When most people hear demurrage, they picture a vessel idling at berth, racking up charges as it waits to load or discharge cargo. But demurrage isn’t confined to the water—it can sneak into every stage of your supply chain, silently draining your margins.
If you’re only watching the vessel clock, you could be missing thousands in hidden logistics costs. Here’s what you need to know.
Force majeure clauses are meant to offer protection in uncertain times—but when they’re vaguely drafted or poorly enforced, they often collapse under legal scrutiny. The result? Delays, lost revenue, and costly arbitration proceedings.
In response to increasing concerns about China’s dominance in global shipbuilding, the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) initiated a Section 301 Investigation into Chinese shipbuilding practices. Haugen Consulting is providing this neutral overview to help charterers, fleet managers, operators, and maritime executives understand the potential commercial and compliance impacts.
While the final outcome is still pending, the proposed measures could materially affect operational costs, fleet strategy, and charter exposure—particularly for companies with vessels built in or operated by Chinese entities.
With tariffs shifting weekly and trade routes under pressure, many charterers and shipowners are asking: Can the current trade war be classified as a force majeure event?
It’s a timely and complex question—and one we’re hearing frequently at Haugen Consulting as clients re-evaluate contractual risk and even cancel upcoming fixtures.
Let’s break down what qualifies as force majeure and how trade-related disruptions may or may not apply under the most common charter party forms.
On April 9, 2025, President Trump announced a 90-day pause on tariff increases for most U.S. trading partners—with the major exception of China, whose imports are now subject to a steep 125% tariff.
While this move offers short-term relief for many industries, the implications for petrochemical shipping are more complex—and demand immediate strategic attention.
Demurrage disputes can strain relationships, drain time, and rack up unexpected costs. The key is to challenge inflated or inaccurate claims professionally and confidently—while preserving the commercial relationship.
This script gives you a practical framework to respond to demurrage claims that appear overstated or unsupported, based on years of successful client negotiations.
Demurrage charges can quickly eat into profits, delay operations, and create unnecessary tension between charterers, shipowners, and terminals. Whether you're managing spot voyages or long-term contracts, understanding how to avoid demurrage is critical to protecting your bottom line and preserving strong commercial relationships.
In this guide, we’ll walk through practical strategies to reduce demurrage risk and improve operational efficiency across your voyages.
If you're involved in shipping, trading, or chartering vessels, you've likely heard the term demurrage—and may have even paid for it. But what exactly is demurrage, why does it happen, and how can you avoid it?
In this guide, we’ll explain what demurrage is, how it works in maritime shipping, and what you can do to minimize demurrage costs on your voyages.
Americas Office
European Office