What Are Detention and Demurrage Charges in Ocean Freight?

Detention and demurrage are key cost considerations in international shipping, and understanding the difference between them is essential for avoiding unnecessary fees.

Demurrage is charged when a container remains at the terminal beyond the allotted free time. For import shipments, this occurs when containers aren't picked up promptly after discharge. For exports, demurrage applies if a loaded container arrives too early or misses its scheduled vessel, occupying terminal space.

Detention refers to charges when a container is kept outside the terminal too long. For imports, it applies if the empty container is not returned on time after pickup. For exports, detention begins when the shipper holds an empty container too long before returning it filled for loading.

These fees vary widely by port, terminal, and carrier—and they're anything but static. Each carrier publishes its own D&D tariff structures, which are frequently updated. Even within the same port, different terminals can impose different fee schedules and free time policies. This makes it challenging for logistics teams to keep up and plan accurately.

Our platform solves this by continuously tracking detention and demurrage rules across carriers, ports, and terminals, giving you real-time visibility into the latest fee structures without manually chasing down rate sheets or port notices.