U.S. Import Demurrage

Demurrage is the daily charge assessed to the shipper for use of the land and equipment services provided at the carrier’s load/discharge port, or inland container yard (CY) facility, when the cargo remains in such facilities beyond the permitted free time as stipulated per tariff or contract. At rail ramps where Carrier allows storage to be paid directly to facilities for land use according to the ramp’s terms and conditions, Carrier demurrage is the daily charge assessed to the shipper for use of equipment only when the cargo remains in such facilities beyond the permitted free time as stipulated per tariff or contract. Working days are used to calculate free time, whereas calendar days are used to calculate days and charges beyond free time.

The purposes of the Carrier’s policies regarding Demurrage include incentivizing shippers and consignees to pick up cargo, offset additional costs that the event has imposed on the carrier that are beyond its reasonable control, covering the additional cost of keeping the cargo safe and secure once free time has expired, incentivizing shippers and consignees to not wait until the last day of free time to pick up cargo, to promote the use of terminal appointments, and other reasons that might be dictated by various factual situations from time.

When a facility is closed for a full working day during the freetime period, the day will not count against the cargo freetime. Partial day closures are considered as a full working day and count towards freetime. When freetime expires, Maersk will bill demurrage for each day irrespective of whether the facility is open or closed, given the full freetime period was given to pickup the cargo.

Carrier will make best efforts to provide an arrival notice to the Consignee and Notify Parties prior to vessel arrival to assist parties with preparing for cargo pickup. Container tracking information is available on maersk.com indicating when a container discharges the vessel, and an online demurrage tool on maersk.com identifies when freetime has started and the last freeday for each container. Parties must check with the terminal location for all terminal pickup procedures and to validate cargo is available for pickup. Maersk’s terminal partner websites can be found on our United States webpage.

Freetime

Freetime will commence the first 0800 on the first business day following discharge of the container at an ocean terminal, or arrival of a container at a rail ramp or an inland CY (owned or contracted by Carrier), except as follows.

Applicable to CY delivery cargo at rail ramps for equipment use only. 

CSX Rail Ramps

Rail Ramps Except CSX

Charges per calendar day after free-time except as otherwise noted below:

Exceptions to above:

APM Terminal in Port Elizabeth New Jersey, PNCT (Port Newark Container Terminal), Global Terminal Jersey City, Maher Newark Terminal, Global Container Terminal, Bayonne, New Jersey and Howland Hook, Staten Island, New York.

Charges per calendar day after free-time:

Charges per calendar day for use of equipment at rail ramps, applicable to CY delivery cargo

Notes:

1. Dispute Procedures
   • Demurrage disputes for U.S. shipments can be raised by:
     • For cargo prior to pickup, contact amrnamrelease@sealandmaersk.com
     • For cargo after pickup, through our website maersk.com in the MyFinance section
   • In the event you wish to change the party invoiced, please e-mail customerservice@sealandmaersk.com for assistance.
   • When registering a dispute, please include the shipment number, container number, and a detailed description of the dispute including the applicable service contract number if pertinent to the claim. For disputes involving a change of paying party, written confirmation from the party who will pay is needed.
   • Disputes must be submitted to Maersk within 30 days of the invoice date. We will provide feedback on your dispute within 5 business days of receipt.
2. Shipper shall be responsible for any demurrage charges due for store door moves except where delay to pickup is caused by the Carrier or Carrier’s selected truck provider (does not apply when Shipper selects trucker). In addition, the below must be in place by noon two business days prior to the expiration of free time:
   (a) Shipper must satisfy all freight charges and secure all U.S. Customs or other Government Agency releases.
   (b) Shipper must submit properly endorsed original bills of lading to the Carrier when negotiable bills of lading are involved.
   (c) Shipper must provide a complete delivery order to the Carrier.
3. Government inspections and quarantine are not the responsibility of the Carrier, however such acts impose costs on the Carrier including equipment cost and may include storage costs. For cargo in containers removed from the carrier's terminal or container yard for governmental inspection or quarantine at an off-site location, cargo freetime and demurrage, as applicable, will cease on the day the container is removed from the carrier's terminal or container yard, and equipment free time and detention provisions, otherwise applicable to the equipment, shall commence. Equipment freetime and detention rules shall continue to apply until the empty carrier’s equipment is returned to carrier. Shipper shall be responsible for any demurrage charges accrued prior to the removal of the cargo from the carrier's terminal or container yard.
   
   In the event that cargo in containers is returned to the carrier's terminal or container yard subsequent to an off-site governmental inspection or quarantine, equipment freetime and detention shall cease, and a new cargo freetime shall commence, the applicable demurrage provisions shall apply thereafter. Any detention charges accrued prior to the return of the cargo to the carrier's terminal or container yard shall be for the account of cargo.
4. Shipments not removed from carrier's terminal within the free time period may, at any time thereafter at the option of the carrier or governmental agency, be placed in public storage at the full risk and expense to the consignee. All demurrage charges which may have accrued prior to removal from carrier's terminal shall be assessed and collected from the consignee.
5. In the event that shipper or its agent instructs carrier to divert and re-consign the shipment to a port or point, or to a consignee other than shown on the original bill of lading, diversion rules and charges shall apply. All demurrage charges which may have accrued prior to such instructions shall be assessed and collected from the party who instructs the carrier.
6. Carrier reserves the right to move equipment from the rail ramp or ocean terminal to a container yard within the same geographic area at the carrier's discretion. If carrier elects to perform this dray, it will not charge the merchant for such dray. Regardless of whether carrier makes this election, free time shall still be calculated based on the original start date of the equipment at the rail ramp or ocean terminal.
7. Demurrage will not be assessed on shipments if incurred due to carrier's error.
8. When shipments are delayed by reason of any government agency requirements, including but not limited to, delays in processing documentation, inspections as required by Customs or any other government or federal agency, or any other issue that may arise beyond the control of the carrier, all accrued demurrage/detention/per-diem charges will for the account of the cargo.