Detention
Detention is a daily fee the shipping line charges when you keep its container outside the port or terminal longer than the free time.
In plain words
For imports, detention usually starts when the full container leaves the port, and stops when you return the empty container to the depot named by the line. For exports, it covers the time between picking up the empty container and bringing it back full to the terminal.
Detention is different from demurrage. Demurrage is for time inside the port; detention is for time outside it. Some lines combine both into one charge with one set of free days (D&D). To avoid detention, unload the container quickly and return it on time, to the right depot.
Example from real shipping
An importer collects a full container from the port on Monday. The line gives 5 free days for detention. The warehouse is full, so unloading waits until Friday, and the empty container goes back the next Wednesday, 9 days after pickup. The importer pays 4 days of detention.
Related terms
- DemurrageDemurrage is a fee the shipping line charges when a full container stays at the port longer than the free time. The fee is charged per day.
- Free timeFree time is the number of days you can use a container, or keep it at the port, without paying extra charges.
- StorageStorage is a fee for keeping cargo or a container at a port, terminal, airport, or warehouse. It is usually charged per day after a free period.
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Request a QuoteThis glossary is general information, not legal or customs advice. Rules, fees, and practice can differ by carrier, port, and country.