D&D
Charges & surchargesDemurrage and Detention
Two kinds of penalty charges a shipping line bills when a container is kept longer than the free time allowed.
In practice
Demurrage applies while the loaded container is still inside the terminal (or on the vessel) beyond the free days granted after discharge; detention applies once the container has left the terminal and is returned late, or when a shipper holds a line's container or equipment past free time. Free time is usually 3-7 days, and the tariff is charged per container per day, often escalating after the first tier. Charges are billed by the carrier, sometimes through the terminal, and are frequently disputed or partially waived for port congestion, strikes or customs holds.
Seen in the wild
Please release the containers before 12 May — D&D starts at USD 95/day/40'HC from day 6.
Watch out
People use demurrage and detention interchangeably: demurrage is time inside the terminal, detention is time the container spends outside it.