Demurrage and Detention
Daily charges for keeping a container at the terminal or outside it beyond the free time allowed by the carrier.
TL;DR: Demurrage is charged when a full container stays at the terminal too long. Detention is charged when the container is kept outside the terminal too long before being returned.
Carriers give a set number of free days for each container. Once those days run out, daily fees start and often increase the longer the delay lasts. The exact free time and rates depend on the carrier, port and contract, and some carriers combine the two into one allowance.
Demurrage usually applies at the destination when a container has been discharged but not picked up, often because of missing documents, unpaid duties, a customs hold or delayed payment to release the bill of lading. Detention applies after pickup, while the container sits at the buyer’s site or warehouse and has not yet been returned empty. At origin, similar charges can apply if a container is collected early and held at the factory.
These fees can add up quickly, so plan ahead. Arrange customs clearance documents before the vessel arrives, pay the supplier’s balance in time for a telex release or original bill of lading, and book trucking and unloading labor early.
Heavy crates of glass mosaic may need a forklift or extra crew to unload. Make sure the site is ready so the container can be emptied and returned quickly. You can also ask your forwarder to negotiate extra free days when booking. See Telex Release and Customs Clearance.