Ocean Network Express (ONE) has joined other ocean carriers in announcing that it will no longer impose detention and demurrage fees when a US marine terminal is closed. The decision, effective from June 1, comes ahead of a final rule on per diem billing by the Federal Maritime Commission (FMC). ONE will not charge fees if the terminal is completely closed or inaccessible, and customers can contact ONE for alternative arrangements. The change applies to certain charges related to import and export detention and demurrage. Similar moves were made by Maersk, HMM, Hapag Lloyd, and Mediterranean Shipping Co. following an FMC ruling that required Evergreen Marine to refund a trucking company for storage fees during a closed terminal period. Marine terminal operators (MTOs) have expressed concerns over potential income loss, prompting some ports to update their tariffs. The Port of Houston, for example, has raised weekday charges to compensate for lost weekend revenue, while some terminals at the Port of New York and New Jersey have opened weekend gates to continue collecting storage fees.
