_src/nuopc_driver/mom_cap.F90
index d6a7837c83..aa034e7d36 100644
--- a/config_src/nuopc_driver/mom_cap.F90
+++ b/config_src/nuopc_driver/mom_cap.F90
@@ -737,8 +737,9 @@ subroutine InitializeAdvertise(gcomp, importState, exportState, clock, rc)
   type(ice_ocean_boundary_type), pointer :: Ice_ocean_boundary => NULL()
   type(ocean_internalstate_wrapper)      :: ocean_internalstate
   type(ocean_grid_type),         pointer :: ocean_grid => NULL()
-  type(time_type)                        :: Run_len      ! length of experiment
-  type(time_type)                        :: Time
+  type(time_type)                        :: Run_len      !< length of experiment
+  type(time_type)                        :: time0        !< Start time of coupled model's calendar.
+  type(time_type)                        :: time_start   !< The time at which to initialize the ocean model
   type(time_type)                        :: Time_restart
   type(time_type)                        :: DT
   integer                                :: DT_OCEAN
@@ -841,7 +842,31 @@ subroutine InitializeAdvertise(gcomp, importState, exportState, clock, rc)
 
   ! this ocean connector will be driven at set interval
   DT = set_time (DT_OCEAN, 0)
-  Time = set_date (YEAR,MONTH,DAY,HOUR,MINUTE,SECOND)
+  ! get current time
+  time_start = set_date (YEAR,MONTH,DAY,HOUR,MINUTE,SECOND)
+
+  if (is_root_pe()) then
+    write(logunit,*) subname//'current time: y,m,d-',year,month,day,'h,m,s=',hour,minute,second
+  endif
+
+  ! get start/reference time
+  call ESMF_ClockGet(CLOCK, refTime=MyTime, RC=rc)
+  if (ESMF_LogFoundError(rcToCheck=rc, msg=ESMF_LOGERR_PASSTHRU, &
+    line=__LINE__, &
+    file=__FILE__)) &
+    return  ! bail out
+
+  call ESMF_TimeGet (MyTime, YY=YEAR, MM=MONTH, DD=DAY, H=HOUR, M=MINUTE, S=SECOND, RC=rc )
+  if (ESMF_LogFoundError(rcToCheck=rc, msg=ESMF_LOGERR_PASSTHRU, &
+    line=__LINE__, &
+    file=__FILE__)) &
+    return  ! bail out
+
+  time0 = set_date (YEAR,MONTH,DAY,HOUR,MINUTE,SECOND)
+
+  if (is_root_pe()) then
+    write(logunit,*) subname//'start time: y,m,d-',year,month,day,'h,m,s=',hour,minute,second
+  endif
 
   ! rsd need to figure out how to get this without share code
   !call shr_nuopc_get_component_instance(gcomp, inst_suffix, inst_index)
@@ -970,11 +995,7 @@ subroutine InitializeAdvertise(gcomp, importState, exportState, clock, rc)
   endif
 
   ocean_public%is_ocean_pe = .true.
-  if (len_trim(restartfile) > 0) then
-     call ocean_model_init(ocean_public, ocean_state, Time, Time, input_restart_file=trim(restartfile))
-  else
-     call ocean_model_init(ocean_public, ocean_state, Time, Time)
-  endif
+  call ocean_model_init(ocean_public, ocean_state, time0, time_start, input_restart_file=trim(restartfile))
 
   call ocean_model_init_sfc(ocean_state, ocean_public)