About time, vessel determines to go back (6)
I believe the answer is:
return
'to go back' is the definition.
(synonyms)
'about time vessel' is the wordplay.
'about time' becomes 'ret' (I've seen this in other clues).
'vessel' becomes 'urn' (urn is a kind of vessel).
'ret'+'urn'='RETURN'
'determines' is the link.
(Other definitions for return that I've seen before include "Such a ticket brings you back" , "reply" , "get back to original state" , "Send/come back" , "Homecoming" .)