GlossaryEN1 min readUpdated: Jun 26, 2026
Detention
Detention charges arise once a container has left the port or terminal and the agreed free time for its off-site use has expired.
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Source: https://www.investopedia.com/terms/d/detention.asp
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Definition & Explanation
Detention charges arise once a container has left the port or terminal and the agreed free time for its off-site use has expired. From that point on, the shipping line or equipment lessor levies daily fees that typically escalate with each additional day. In ocean freight, detention is one of the most common sources of unexpected cost overruns; freight forwarders play a key role in alerting clients before free time lapses. The distinction with demurrage is clear-cut: demurrage applies while the container sits at the terminal awaiting collection, detention applies once it has been collected but not yet returned. Both charges can run concurrently on the same shipment, and neither should be conflated with storage fees charged by off-dock warehouse operators.
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