Demurrage
& Detention
Free time and charge structures for containers at terminal or off-terminal. Aligned with TMC’s global equipment and storage policy.
Equipment Usage
Transparent Policies
Demurrage & detention tariffs set the cost of using containers and terminal space beyond agreed free time. This page centralises TMC’s D&D structures by country and port.
- ■ Free Time at Origin/Destination
- ■ Demurrage (Inside Terminal)
- ■ Detention (Outside Terminal)
Storage Time
Terminal • Depot •
Off-Dock Rules
Key Concepts
Aligning definitions with industry standards to avoid ambiguity.
Free Time
The number of days included in the freight product during which containers can stay at the terminal or be kept by the customer without charges.
Demurrage
Charges applied when full or empty containers stay inside the port or terminal beyond free time. Linked to yard occupancy.
Detention
Charges applied when containers remain outside the terminal (at customer premises or inland depots) beyond the allowed usage period.
Storage Fees
In some locations, storage at terminal or depot is charged separately from demurrage.
Scope
Applicability rules for weekends, holidays, and terminal closures in day counting.
Product Linkage
Special terms for premium services, reefer cargo, and long-term contracts.
Tariff Publication
D&D tariffs are published per country, port, direction, and equipment type.
Drill-Down
Country → Port → Equipment Type.
Tiers
Charge tiers by day ranges (e.g., Days 1-5, 6-10).
Validity
Clear effective dates and currency per location.
Ghana • Tema (Import)
- Free Time 5 Days
- Days 6-10 $XX / Day
- Days 11+ $XXX / Day
- Currency USD
* Illustrative values for 40′ Dry.
Import Timeline
Understanding Charges
In this scenario, demurrage applies from Day 6 until pickup, and detention applies from Day 9 until the empty container is returned.
- • Exact counting depends on local tariff rules.
- • Weekends/Holidays inclusion varies by port.
- • Check My TMC for specific shipment terms.