New Feature: Complete Ocean Shipping Fees & Surcharges Guide

What's New

Today we're launching a major expansion to NMFC Codes: a comprehensive ocean shipping fees and surcharges database. We've compiled over 500 different shipping fees, charges, and surcharges that you'll encounter in international ocean freight, each with detailed explanations, FAQs, and practical guidance.

If you've ever been confused by cryptic abbreviations on your freight invoices like THC, BAF, EBS, or CMA-specific charges, this new resource will help you understand exactly what you're paying for and why.

Why This Matters

Ocean shipping costs can be notoriously complex. Beyond the base freight rate, shippers often face dozens of additional charges that can significantly impact total landed costs:

• Unexpected costs from fees you didn't know existed
• Invoice confusion from cryptic abbreviations and carrier-specific codes
• Budget overruns when surcharges aren't factored into quotes
• Negotiation disadvantages when you don't understand what fees are negotiable
• Cash flow problems from surprise charges at destination

Our new shipping fees guide demystifies these charges, helping you budget accurately, negotiate effectively, and avoid surprises.

Fee Categories

We've organized the 500+ fees into logical categories for easy browsing:

Terminal & Handling Fees

• THC (Terminal Handling Charge) - Container handling at port terminals
• DTHC (Destination THC) - Terminal handling at destination
• OTHC (Origin THC) - Terminal handling at origin
• Lift-on/Lift-off charges - Crane operations for containers

Fuel & Energy Surcharges

• BAF (Bunker Adjustment Factor) - Fuel price fluctuation adjustment
• EBS (Emergency Bunker Surcharge) - Emergency fuel cost recovery
• LSS (Low Sulphur Surcharge) - IMO 2020 compliance costs
• EFF (Environmental Fuel Fee) - Green fuel initiatives

Documentation & Administrative

• BL Fee (Bill of Lading) - Documentation issuance
• AMS (Automated Manifest System) - US customs filing
• ENS (Entry Summary Declaration) - EU customs filing
• ISF (Importer Security Filing) - US security declaration

Equipment & Container Fees

• Demurrage - Container storage at terminal
• Detention - Extended container use outside terminal
• Container Cleaning - Special cargo cleaning requirements
• Seal fees - Security seal charges

Special Cargo & Services

• Hazmat fees - Dangerous goods handling
• Reefer surcharges - Refrigerated container premiums
• OOG (Out of Gauge) - Oversized cargo charges
• VGM (Verified Gross Mass) - Container weighing compliance

Carrier-Specific Fees

We've also documented carrier-specific charges from major shipping lines:

• CMA CGM - 40+ carrier-specific surcharges
• Hapag-Lloyd - Terminal, handling, and service fees
• ZIM - Line-specific documentation and security charges
• And more...

Key Features

Each fee page in our database includes:

Detailed Explanations

Every fee has a comprehensive description explaining what it covers, why it's charged, and in what circumstances you'll encounter it.

FAQ Section

Common questions answered with structured data markup for easy reference:

• What is this fee?
• Who pays it and who charges it?
• How is it calculated?
• Can it be avoided or negotiated?

Category Organization

Fees are organized into logical categories so you can browse related charges and understand the full cost picture for different aspects of shipping.

Search Functionality

Use our search to quickly find specific fees by name, abbreviation, or description.

Common Fees Explained

THC - Terminal Handling Charge

The Terminal Handling Charge covers the cost of moving containers within the port terminal. This includes crane operations to load/unload vessels, transport within the terminal, and temporary storage. THC is charged per container and varies significantly by port - Asian ports typically have lower THC than European or US ports.

Learn more about THC →

BAF - Bunker Adjustment Factor

The Bunker Adjustment Factor is a variable surcharge that adjusts shipping rates based on fuel prices. Since fuel represents 50-60% of vessel operating costs, carriers use BAF to manage price volatility. BAF rates change monthly or quarterly based on fuel indices.

Learn more about BAF →

Demurrage vs Detention

These often-confused fees both relate to container time:

• Demurrage - Charged when a full container sits at the terminal beyond free time (typically 3-5 days)
• Detention - Charged when you keep the empty container beyond free time after unpacking

Both can escalate quickly - often $75-150/day per container after free time expires.

Practical Use Cases

For Importers & Exporters

• Understand every line item on your freight invoices
• Budget accurately for total landed costs
• Identify fees that might be negotiable
• Compare carrier pricing more effectively

For Freight Forwarders

• Explain charges to customers clearly
• Build accurate all-in quotes
• Identify cost-saving opportunities
• Train new team members on industry charges

For Logistics Managers

• Audit freight invoices against contracts
• Track fee trends over time
• Benchmark carrier charges
• Build better RFQ specifications

What's Coming Next

This is just the beginning of our shipping fees resource. We're working on:

• Fee comparison tools to compare similar charges across carriers
• Regional guides for port-specific fee structures
• Calculator tools to estimate total shipping costs
• Negotiation tips for commonly negotiable fees
• Historical data showing how fees have changed over time

Have suggestions for shipping fees you'd like to see explained? Email us at support@freightclass.org - we're actively expanding this database.