Container availability.visibility before branch is merged to development/master

Summary

Question regarding Request to update an application in Iron Bank.

Version: 24.4.0

Question: When I create a new branch I should ensure that pipeline pass and then provide justifications in VAT. But on this stage the container is not publicly available and the new container tags are not visible, right? So that by tag "latest" users still get the previous version. Does it become publicly available after the branch is merged to development/master? The question arises because I would like to prepare a RC build container, make VAT justifications etc. to publish it faster after the application is ready for release, but I would like to make sure it is not available before the actual release date.

Thanks in advance.