Demurrage and detention at Mundra: how to avoid them

Container charges at Mundra rarely come from one big mistake. They build up quietly, a day at a time, while a box waits for documents, an examination slot or a truck. Knowing where free time is lost is the first step to keeping it.

Who charges what

• Detention is charged by the shipping line when you keep its container beyond the agreed free days.
• Ground rent is charged by the terminal or the container freight station for storing the container on their premises.
• Some lines use demurrage for container time inside the terminal and detention for time outside it. Check the terms on your booking, because the clocks and rates differ.

Where the days go

1. Late documents: the Bill of Entry cannot be assessed until the papers are in order.
2. CFS nomination: a container routed to a CFS you did not plan for can add moves and charges.
3. Examination: if customs selects the box, the slot and the attendance must be arranged quickly.
4. Transport: cargo cleared on a Friday with no truck booked can sit until Monday.
5. Empty return: detention runs until the empty container is back at the line's yard.

Five habits that keep charges down

• File the Bill of Entry before the vessel arrives, so assessment starts early.
• Agree the CFS nomination with the line before arrival, while it can still be changed.
• Book examination slots as soon as the box is selected, and have someone there in person.
• Line up trucks for the day of Out of Charge, not the day after.
• Return empties promptly and keep the interchange receipt as proof of the return time.

Negotiate free time up front

For regular volumes, extra free days can often be agreed with the line when the booking is made. It is far easier to win them before shipment than to dispute charges afterwards.

How Globelink helps

We run clearance, CFS work and transport as one plan, so each step starts as soon as the last one ends. Read about our container freight station service, our customs clearance and our road haulage from Mundra.