There’s no end to the confusion surrounding Detention and Demurrage (D&D) charges for ocean container movements landside. This recital of some recent lawsuits shows that firms are not passing on information that would allow actual determination of accurate D&D charges.
Tthe FMC is starting to crack down on billing that isn’t complete, but some firms may not comply right away, and of course there are older cases which did not come under the recent rule.
The recourse is the courts, and that’s what’s happening now. The supply chain ‘partners’ in the move are handing off responsibility one to another. The Hapag-Lloyd story, involving a forwarder ME Dey, their haulier New Age Logistics, CSX Rail, and Hapag, is just such a case. One claim being made is that the haulier asked to use their chassis to haul the containers to avoid the D&D charges; but they were told that they could not do that, because the containers “belonged to the steamship line”. This kind of nonsensical behavior is not cooperation, and does not facilitate good supply chain relations. Expect more lawsuits!
By Nick Savvides 25/04/2023
Shippers and carriers caught up in new D&D legal battles – The Loadstar
Supply Chain and Logistics 