Demurrage

How it is used

A daily charge that grows the longer the container waits, often because of missing documents or slow customs clearance. It is often confused with detention, which is charged when the container is kept outside the port. Importers negotiate 'free time' to keep it low.

Example sentences

1. We paid four days of demurrage because the original bill of lading arrived late.

2. The line gives us 14 free days before demurrage starts.

Common collocations

• demurrage charges
• free time before demurrage
• pay demurrage
• demurrage and detention

Related terms

• containerA large metal box of standard size used to carry goods by ship, rail and truck without unloading the cargo when the transport mode changes.
• port of dischargeThe port where the goods are unloaded from the vessel at the end of the sea journey; shortened to POD.
• customs clearanceThe process of completing all customs formalities and paying any duties so that goods are allowed to leave or enter a country.
• telex releaseAn instruction from the shipping line to its office at destination to deliver the cargo without original bills of lading, because the originals were surrendered at the port of loading.

This word in other fields

The same English word can have a different meaning in another field:

• demurrage · Maritime & Shipping
• demurrage · Logistics & Supply Chain

More terms: Shipping and Transport

• freight forwarder
• shipment
• shipper
• freight
• port of loading
• FCL
• LCL
• cargo insurance
• transshipment
• partial shipment
• ETA