Introduction: In maritime shipping costs, beyond the ocean freight itself, a range of container-related charges account for a significant share and should not be underestimated. What are the expenses associated with containers? Let's take a closer look.
Container Drop-Off Fee
When a container arrives at the port but the terminal has not yet opened for container receiving, the container cannot enter the terminal. Since the trucking fleet cannot keep the container loaded on the chassis indefinitely — as other containers also need to be hauled — they will find a location to drop off the container temporarily, and haul it into the terminal once the port area opens for receiving. This incurs a container drop-off fee.
Pre-Pull Fee
Pre-pulling a container typically occurs in special circumstances where the container needs to be picked up before the standard pick-up date in order to obtain the container number and complete the manifest or other documentation. The fee incurred in such cases is called the pre-pull fee.
Differences Between Pre-Pull and Drop-Off:
1. Scope of Application:
Pre-pull fees typically apply to goods shipped on US-bound routes.
Drop-off fees are charges incurred during the export process.
2. Reason for Occurrence:
Pre-pull fees arise due to AMS (Automated Manifest System) filing deadlines, where the container stuffing schedule may fall just after the AMS cut-off, yet the manifest transmission requires the container number. In such cases, the container must be picked up in advance and placed at the container yard.
Drop-off fees arise when a container is about to enter the terminal, but due to reasons on the part of the port authority or the shipping line, the port area has not yet commenced container receiving or has not yet opened the terminal. The trucking fleet will find a location to drop off the container temporarily and haul it into the terminal once the port area opens, incurring the corresponding fee.
3. Fee Responsibility:
Pre-pull fee: borne by the customer.
Drop-off fee: if attributable to the trucking fleet, the fleet bears the cost; if attributable to the customer, the fee should be charged to the customer.
Detention Charge
To accelerate container circulation and prevent backlogs, shipping lines set a free usage period for containers. Within this period, the cargo's use of the container is free of charge. Beyond this period, a fixed daily fee is charged for continued container usage — this is the 'detention charge.'
Detention charges are calculated on a daily basis. For exports, the free period is generally seven days. Detention charges frequently arise during imports, where containers may be used free of charge for a certain number of days after vessel arrival (e.g., ten days), with fees applied beyond the specified period. It is therefore essential to complete import customs clearance and arrange cargo pick-up promptly after vessel arrival and return the empty container to the location designated by the shipping line in a timely manner. The free usage period for special equipment containers is typically shorter. Naturally, different shipping lines have different regulations, and the specific number of free days should be confirmed with the shipping line. If the container is a shipper-owned container (SOC), detention charges do not apply.
Pre-Gate-In Fee
After container stuffing, if the vessel's container terminal has not yet opened and the terminal does not permit gate-in, a fee may be incurred for advance gate-in upon obtaining special permission.
If the terminal opening date has not yet arrived but there is an urgent need to complete operations early, how should one choose between the pre-gate-in fee and the drop-off fee? Drop-off fees vary by trucking fleet, with each fleet having different charging standards, and rates may surge during peak periods. Pre-gate-in fees are generally more standardized and are certainly cheaper than drop-off fees, though not all port areas permit pre-gate-in. From a safety perspective, pre-gate-in is also the preferred option, as it avoids unforeseen events on the following day and offers higher security.
Container Re-Stow Charge
The fee incurred for repositioning containers. Re-stow charges generally arise from vessel changes. Container positions on a vessel are usually planned in advance, and once a vessel change occurs, container re-stowing becomes inevitable. For example, during maritime transport, different sea areas impose requirements on vessel tonnage and routing. Some vessels may not be suitable for certain sea areas or may not operate on certain route segments, or operating on a particular route segment may be uneconomical, leading to cargo being transferred to another vessel.
In addition, there are: 1. Container Pick-Up Fee — the charge for retrieving a container from the container yard and transporting it to customs for inspection. 2. Loading Fee — the charge for mounting a container onto a container truck when transport is required after customs clearance. 3. Empty Return Fee — the charge for returning an empty container after unloading at the factory for import shipments; the reverse applies for exports. In export freight, if the factory or freight forwarder has already retrieved a container from the depot but for some reason (e.g., the cargo could not be ready in time) the container is ultimately not stuffed, resulting in the empty return of the container, the shipping line will charge the factory a certain fee, generally equivalent to approximately 80% of the trucking cost. This fee is referred to as the 'empty return fee' or 'container return fee.'
4. Container Devanning Fee — the charge incurred when customs or commodity inspection authorities require container opening and forklift extraction of cargo for inspection purposes. 5. Late Gate-In Surcharge — the fee charged for containers delivered to the designated terminal or container yard after the specified cut-off time, when the container yard is still willing to accept cargo to catch the scheduled vessel sailing... There are many other container-related charges, and even a minor oversight can lead to additional costs. Regardless, to ensure containers board the vessel smoothly, avoid unnecessary charges, and prevent larger cost losses, it is essential to understand these fees clearly and make informed judgments in advance!