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The three charges — and why they are different
South African importers frequently use "demurrage" as a catch-all for any container penalty. That is a costly mistake. There are three distinct charges, each with its own billing party, clock, and dispute process. Mixing them up means you chase the wrong invoice and lose the argument.
| Charge | Who bills you | Where the container is | Clock starts | Clock stops |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Demurrage | Shipping line (e.g. Maersk, MSC, CMA CGM) | Inside the terminal, still full | After carrier free days expire (post-discharge) | Gate-out (container leaves terminal) |
| Detention | Shipping line | Outside the terminal (at your warehouse or depot), full or empty | Gate-out (when container leaves terminal) | Gate-in at nominated empty-return depot |
| Terminal storage | Transnet Port Terminals (TPT) — billed via the clearing agent | Inside the terminal, still full | After TPT free days expire (currently 3 days at all TPT terminals, effective 1 April 2025) | Gate-out |
How free days work — carrier vs TPT
Every shipping line grants a number of free days — a grace period after the vessel discharges during which no demurrage accrues. Typical carrier free days for South Africa range from 4 to 14 days depending on the line, the trade lane, and whether you have a volume contract. Some lines bundle demurrage and detention into a single combined free-time pool; others run separate clocks. Always confirm with your freight forwarder before the vessel sails.
TPT operates its own, separate free-time regime. Effective 1 April 2025, TPT cut the standard free period at all of its terminals (Durban, Cape Town, Port Elizabeth/Gqeberha, Ngqura/Coega) from 3.25 days to 3 calendar days from the date of availability. That quarter-day reduction sounds small but, against Durban's chronic congestion, it means many consignments that previously scraped through in three-plus days now exceed the threshold and trigger a storage invoice automatically.
Typical Rand rates and how they escalate
Carrier demurrage tariffs are not fixed by law. Each line publishes its own tariff and rate cards change frequently. The figures below are illustrative of the general market range in 2026 — always request the current tariff from the shipping line or your freight forwarder before relying on any number.
| Period | 20ft (TEU) — illustrative | 40ft (FEU) — illustrative |
|---|---|---|
| Free days (carrier typical) | R0/day | R0/day |
| Days 1–5 over free | R400–R600/day | R600–R900/day |
| Days 6–10 over free | R800–R1,200/day | R1,200–R1,800/day |
| Day 11+ over free | R1,500–R2,500/day | R2,500–R4,000/day |
TPT storage tariffs follow a similar escalating pattern published in their port charges schedule. Figures are quoted in ZAR and reviewed periodically. In 2026 the daily TPT storage rate for a standard 20ft container starts at approximately R320–R400/day (first tier) rising to R700+ for extended overstays — verify the current schedule at Transnet National Ports Authority or via your clearing agent.
Worked example — a R-cost build-up
Consider a 40ft container arriving at Durban. The carrier grants 7 free days from the date of discharge. TPT's free period is 3 days. The vessel discharges on Day 1. Due to a missing commercial invoice amendment and a SARS query, the container is only gated out on Day 16.
| Clock | Days over free | Rate applied | Sub-total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Carrier demurrage: days 8–12 (5 days) | 5 | R800/day | R4,000 |
| Carrier demurrage: days 13–16 (4 days) | 4 | R1,800/day | R7,200 |
| TPT terminal storage: days 4–16 (13 days) | 13 | Avg R420/day | R5,460 |
| Total before VAT | R16,660 | ||
| VAT at 15% | R2,499 | ||
| Total demurrage + storage bill | R19,159 |
Now assume the same importer does not collect the empty container for 10 days after de-stuffing. The carrier's detention clock started at gate-out (Day 16) and runs until the empty is returned. At, say, 5 days free and R750/day thereafter, that is 5 × R750 = R3,750 more — bringing the total penalty for a single shipment to nearly R23,000. That figure routinely exceeds the profit margin on small-to-medium consignments.
How to dispute a demurrage or storage invoice
Not every invoice is correct, and even a correct one may be waivable if the delay was caused by a port disruption or a carrier error. Here is a practical dispute process.
