*Disclaimer: this policy is effective prior to February 27th, 2023. For current effect policy after such date, please visit here*

Effective February 27th, 2023, Ocean Network Express (ONE) will introduce an updated outbound demurrage calculation in the North America region (the US and Canada), matching with the ocean terminals’ Earliest Return Date (ERD) and ONE’s Rail Receipt Date (RRD).

ONE is providing the below FAQ for the updated calculation. The information contents may be updated if further details become available.

Shipments from ocean terminals:
A customer will only be assessed for the demurrage charge at the ocean terminals for each calendar day incurred under the following scenarios and when the gated container stay exceeds the agreed free time. 

• When a customer requests or causes a roll after gating in the container.
• When a roll is caused by a regulatory reason, including, but not limited to, action caused by or related to the U.S. Customs, Food and Drug Administration, United States Department of Agriculture, or any government or regulatory entity, agency, law, or rule.
• When the full laden container is received at an ocean terminal prior to the terminal's ERD.

ONE will not charge the time incurred when the cargo is unable to load a vessel due to overbooked vessels resulting in ONE rolling the booking, or if the vessel is canceled/delayed.

Shipments from intermodal locations:
A customer will only be assessed for the demurrage charge at the intermodal locations for each calendar day incurred under the following scenarios and when the gated container stay exceeds the agreed free time. 

• When a customer requests or causes a roll after gating in the container.
• When a roll is caused by a regulatory reason including, but not limited to: action caused by or related to the U.S. Customs, Food and Drug Administration, United States Department of Agriculture, or any government or regulatory entity, agency, law, or rule.
• When the full laden container is received at the intermodal location prior to the carrier’s most current RRD.

ONE will not charge the time incurred when the cargo is shut out due to overbooked vessels resulting in ONE rolling the booking, when the vessel is canceled/delayed, or if a rail delay causes a container to miss port cutoff and/or be rolled.

FAQ:

Q1. What is the reason for ONE changing the outbound demurrage calculation logic?

A1. ONE wanted to align the calculation of the outbound demurrage with the ERD information provided by ocean terminals to simplify the demurrage calculation providing a clearer logic.

 

Q2. How will the Demurrage Update affect the invoices issued before February 27th, 2023?

A2. ONE will trigger the commencement of updated logic based on the invoice issuing dates. This means, outbound demurrage invoices issued before Feb 27th, 2023, will be calculated with the existing calculation logic while the outbound demurrage invoices issued on Feb 27th, 2023, and onwards will be calculated with the updated logic.

*Disclaimer: this policy is effective prior to February 27th, 2023. For current effect policy after such date, please visit here*

*Effective February 27th, 2023, Ocean Network Express (ONE) will introduce an updated outbound demurrage calculation in the North America. View Advisory Here.

Policies and Guidance

Earliest Return Date (ERD) - Represents the first available date to return the container as per the marine terminal. See DFRD below and Invoice Information (Export) page regarding when to return containers to avoid charges from ONE.

Demurrage Free Receiving Date (DFRD) - Applies to outbound containers that do not require rail transport and is the first date container may be tendered at a marine terminal without incurring demurrage charges per ONE tariff rules.  DFRD Query

NA Export Demurrage and Additional Resources - DFRD Supplemental Resources

Rail Receiving Date (RRD) - Applies to outbound containers requiring rail transport and is the first date container may be tendered at inland rail location.

Container Availability Date (CAD) - Set by marine terminal and is the first date a discharged inbound container is available for pickup.

Demurrage Freetime Start Dates: 

• Inbound - Freetime start date which is the first full day of freetime
• Outbound - DFRD or as defined by service contract

Tariff Rule for Free Time at Origin - US West Coast & US East Coast

 

Demurrage Policy:

Exports

• Demurrage clock commences the day after the cargo has been received* at the load port and will end on the day of scheduled vessel berthing a load port
• Demurrage charges are incurred for containers stored on terminal outside of freetime period defined by tariff, service contract or DFRD
• DFRD is the first day an outbound container may tendered without incurring ONE demurrage, regardless of ERD published by the receiving marine terminal operator
• DFRD is “fixed” in accordance with individual terminal DFRD rules which are based on vessel Estimated Time of Berthing (ETB) upon empty container pickup
• Outbound demurrage policy applies equally to merchant and carrier haulage.

