Rotterdam: port delays, free time and demurrage
Rotterdam is Europe’s largest port and a heavy transhipment and barge hub, so most of its per-diem exposure originates in the onward leg and the empty-return depot rather than at the quay itself.
Measured avg wait
277.0 h
Reporting period 2026-08
P90 wait
562.2 h
Worst-decile vessel in the period
Vessels waiting
8,659
of 9,710 observed
Est. daily burn
$34,289,640
Chargeable exposure created per day
Typical free time at Rotterdam
| Demurrage free time (import, at terminal) | 5–7 calendar days |
| Detention free time (equipment, off terminal) | 5–10 days depending on carrier and equipment |
| How days are counted | Calendar days on mainline tariffs. |
| Congestion surcharge stacked per container | $135 during backlog periods |
Indicative ranges from published carrier tariffs and contracts we see at this gateway. Your own service contract governs — check it before counting days. How demurrage and detention are calculated.
What makes charges disputable here
- Deep-sea terminal berth-window slippage resets the practical start of free time, but tariffs are usually applied from the original ETA.
- Empty-return depot closures and acceptance restrictions extend detention through no act of the shipper — documented refusals are strong claim evidence.
- Inland barge waiting times at the Maasvlakte terminals routinely exceed the free time built into the door rate.
- Barge-slot scarcity on the Rhine leaves boxes parked at deepsea terminals on paid storage.
Billed demurrage or detention at Rotterdam?
We check every line against your contract, the local tariff and our own dwell record for that voyage, then file the claim. The audit is free and our fee is 20% of what we actually recover.