What is free time in shipping?
Each carrier publishes free time per port, direction and equipment type, and contracts or individual bookings can extend it. On imports, demurrage free time usually counts from the day of discharge and detention free time from the day the box leaves the terminal. Tariffs differ on whether weekends and public holidays count, so the counting rules matter as much as the number of days.
Free time can be separate or combined. With separate allowances, for example five days of demurrage and five of detention, a slow collection from the port cannot borrow days from the detention side. With a combined allowance of, say, ten days, the consignee can split them however suits the delivery. Reefers, special equipment and dangerous goods often get fewer days than standard dry containers.
The figure that matters is the last free day for each container. Forwarders work it out from the actual discharge date, show it on the arrival notice and remind the consignee as it approaches, since a vessel arriving early starts the clock early. Regular shippers can often negotiate extra free days into the contract or the booking; asking at quote time costs far less than paying charges later.