Geneva, 28 February 2023 – FIATA International Federation of Freight Forwarders Associations, urges shipping lines to review and reinstate the current free time periods back to no less than feasible, pre-pandemic levels. Whilst the decision to reduce the free time periods was one-sided, market conditions have in the meantime changed, and justifications for status quo no longer remain valid. Demurrage and detention charges are an important tool for supply chain stakeholders to ensure the efficient use of their container stock which represents a substantial investment. Understanding the need for maintaining the velocity of cargo, containers need to be turned around as fast as possible. Consequently, merchants who use containers for longer periods should be discouraged from this practice. Best practices on this topic can be found in FIATA’s Toolkit on Detention and Demurrage and the Best Practice Guide on Container Shipping and Quality of Containers Vol 2 (please click buttons below). FIATA notes that it is the obligation of shipping lines to provide a reasonable free period to allow the merchant sufficient time for: • the loading and delivery of the container for an export; and • the pick-up, unloading and return of the empty container for an import. (....)