New York / New Jersey: port delays, free time and demurrage
The Port of New York and New Jersey combines working-day terminal storage with calendar-day carrier per-diem, a mismatch that produces double-counted chargeable days on a large share of the invoices we audit.
Measured avg wait
233.4 h
Reporting period 2026-08
P90 wait
557.5 h
Worst-decile vessel in the period
Vessels waiting
956
of 1,140 observed
Est. daily burn
$3,785,760
Chargeable exposure created per day
Typical free time at New York / New Jersey
| Demurrage free time (import, at terminal) | 4–5 working days (terminal-dependent) |
| Detention free time (equipment, off terminal) | 4–5 days on carrier equipment |
| How days are counted | Working days for terminal storage; carrier per-diem generally calendar days. |
| Congestion surcharge stacked per container | $180 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
- Chassis availability is a recurring constraint; detention accrued while no chassis was obtainable is a documented FMC dispute ground.
- Winter weather closures are excepted periods under most terminal tariffs but are seldom credited automatically.
- Rail-served inland moves are billed with terminal storage and per-diem simultaneously, and the day counts frequently overlap.
- Terminal appointment caps and chassis dislocation drive detention that is disputable under the OSRA per-diem rule.
Billed demurrage or detention at New York / New Jersey?
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.