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Demurrage & detention, before the invoice.
Enter your dates, free days and your shipping line's daily rates to see what a delay will cost, per container and in total, before it happens.
Three charges, three clocks
Demurrage runs while the full container sits in the terminal after its free time. Detention runs while you keep the container outside the terminal, until the empty is back at the depot. Port storage is a separate terminal charge and is not included here.
Bands rise. Most tariffs charge a higher daily rate the longer the box is held, so a few days' delay late in the cycle costs more than the same delay early on.
Free time is negotiable. Extra free days agreed at booking are usually cheaper than paying the tariff later, especially for cargo that needs inspection, testing or permits.
Read the full explanation in our guide Demurrage and detention explained. If your cargo needs permits on arrival in the UAE, see the UAE manifests and declarations guide.
Ask about free time on my laneFrequently asked questions
What is the difference between demurrage and detention?
Demurrage is charged for the time a full container stays in the terminal after its free time. Detention is charged for the time the container is kept outside the terminal, from gate-out until the empty is returned, after its free time. Some lines combine both into a single merged free time.
How are demurrage and detention days counted?
Most tariffs count calendar days, including weekends and holidays, and often include the day of discharge. Chargeable days are the days used minus the free days, usually billed in rising daily rate bands. Check your shipping line's tariff and your contract for the exact rules.
How can I reduce demurrage and detention charges?
Have customs documents ready before arrival, agree free time when booking, plan delivery and unloading in advance, and return empties promptly to the depot named on the delivery order.
Further reading: US Federal Maritime Commission rules on detention and demurrage billing; BIMCO and DCSA industry standards.
Guides on this topic
Demurrage and Detention Explained: Free Time, Charges and Control
The difference between demurrage, detention and port storage, how free time is counted, and the planning habits that keep container charges under control.
OCEAN FREIGHTFCL vs LCL: How to Choose the Right Ocean Freight Option
Revenue tonnes, CFS charges, cube utilisation and dwell time: a practical framework for deciding between full and shared container loads.
CUSTOMSUAE Cargo Manifests and Customs Declarations: A Guide for Importers and Exporters
Sea, air, land and courier manifests in the UAE, how they link to import, export, transit and free zone declarations, and the permits each goods category needs.
Know businesses that import or export?
Refer them to Apex Ocean Lines. We quote, book and manage the freight, and you earn commission on the shipments they move with us. Open to referral partners, sales agents and overseas forwarders.
Indicative estimate only, using the rates you enter. Your shipping line's tariff, contract terms and invoices prevail; port storage charges are separate. Legal disclaimer With your permission we keep anonymous, cookieless usage statistics for our tools: Privacy.