Port charges

Demurrage and detention at Syrian ports: where the charges come from and how to avoid them

The container reaches Latakia or Tartous on time, then sits in port for days because one document is not complete. Every day after the free time is added to the bill. These are the charges that build up on a container, why they build up, and how to stop them before they start.

Storage: container staying in portDetention: late return of the containerMost common cause: a missing document

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Published 2026-11-06 · MIDTRANS SHIPPING AND SERVICES

Reviewed by Khaldoun Al-Khouli, General Manager

Storage

Charged while the container stays in the port yard after the free time.

Detention

Charged by the shipping line when the empty container is returned late.

Most common cause

A missing document or data that does not match holds up clearance.

The fix

Documents ready and checked before the container arrives.

Two kinds of charges

Storage and detention: the difference

Storage (often called demurrage) is charged while the loaded container stays in the port yard after the free time. It starts from the day of discharge and runs until the container leaves the port.

Detention is charged by the shipping line, because the container belongs to it. Once it leaves the port it has to be unpacked and returned empty to the line's yard within a set period, and every day after that is charged to the importer.

Both are charged per day, and the daily rate often rises the longer it runs. So a week's delay can turn into an amount close to the freight itself.

Storage: the port, for the container staying
Detention: the line, for returning it late
Both charged daily after the free time

Free time

Free time is not the same for every shipment

Free time differs from one shipping line to another, from one port to another, and sometimes by container type. Some lines grant extra days if they are requested at booking.

So do not rely on a number you heard on a previous shipment. Ask for the free time for storage and for detention when you book, and make sure it is written in the confirmation. If you expect a long clearance, ask for extra days before shipping, not after arrival.

The cause

Why the container stays in port

The most common cause is not the port itself but the file. A missing document, a certificate of origin that is not legalised, a packing list that does not match the marks on the packages, or an HS code that differs from the goods description on the invoice. Any of these stops clearance, and the container waits in the yard while the meter runs.

Other causes are late payment of customs duties, waiting for an import approval that was not requested in advance, or the original bill of lading arriving late when it is needed to release the cargo.

Missing or unlegalised document
Packing list that does not match the goods
HS code that does not match the description
Import approval not requested in advance

The fix

Documents ready before the container arrives

The only sure way to avoid these charges is a complete file before the container arrives. Check the document list in the documents you need before loading, and confirm the HS code and its duties in the Syrian customs tariff.

At MIDTRANS we review the documents with the customer before shipping, not after the container arrives, and we start customs clearance before arrival when the file is ready. The container leaves the port as early as possible and goes back empty to the line within the free time.

Ask for the free time at booking
Complete the documents before sailing
Pay customs duties without delay
Plan the empty container return

Sources

MIDTRANS: The documents you need before loading · 2026-11-06
MIDTRANS: Customs clearance · 2026-11-06
MIDTRANS: Syrian customs tariff · 2026-11-06

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between storage and detention?

Storage is charged while the container stays in the port yard after the free time; detention is charged by the shipping line when the empty container is returned to it late.

How many free days do I get?

It depends on the shipping line, the port and the container type. Ask at booking and make sure it is written in the confirmation.

What is the most common reason these charges build up?

A missing document or data that does not match between the invoice, the packing list and the HS code, so clearance stops while the container sits in the yard.

Can I ask for extra days?

Some lines grant extra free days if requested at booking. It is better to ask before shipping than after arrival.

Want your container out of port without extra charges?

Send us the shipment documents before sailing; we review them with you and plan clearance before arrival.

Request a freight quote Contact our operations desk