Demurrage
A charge for leaving a container inside the terminal beyond its free time.
Demurrage runs while the box is still in the port. It is the terminal's way of pricing the space, and it starts the moment your free time expires — typically three to seven days at destination.
It is frequently caused by paperwork rather than logistics: a late filing, an original bill of lading still in transit, a certificate awaiting legalisation. The clock does not pause because the delay was not your fault.
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