Imports

• Demurrage clock commences at freetime start, defined as the first full day after vessel discharge* 
• Demurrage charges are incurred for containers stored on terminal outside of freetime period defined by tariff or service contract
• Inbound demurrage policy applies equally to merchant and carrier haulage.
   

Detention Policy:

Exports

• Detention clock commences at terminal empty outgate
• Detention charges are incurred for containers held outside freetime period defined by tariff or service contract
• Outbound detention policy applies equally to merchant and carrier haulage.

Imports

• Detention clock commences at terminal laden outgate
• Detention charges are incurred for containers held outside freetime period defined by tariff or service contract.
• Inbound detention policy applies equally to merchant and carrier haulage.

* Business or calendar day, based on terminal.

 

*Disclaimer: this policy is effective prior to February 27th, 2023. For current effect policy after such date, please visit here*​​​​​​​

*Effective February 27th, 2023, Ocean Network Express (ONE) will introduce an updated outbound demurrage calculation in the North America. View Advisory Here.

Billing Rules

Demurrage

• Charges for container yard (CY) and door moves are invoiced to the US customer of record (Shipper on US Exports, Consignee on US Imports) 
• Invoices cannot be billed to a party not shown on the ONE booking or B/L or to a non-US company.

Detention

• Charges for both CY and door moves are invoiced to the trucker of record
•  Invoices will be sent to the email address on file with the Intermodal Association of North America (IANA) unless other arrangements have been made directly with ONE NA and confirmed in writing
• Invoices already issued cannot be rebilled to another party without written confirmation of acceptance by that party
  
  
  * IANA administers the Uniform Intermodal Interchange and Facilities Access Agreement (UIIA)

*Disclaimer: this policy is effective prior to February 27th, 2023. For current effect policy after such date, please visit here*

*Effective February 27th, 2023, Ocean Network Express (ONE) will introduce an updated outbound demurrage calculation in the North America. View Advisory Here.

Invoice Information (Export)

The following examples are intended to clarify terminology and applicable logic associated with ONE export demurrage and detention invoices and enhance understanding of charges. The invoices provided are for informational purposes only and the customer's actual invoice terms may vary according to tariff or individual service contract.

Export Demurrage Invoice Example:


 

Field Information:

① Staying Period: From “Date of Container Full Gate-in” to:

 (i) “Estimated Time of Berth” as of the Empty pick-up date; or 

(ii) “Vessel Loading date,” whichever date is earlier. 

② F/Time: Commences from the “day following working/calendar day of Full Gate-in” and completes after “Free Days” end.

③ Free Days: Calendar or Working Days. Applied as per tariff unless alternate agreement within individual service contract/agreement is made.

④ Rate Per Day: Applied as per tariff unless an individual contract/agreement is made. 

⑤ Over Day: From “Next day of F/TIME Completion (CMPLT) day” to:

(i) “Estimated Time of Berth” as of the Empty pick-up date; or 

(ii) “Vessel Loading date,” whichever date is earlier.

 

Earliest Return Date (ERD) - Where ERDs are available from terminals, they will be referenced in invoices. 

DFRD (Demurrage Free Receiving Date) will be used to mitigate demurrage if vessel schedule changes cause the ERD to slide past demurrage free time. DFRD is fixed in relation to the existing terminal ERD at the pickup of an outbound empty container.  Containers must gate-in after DFRD to avoid incurring demurrage charges, regardless of the terminal ERD date.

ERD Date shown with three asterisks (***) on invoice - Where ERDs exist but are not available from the terminals at time of billing, or where ERD is not used at a particular facility, no ERD will be referenced.

Demurrage Free Receiving Date (DFRD): This will be calculated from “Estimated Time of Berth as of Empty pick-up date” minus Free Days.

