Demurrage is the most avoidable cost in importing. Almost every case we see traces back to a document that was wrong before the vessel sailed.
The delay is upstream
Ports get blamed for delays that were created weeks earlier at the factory gate. A mismatch between the packing list, the commercial invoice and the bill of lading will hold a container regardless of how efficient the terminal is.
Get the paperwork right before departure and clearance becomes routine at all three gateways.
Gateway by gateway
Each has its own rhythm and its own common failure.
Lagos — Apapa and Tin Can
Form M and PAAR must be in place before shipment, not on arrival. The most common hold we see is an HS-code classification that does not match the goods description.
Mombasa
Generally the smoothest of the three on documentation, but pre-arrival lodgement matters. Standards-body inspection for regulated categories should be arranged at origin.
Durban
Strong on process, unforgiving on valuation. Under-declared invoice values trigger inspection and a long queue — declare accurately the first time.
Our standing rule
Documents are checked against the physical load before the container is sealed, and lodged ahead of arrival. It costs an hour at origin and routinely saves a fortnight at the destination.