Economic and legal impacts of delayed containers

Abstract Usage of containers beyond the predetermined period results in container demurrage and detention (D&D) that is charged by the carriers. The D&D charges are often perceived as a profit-making revenue stream for carriers, which raises the question of whether D&D charges adequately...

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Main Authors: Marta K. Kołacz, Katrien Storms, Christa Sys, Wouter Verheyen
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: SpringerOpen 2024-12-01
Series:Journal of Shipping and Trade
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s41072-024-00185-w
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author Marta K. Kołacz
Katrien Storms
Christa Sys
Wouter Verheyen
author_facet Marta K. Kołacz
Katrien Storms
Christa Sys
Wouter Verheyen
author_sort Marta K. Kołacz
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Usage of containers beyond the predetermined period results in container demurrage and detention (D&D) that is charged by the carriers. The D&D charges are often perceived as a profit-making revenue stream for carriers, which raises the question of whether D&D charges adequately balance the ecosystem actor's interests. D&D charges in the maritime ecosystem have not received wider attention, the focus so far being mainly on some operational aspects of container delays. This paper contributes to the literature by mapping the ecosystem members' interests and proposing how to make these interests more balanced as far as D&D charges are concerned. For that purpose, economic (cost analysis) and legal (doctrinal and comparative) perspectives are employed. The conducted analysis presents the carrier’s opportunity costs and confirms that there might be a notion of the profit-making nature of D&D, which is not sufficiently mitigated under the existing legal framework. The legal framework provides mainly ex-ante mitigation strategies for which a party burdened with a D&D invoice would need to file a court claim. Nevertheless, the correction standards to prevent exaggerated D&D charges are largely missing. The paper suggests contractual and regulatory solutions that could help balance the ecosystem actors’ interests as far as D&D charges are concerned.
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spelling doaj-art-b35a52f423634727b781b7a7cf63bd0d2024-12-29T12:10:28ZengSpringerOpenJournal of Shipping and Trade2364-45752024-12-019113310.1186/s41072-024-00185-wEconomic and legal impacts of delayed containersMarta K. Kołacz0Katrien Storms1Christa Sys2Wouter Verheyen3Faculty of Law, University of MaastrichtTransport and Regional Economics, University of AntwerpTransport and Regional Economics, University of AntwerpFaculty of Law, University of AntwerpAbstract Usage of containers beyond the predetermined period results in container demurrage and detention (D&D) that is charged by the carriers. The D&D charges are often perceived as a profit-making revenue stream for carriers, which raises the question of whether D&D charges adequately balance the ecosystem actor's interests. D&D charges in the maritime ecosystem have not received wider attention, the focus so far being mainly on some operational aspects of container delays. This paper contributes to the literature by mapping the ecosystem members' interests and proposing how to make these interests more balanced as far as D&D charges are concerned. For that purpose, economic (cost analysis) and legal (doctrinal and comparative) perspectives are employed. The conducted analysis presents the carrier’s opportunity costs and confirms that there might be a notion of the profit-making nature of D&D, which is not sufficiently mitigated under the existing legal framework. The legal framework provides mainly ex-ante mitigation strategies for which a party burdened with a D&D invoice would need to file a court claim. Nevertheless, the correction standards to prevent exaggerated D&D charges are largely missing. The paper suggests contractual and regulatory solutions that could help balance the ecosystem actors’ interests as far as D&D charges are concerned.https://doi.org/10.1186/s41072-024-00185-wContainer detention and demurrageOpportunity costContainer ecosystemLegal liabilityContract and regulatory solutionsMultidisciplinary approach
spellingShingle Marta K. Kołacz
Katrien Storms
Christa Sys
Wouter Verheyen
Economic and legal impacts of delayed containers
Journal of Shipping and Trade
Container detention and demurrage
Opportunity cost
Container ecosystem
Legal liability
Contract and regulatory solutions
Multidisciplinary approach
title Economic and legal impacts of delayed containers
title_full Economic and legal impacts of delayed containers
title_fullStr Economic and legal impacts of delayed containers
title_full_unstemmed Economic and legal impacts of delayed containers
title_short Economic and legal impacts of delayed containers
title_sort economic and legal impacts of delayed containers
topic Container detention and demurrage
Opportunity cost
Container ecosystem
Legal liability
Contract and regulatory solutions
Multidisciplinary approach
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s41072-024-00185-w
work_keys_str_mv AT martakkołacz economicandlegalimpactsofdelayedcontainers
AT katrienstorms economicandlegalimpactsofdelayedcontainers
AT christasys economicandlegalimpactsofdelayedcontainers
AT wouterverheyen economicandlegalimpactsofdelayedcontainers