Costs and charges
Detention
A charge from the shipping line for keeping its container outside the port beyond the free time, until the empty is returned.
In four languages
Detention applies once a container has left the terminal. On imports it runs from the moment the full container is gated out until the empty is returned to the depot the line names; on exports, from empty pickup until the full container is gated back in. Slow unloading at the warehouse, waiting for space, or a long trip to the return depot all add days. Example: a Dubai importer takes a 40HQ to its warehouse but needs a week to unload and sort the cartons. If the detention free time is shorter, daily charges start before the empty reaches the depot. Planning unloading labour, asking for extended free time at booking, and checking which depot the empty must go back to, which in 2026 may differ from the usual one, all help keep detention down.
Questions
Can I unload my container and keep it longer?
Yes, but every day beyond the free time adds detention. If you expect slow unloading, ask for extra free time when booking.
Where do I return the empty container?
To the depot named by the shipping line on the delivery order or release. Returning it elsewhere can add costs and delays.