A large group of stacked Maersk group containers at a port or terminal

Maersk Freetime Extension

Add extra freetime to your booking.

Overview

Stay ahead of shipment delays

The world of logistics can be unpredictable. And sometimes this unpredictability has a direct impact on your schedule. Issues like congestion at ports, delays from inland transport partners, problems with the local warehouses or even global socio-economic problems are all factors that can result in an unexpected hold-up in your supply chain.

Without enough freetime in your contract, these delays can result in high detention and demurrage (D&D) charges – an unnecessary administrative hassle for your business.

With Freetime Extension, you can add extra freetime to your shipment journey at the start of the booking, after placing a booking or even after your cargo's journey has begun. This gives you full flexibility and control, which makes it easier to adapt to unexpected changes in the global logistics landscape.

A Maersk cargo container being lifted by a ship crane

Why Maersk Freetime Extension?

Flexibility & control

You can add Freetime Extension at different stages of the shipment journey, even after making your booking. This ensures convenience and flexibility when you need to adapt to unpredictable supply chain delays.

Decrease the cost of detention and/or demurrage

Do you foresee possible issues with congestion at a port, delays from the trucking company or problems with the warehouse? Add Freetime Extension to avoid heavy detention and demurrage fees.

Clear visibility on the risk of D&D

Get full insights into your possible D&D charges and act in advance to avoid these charges.

Increase your freetime

Increase your freetime while booking, after booking or from 15 days prior to arrival before the vessel arrives.

Predictability on cost

Add Freetime Extension and avoid any difficult and expensive Detention and Demurrage processes.

Use the Detention and Demurrage calculator

Will your container return empty on time, or is it likely to be delayed? Maersk offers you free access to our online risk assessment tool that can calculate the detention and demurrage risks of your shipping journey.

The risk assessment calculator tells you if it’s likely that you will pay a fee due to the container returning late. Get insights to help you decide the best way forward with minimum disruptions and surcharges. See exactly what your detention surcharge would be and what you will save with Freetime Extension. Find the calculator when you log on to maersk.com under Import Detention and Demurrage. You can start by entering your bill of lading number.

How it works

Maersk Freetime Extension enables you to extend the number of days you can hold your cargo beyond the agreed amount of freetime. You can opt for ‘Freetime Extension’ for a specific shipment or for all your shipments in a Maersk Contract, and at various stages of your shipment journey.

Add extra Freetime at different stages of your shipment journey like contract, booking, shipping instructions and last-minute arrival, to reduce detention/demurrage charges.

Contracting stage - Buy extra freetime through your contract with Maersk and secure extra freetime for all your shipments.
Booking stage - Purchase extra demurrage and/or detention freetime as per your requirement when booking on maersk.com
Shipment instruction stage - Freetime can be purchased even after booking while submitting your shipping instructions on maersk.com
15 – 1d before arrival - Last-minute surprises in your supply chain? Buy freetime on maersk.com even when your shipment is in transit.

How to book?

Book Freetime Extension online

Add Freetime Extension when you book your shipment journey online.

You can also add Freetime Extension while submiting shipping instructions online or from 15 days prior before vessel arrival at your destination.

Book now

Just log on to maersk.com and add to your shipment to avoid any detention & demurrage charges.

Book Freetime Extension through your Maersk representative

You can ask your Maersk representative to add Freetime Extension to your contract. The Maersk representative can advise the correct amount that you need to add to avoid detention and demurrage.

Freetime Extension Notifications on the Maersk App

Stay in control of your cargo and avoid unexpected charges with Freetime Extension Notifications — now available on the Maersk Mobile App.

With this new feature, you’ll receive real‑time alerts the moment your shipment becomes eligible for a Freetime Extension, giving you more flexibility to act early and keep your logistics costs predictable.

What you can do with the notifications:

Get instant alerts when your cargo qualifies for a Freetime Extension

Review available extension options directly from your phone

Act quickly to secure additional days before charges apply

Manage your shipments from anywhere, with one tap

An all-rounder

The Maersk App is designed to make your life easier on the go. You can completely manage your entire shipment all the way from origin to destination with just a few taps.

Local info

Access your local office for detailed shipping information and local support.

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Frequently asked questions (FAQs)

You can find questions related to Freetime extensions here

Detention and demurrage is an extra charge that arises when customers keep containers for longer than the time agreed. It's designed as liquidated damages for breach of freetime contract.

The period allowed for the removal or accumulation of cargo before additional charges become applicable is known as freetime.

With Freetime Extension, you get the choice to decide how many container days you need, the flexibility to choose differently depending on your changing demands and the visibility to always know what you can expect to pay.

In addition to contracting; you can purchase Freetime Extension during booking, after booking and up to 15 days before vessel arrival.

You can purchase on maersk.com, while booking, while submitting shipping instructions, while receiving your delivery order and on Import Demurrage & Detention page using your B/L number.

More FAQs

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