How are various costs incurred in container shipping? Let you know about these shipping "box" fees!

In addition to sea freight, a series of costs related to "boxes" also account for a large proportion of the cost of shipping and cannot be underestimated. What are the costs associated with "boxes"?

Drop off fee

When the box enters the port, the terminal is not open to receive the box and cannot enter the port. The fleet cannot keep this box on the container truck. There are other boxes to be towed, so they will find a place to drop the box and wait for the port area to open before dragging it in. At this time, a drop-off fee will be incurred.

Holding box fee

Pre-pickup boxes are usually required to be picked up before the normal pick-up date under special circumstances in order to obtain the box number, fill in the manifest or other information. The fee incurred at this time is called the deposit box fee.

The difference from drop box

1. Scope of action:

Holding boxes are often used on shipments outbound to the US line.

The drop-off fee is a fee incurred during export.

2. Reasons for action:

The pre-package fee is due to the AMS (anti-terrorism surcharge), which is restricted by the AMS deadline. The container loading may happen just after the AMS deadline, but AMS needs to provide the box number when sending the manifest. So in this case, you have to pick up the box first and put it in the storage yard.

The drop-off fee is when the box is about to enter the port. Due to some reasons at the port or the shipping company, the port has not yet started collecting the boxes and has not yet opened the port. The team members will find a place to drop the boxes. The cost of towing it in after the port area opens.

3. Cost borne:

Holding box fee: Guest.

Drop-off fee: If it is due to the team's fault, the team will bear the cost. If there is a problem with the customer, it will be charged to the customer.

Detention fee

In order to speed up the circulation of containers and avoid backlogs, shipping companies have set free use periods for containers. Within this period, the goods occupying the container are free of charge. After the period, the goods occupying the container need to pay a fixed fee, which is the "detention fee".

Demurrage charges are calculated on a daily basis. For export, it usually takes 7 days. Demurrage fees are often incurred during imports. The boxes can be used for free within a few days (for example, ten days) after the ship docks. After the specified time, a fee will be charged.

Therefore, after the ship arrives at the port, it must complete import customs clearance and arrange for delivery of the goods in a timely manner, and return the empty containers to the location designated by the shipping company in a timely manner. The free use time of special containers is shorter. Of course, different shipping companies have different regulations, so you need to ask the shipping company for the specific number of days. If it is the customer's SOC box, there is no demurrage fee.

Pre-arrival fee

After loading, the ship's containers have not yet opened the port, and the terminal is not allowed to enter the port. Fees incurred for early entry into the port if the application is granted.

The port opening day has not yet arrived, and I am anxious to complete the operation in advance. How to choose between the pre-entry port fee and the drop-off fee?

The cost of dropping off boxes depends on the fleet. Each fleet has different charging standards, and it will also increase during peak periods. Pre-arrival at the port is generally more fixed and definitely cheaper than drop-off, but not all port areas can pre-arrive. From a safety perspective, pre-arrival is also preferred, which can avoid emergencies the next day and has a high degree of safety.

dumping fee

The cost of moving the container. The dumping fee usually occurs because of changing ships. Generally, the location of containers on the ship is planned. Once a ship change occurs, emptying the container is inevitable. For example, in the process of shipping, each sea area has requirements for ship tonnage and routes. Some ships are not suitable for certain sea areas or do not take a certain route, or it is not economical to take a certain route, which will cause the goods to be transferred to other ships.

Other types of expenses

1. Carrying fee

It is the cost of taking the container from the terminal to the customs for inspection.

2. Loading fee

It is a fee for carrying the container to the container truck when the goods need to be transported after customs clearance.

3. Return fee

It is the cost of shipping the empty containers back after the imported goods are brought to the factory and the containers are unloaded. The opposite is true for exports. In export freight, if the factory or freight forwarder has picked up the box from the yard, but for some reason (such as the goods are not in time), the box is not packed in the end, causing the container to return empty, the shipping company will charge a certain fee to the factory , the cost is generally 80% of the towing fee. This fee is called the "empty return fee" or "return fee."

4. Carton removal fee

It is a fee charged when the customs or commodity inspects the goods when they need to open the box and then forklift the goods out for inspection.

5. Port charges

It is the fee charged for delayed containers arriving at the port when the boxes are delivered to the designated terminal or yard later than the specified port cut-off time in order to catch the ship and the yard is willing to receive the goods....

There are many costs related to boxes, and if you are not careful, you will incur additional costs. In any case, in order to get the boxes on board smoothly, avoid additional costs, and avoid greater cost losses, we must understand these costs and make judgments in advance!