Detention

Shipping companies allow their clients the use of their containers during transport, as well as a few days before and a few days after the ocean voyage. However they need to be able to use their container fleet and so only allow for a specific number of free days. Outside the free period, after the container has left the terminal, you start accumulating and paying detention. As long as the containers are still at the terminal, outside this free period, this payment is referred to as demurrage.