 

Export Detention Invoice Example:

Field Information:

① Staying Period: From “Empty Container Pick up Date" to “Date of Full Gate-in.”

② F/Time: Commences from “the day following working/calendar day of Empty container pick up” and completes after “Free Days.”

③ Free Days: Calendar or Working Days. Applied as per tariff unless alternate agreement within individual service contract/agreement is made.

④ Rate per Day: Applied as per tariff unless alternate agreement within individual service contract/agreement is made. 

⑤ Over Day: From “Next day of F/TIME Completion (CMPLT) day” to “Date of Full Gate-in.” 

 

Earliest Return Date (ERD) - Where ERDs are available from terminals, they will be referenced in invoices. (For inland cargo arriving via rail, “ONE’s First Rail Receiving Date at rail facility” is used). 

DFRD (Demurrage Free Receiving Date) will be used to mitigate detention if vessel schedule changes cause the ERD to slide past detention free time. DFRD is fixed in relation to the existing terminal ERD at pickup of an outbound empty container and is used along with revised terminal ERD and gate-in to calculate detention charges.

ERD Date shown with one asterisk (*) on invoice - Where ERDs exist but are not available from the terminals at time of billing, the first overall container gate-in occurrence for the relevant Vessel Voyage Direction (VVD) will be referenced as the ERD. Absent a terminal provided ERD date, this calculated date will be used for all containers on a specific VVD that incur detention.

ERD Date shown with two asterisks (**) on invoice - Where an ERD process is not in use at a terminal, the ERD reference field will be left blank.

Demurrage Free Receiving Date (DFRD): This will be calculated from “Estimated Time of Berth as when Empty pick-up” minus Free Days. If a terminal's Earliest Receiving Date (ERD) is after DFRD due to vessel schedule change, Detention between DFRD and ERD will be mitigated.

*Disclaimer: this policy is effective prior to February 27th, 2023. For current effect policy after such date, please visit here*

 

*Effective February 27th, 2023, Ocean Network Express (ONE) will introduce an updated outbound demurrage calculation in the North America. View Advisory Here.

Inquiries and Disputes

 

Please direct Demurrage and Detention billing inquiries and disputes to the following:   

Inquiries - [email protected]

Disputes - [email protected]

 

Detention Billing Disputes:

All detention disputes must contain full details of the dispute reason along with the following supporting documentation in order to be processed: 

• Invoice and container numbers  
• Reason for dispute, e.g. 
  • Incorrect free time (must include details and supporting documentation of correct free time)
  • Incorrect rate (must include details and supporting documentation of correct rate)
  • Incorrect date(s) (must include TIR’s) 
  • Operational issue (must include specific issue with supporting documentation) 

A dispute will not be considered “received” until all supporting documentation has been provided to ONE NA. ONE NA will confirm receipt of the required information and reconcile the dispute within 30 days of the confirmed receipt date.

 

IMPORTANT: Detention invoices must be disputed in writing within 30 days of issue date of the invoice. Any dispute received after 30 days is invalid. 

 

Demurrage Billing Disputes:

All demurrage disputes must contain full details of the dispute reason along with the following supporting documentation in order to be processed: 

• Invoice, container and shipment (i.e., booking or B/L)  numbers 
• Reason for dispute, e.g. 
  • Incorrect free time (must include details and supporting documentation of correct free time)
  • Incorrect rate (must include details and supporting documentation of correct rate)
  • Incorrect date(s) (must include TIR’s) 
  • Operational issue (must include specific issue with supporting documentation) 

A dispute will not be considered “received” until all supporting documentation has been provided to ONE NA. ONE NA will confirm receipt of the required information and reconcile the dispute within 30 days of the confirmed receipt date.

IMPORTANT: Demurrage invoices must be disputed in writing within 30 days of issue date of the invoice. Any dispute received after 30 days is invalid.
 

*Disclaimer: this policy is effective prior to February 27th, 2023. For current effect policy after such date, please visit here*​​​​​​​