What the Final Interpretive Rule by the FMC on demurrage and detention says
The issue of what the Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) may consider in assessing whether a demurrage or detention practice is unjust or unreasonable has seemingly been put to rest with FMC having the final word..
On the 28th of April 2020, the FMC issued its final rule on its interpretation of the Shipping Act prohibition against failing to establish, observe, and enforce just and reasonable regulations and practices relating to or connected with receiving, handling, storing, or delivering property with respect to demurrage and detention..
Why Demurrage & Detention fees are killing ocean shippers
International trade continues to experience growing pains related to demurrage and detention charges.
Unfortunately, global transport interpretations result in an assumption that these terms are interchangeable.
Depending on the origin and destination, they have different meanings, especially in the U.S. In fact, the Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) took the exuberant step to eliminate confusion and streamline port management.
While beneficial, the new interpretive rule still leaves room for error, notes FleetOwner, lacking the force of legally bound duties.
To avoid an assumption of decreased demurrage and detention fees and keep ocean freight spend under control, shippers need to understand their real impacts and how these fees amount to significant issues in the global supply chain.
FMC calls for public comment on demurrage and detention
Demurrage and Detention has been a bone of contention between shipping lines and customers for several years..
Shipping lines have been charging demurrage and detention costs on containers that the customers do not pick up or turn in on time, a situation that prevents shipping lines from utilising their equipment effectively..
Customers (importers mainly) on the other hand have been complaining about shipping lines using unfair practices when charging demurrage and detention even if the fault is not on their side..
Maybe there is truth on both sides and in terms of this issue, the Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) is not leaving anything to chance..
The FMC has called for public comment on its Interpretive Rule on Demurrage and Detention under the Shipping Act and in assessing just and reasonable regulations and practices relating to demurrage and detention charges..
Correlation between demurrage, detention and freight rates
Demurrage and Detention – two terms that may be at the top of the most controversial charges levied by shipping lines..
While shipping lines may consider demurrage and detention a necessary evil, importers and exporters around the world may beg to differ..
A question that one of the readers raised was
Is there a correlation between demurrage and detention and freight rates..??
FMC’s Demurrage and Detention Charges investigation completed
As you maybe aware, the Federal Maritime Commission initiated investigation, Fact Finding 28, in March 2018 to look into the question whether demurrage and detention charges in the shipping industry were justified..
Industry stakeholders raised a petition to address the question whether demurrage and detention fees charged to shippers for storing containers and using equipment beyond the carrier’s or terminal’s allowed “free time” were just and reasonable..
This question arose on the back of demurrage and detention charges levied by the port, terminal and shipping lines to the shippers especially in the key USA gateways of Los-Angeles/Long Beach on the West Coast and New York-New Jersey on the East Coast..
Here are the results of the investigation and its findings..
How does demurrage, detention and port charges work..??
Even though there are distinct differences between demurrage, detention and port charges, many are still oblivious to these differences and there have been several questions on this blog relating to these charges..
Let me explain how demurrage, detention and port charges work..
Executive Insights: Portrix Logistic Software’s Global Head of Marketing, Christian Sørensen, on rate volatility, small shippers, and more…
Shippers are becoming increasingly active stakeholders in the logistics business, forcing carriers and forwarders to adapt. Portrix Logistic Software’s Global Head of Marketing, Christian Sørensenon, talks to Shipping and Freight Resource about the changing shipping landscape and provides tips for shippers and logistics companies to stay ahead of the curve.
Causes of Demurrage and Detention
In one my previous articles (which is also the MOST READ article on this site) I explained the Difference between Demurrage and Detention..
After reading this, a few of my readers have asked me to explain the causes of demurrage and detention..
There are several reasons a container(s) can incur demurrage and/or detention or combined demurrage and detention.. Here are some of the major reasons..
What is the difference between a shipper owned container and carrier owned container ??
What is the difference between a shipper owned container and a carrier owned container..??
A shipper owned container is a container owned by the shipper of the goods and a carrier owned container is a container owned by a carrier..
But the question may be a bit deeper than just the difference in definition between the two.. Let’s see..
Are demurrage and detention charges justified..??
Are demurrage and detention charges justified..??
No this is not my question..!!
This is a question that has arisen on the back of rising demurrage and detention charges incurred due to port and terminal congestion at key USA gateways such as Los-Angeles/Long Beach on the West Coast and New York-New Jersey on the East Coast..
Are demurrage and detention charges paid by the shippers to the ports, terminal and shipping lines justified especially in light of the port congestion..??