Key takeaways
- Demurrage is the charge you pay for a container sitting inside the terminal beyond its free time; detention applies once the box leaves the port.
- Tema Port importers usually get a set number of free days after discharge before demurrage starts accruing, and the clock does not stop for holidays.
- Incoterms such as FOB and CIF do not directly assign demurrage, so the sales contract and who controls clearance decide who pays.
- The fastest way to cut port charges is to prepare documents early and clear customs before free days run out.
Demurrage charges at Tema Port are the daily fees a shipping line bills you when your container stays inside the terminal beyond its free days. The longer the box waits for clearance, the faster those charges climb, which is why delays at Tema can quietly become one of the biggest costs of an import. This guide explains what the charges mean, how free days work, who pays under common trade terms, and how to keep your bill as low as possible.
What demurrage and detention charges actually mean
These two terms get mixed up constantly, but they cover different situations. According to UNCTAD, the United Nations trade body, demurrage is "the charge that the merchant pays for the use of the container within the terminal beyond the free time period." Detention, by contrast, is "the charge that the merchant pays for the use of the container outside of the terminal or depot, beyond the free time period."
In plain terms: if your loaded container is sitting inside Tema Port waiting to be cleared, that is demurrage. Once you take the full container out of the port to unpack at your warehouse and keep it too long before returning the empty, that becomes detention.
Both charges are paid to the shipping line, not the port. They exist to push importers to move containers quickly so the line can reuse its equipment. UNCTAD notes that globally "free time periods have been reduced and tariffs for demurrage and detention charges have been increased considerably," so the pressure to clear fast is only growing.
There is also a third cost people lump in with demurrage: port storage or rent, which the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority bills for space your cargo occupies. That is separate from the shipping line's demurrage and lands as its own line on your statement.
Breakdown of common Tema Port fees in 2026
A single import at Tema typically carries several stacked charges. Knowing which party collects each one helps you challenge errors and plan cash flow.
- Shipping line demurrage: a daily fee for the container staying in the terminal past free days, paid to the carrier. Rates usually rise in tiers, so each extra week costs more per day than the last.
- Detention: a daily fee once the container leaves the port and is held too long before the empty is returned.
- Port storage or rent: charged by the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority for the physical space your goods occupy in the yard.
- Terminal handling charges: lifting, moving, and positioning the container at the Meridian Port Services Terminal 3 facility.
- Customs duties, levies, and processing fees: assessed through Ghana's ICUMS platform and paid before release.
Demurrage and storage are the two that grow with time, so they are the charges you have the most power to control. The others are largely fixed once your cargo arrives.
How free days work and when charges start accruing
Free time, sometimes called free days, is the window in which no demurrage applies. It is meant to give you enough time to lodge documents, clear customs, and collect your container without penalty.
A few points matter at Tema:
- The line sets the number of free days. It depends on your carrier, your contract, and the container type. Standard dry containers commonly get roughly a week, while reefers (refrigerated units) get fewer days because the equipment is in higher demand.
- The clock starts at discharge, not at clearance. Free time generally begins the day after the vessel offloads your container, whether or not your paperwork is ready.
- Weekends and public holidays usually count. Most line tariffs run free days as calendar days, so the Tuesday after a long holiday weekend can already be a demurrage day.
Because the count begins at discharge, the work to avoid charges has to start before the ship even arrives. If you wait until you see the container at the port to begin arranging documents, several free days may already be gone.
Practical ways to avoid costly demurrage
Most demurrage at Tema comes from preventable delays, not from genuinely complex shipments. The following habits make the biggest difference.
- Prepare documents before arrival. Have your bill of lading, commercial invoice, packing list, and permits ready so you can lodge in ICUMS the moment the vessel is in.
- Confirm your free days in writing. Check the exact number on your bill of lading rather than assuming. Knowing you have five days versus seven changes how aggressively you need to move.
- Pay duties promptly. Containers often stall at the payment stage. Have funds arranged before assessment so release is not held up by a transfer.
- Use an experienced clearing agent. A good agent knows how to keep a file moving and flags problems early, which keeps your container ahead of the free-day deadline.
- Watch for congestion. When the port is backed up, build in a buffer. In October 2026 the Importers and Exporters Association of Ghana reported more than 120 trucks delayed at MPS Terminal 3, with knock-on charges for affected cargo, as covered by GhanaWeb.
The aim is simple: have everything ready so the container moves the day it can, rather than the day you finally get organised.
Who is responsible for which charges under Incoterms
A common dispute at Tema is who should pay demurrage, the buyer in Ghana or the seller abroad. Incoterms, the trade terms published by the International Chamber of Commerce, decide where cost and risk transfer, but they do not directly assign demurrage. That means the answer depends on which term you used and what your sales contract says.
Two of the most common terms show how this plays out:
- FOB (Free On Board): the buyer arranges and pays for the main sea freight, and risk passes once the goods are loaded at the origin port. Demurrage at Tema is almost always the buyer's problem, because the buyer controls the shipment from loading onward.
- CIF (Cost, Insurance and Freight): the seller pays freight and insurance to Tema, yet risk still passes at the origin port. So even though the seller paid the freight, demurrage at Tema normally falls on the buyer. This surprises many importers and causes avoidable arguments.
Because Incoterms stay silent on demurrage, the safest move is to write into your purchase contract exactly who covers port delays and under what conditions. A clear clause prevents a stalemate later when a container is racking up daily charges.
How fast clearance keeps port costs down
Every charge that grows over time, demurrage and storage above all, is really a tax on delay. The single most effective lever you have is speed of clearance.
Fast clearance depends on three things working together: complete documents lodged early, duties paid without lag, and an agent who knows how to push a file through ICUMS. When those line up, many containers clear well inside their free days and incur no demurrage at all. When any one of them slips, the daily charges begin and compound.
This is where working with a forwarder earns its keep. BJH Logistics handles freight forwarding, customs clearance, warehousing, and onward road transport at Tema, which means the handoffs between stages do not create gaps where free days quietly expire. If you want the full sequence of what happens before release, see our walkthrough of Ghana customs clearance procedures step-by-step.
To keep your next shipment out of demurrage, start by confirming your free days with your shipping line today and gathering your import documents before the vessel arrives. If you want a clearance process built to beat the free-day deadline, contact BJH Logistics to arrange your Tema Port import before the charges have a chance to start.
Frequently asked questions
What are demurrage charges at Tema Port?
Demurrage is the daily fee a shipping line charges when your container stays inside the terminal beyond the agreed free days. At Tema it accrues per day until the container is cleared and returned.
How many free days do I get at Tema Port?
Free time is set by your shipping line and container type, commonly around a week for standard dry containers and fewer days for reefers. Always confirm the exact free period on your bill of lading.
What is the difference between demurrage and detention?
Demurrage covers a container held inside the port terminal beyond free time, while detention covers a container kept outside the terminal, such as at your warehouse, beyond free time.
Who pays demurrage under CIF terms?
Under CIF the seller pays freight to the destination, but demurrage at the arrival port is normally the buyer's responsibility because risk and control pass at origin. Spell it out in the contract to avoid disputes.
