GlossaryEN1 min readUpdated: Jun 18, 2026
Wharfage Fees
Wharfage fees appear as a standard line item in port tariffs: port authorities or dock operators charge them for access to and use of quay facilities during the loading and unloading of oceangoing cargo.
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Source: https://www.marineinsight.com/glossary/wharfage/
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Wharfage fees appear as a standard line item in port tariffs: port authorities or dock operators charge them for access to and use of quay facilities during the loading and unloading of oceangoing cargo. Depending on the port, the charge is calculated per vessel call, by gross tonnage, or based on cargo throughput volume. Rates differ widely across ports and cargo types. Wharfage fees should not be confused with demurrage, which is a penalty for detaining a vessel beyond the agreed laytime—wharfage is an infrastructure use charge, not a contractual penalty. Freight forwarders include them in the fixed port cost block when quoting total shipment costs.
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