Cost structure / standard tiers
The two clocks operate independently and on different triggers, which is the core source of confusion.
| Clock | Trigger Event | Typical Duration | Consequence If Exceeded |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ocean transit time | Vessel departure to arrival | 14-35 days (Asia-West Coast, varies by service) | Late arrival, missed connections |
| Discharge to available date | Vessel arrival to container availability | 1-3 days (terminal processing) | N/A — informational |
| Demurrage free time | Container availability/discharge | 3-5 calendar days | $150-$200/day demurrage |
| Detention free time | Gate-out (pickup) | 3-5 calendar days | $100-$200/day detention |
A vessel arriving 2-3 days late does not extend the demurrage free-time window — the free-time clock starts from the (delayed) discharge date, compressing the effective pickup window relative to the original planned schedule.
Risk mitigation / operational guidance
Track free time as a separate calendar event from estimated arrival — set alerts based on the actual discharge/availability date reported by the terminal, not the originally scheduled vessel ETA. When booking inland trucking or rail in advance, build in buffer for the gap between scheduled and actual discharge, since this gap eats directly into free time without any corresponding extension. For shipments where vessel delays are likely (congested ports, seasonal bunching), proactively request free-time extensions before the container is discharged rather than after free time has started counting down — extensions requested in advance are more likely to be approved. Maintain a simple log distinguishing "in-transit delay days" from "free-time consumed days" for each shipment, since these are the two figures carriers and terminals will ask about separately in any dispute.