Step 1 — Gather your timeline evidence. Download the discharge date, availability date, gate-out date, and empty return date from the carrier's online portal. Get your clearing agent to pull the customs entry lodgement date and release date. Print or export all timestamps with timestamps.
Step 2 — Check the free-day count. Does the invoice count free days from discharge date or availability date? Lines sometimes count from availability (the later of the two), which should shrink the billable days. If the invoice counts from discharge but the container was only available 48 hours later, raise this immediately.
Step 3 — Identify carrier-caused or port-caused delays. If the vessel arrived late, if a SARS system outage caused delays, or if documented port congestion slowed operations, these are grounds for a waiver request. Lines published force-majeure relief during the Durban unrest (July 2021) and during documented anchorage congestion peaks — ask your forwarder to prepare a waiver letter citing the specific disruption.
Step 4 — Submit a formal dispute in writing. Email the carrier's local port agent (not just your forwarder). Reference the booking number, bill of lading number, and container number. Attach the timeline evidence. Request a line-by-line breakdown of the charge if not already provided. Most lines have a 30-day window to accept a dispute; do not let this lapse.
Step 5 — TPT storage disputes. These go through your clearing agent who holds the terminal receipt and can log a query with TPT directly. TPT disputes are harder to win but worth raising if the availability date was recorded incorrectly or if a TPT system issue held up gate-out.
Per diem — where does it fit?
"Per diem" is a term used interchangeably with detention in some trade lanes, particularly on US and European routes. Some carriers label their daily container-use charge "per diem" rather than "detention" — the concept is identical: a daily fee for retaining the carrier's equipment outside the terminal beyond the free period. In the South African market "detention" is the more common term, but if your carrier invoice references "per diem," treat it as detention for dispute and accounting purposes.
Track your containers before the free-day clock runs out
Realview SCM shows live vessel ETAs and flags containers approaching their free-day expiry so you can act before demurrage accrues.
Explore Realview SCM →Frequently asked questions
Is demurrage subject to South African VAT?
Yes. Demurrage and detention charges invoiced by a VAT-registered carrier to a South African importer attract VAT at 15%. If you are VAT-registered, you can claim the input credit, but you must hold a valid tax invoice from the shipping line or its local agent.
Can I negotiate free days after I have already booked the shipment?
In most cases, free days must be negotiated at the time of booking. Once the bill of lading is issued, the carrier will usually not change the free-day count unless you have a master service agreement that allows amendments. The time to negotiate is before the vessel sails, not after the container is discharged.
Who is responsible for demurrage under a CIF Incoterm?
Under CIF the seller pays freight and insurance to the port of destination, but risk transfers to the buyer once goods are on board the vessel. The demurrage contract is between the shipping line and the bill-of-lading holder — which is the buyer (or buyer's clearing agent) from the moment the goods arrive. The seller is not responsible for demurrage at the destination port unless the contract of sale explicitly states otherwise.
Does Durban's port congestion give me grounds for a waiver?
Possibly. During documented, widespread congestion events some carriers issue blanket advisories offering free-day extensions or waiver requests. However, ordinary day-to-day Durban delays — even significant ones — are typically not treated as force majeure. You need to show that the delay was caused by an event outside normal port operations (e.g. a declared force-majeure, a system outage, or a documented vessel-berth delay attributable to the carrier). Keep timestamped evidence of all steps you took to collect the cargo promptly.
What is the difference between the "availability date" and the "discharge date"?
The discharge date is when the container is physically removed from the vessel. The availability date is when the container is placed in a position where you can collect it — this is typically later, because the container must be moved from the ship's side to a stacking position and any customs holds must be cleared. Some carriers start the free-day clock from availability rather than discharge, which is more favourable to importers. Check your carrier tariff carefully.
How long do I have to dispute a demurrage invoice?
This varies by carrier but is typically 30 to 90 days from the invoice date. After that, most carriers consider the invoice accepted. Review every invoice as soon as it arrives and raise disputes in writing immediately if anything looks wrong. Do not wait until payment is due.
Related guides
Sources: Transnet Port Terminals tariff schedule; Maersk advisory 28 February 2025 (TPT free-time reduction); SARS customs tariff. Rates are illustrative; verify current carrier tariffs before financial commitments. Last updated June 2026.