The DEMDES (Demurrage/Despatch) represents the amount of money which has to be paid if a ship is loading or discharging slower or faster than foreseen. Usually the despatch money, which is paid by a shipowner, is half the amount of the demurrage, which is paid by a charterer.
The term demurrage refers to the period when a charterer remains in possession of a vessel after the period normally allowed to load and unload cargo. This period is also known as laytime. It refers to the charges that a charterer pays to a shipowner for extra use of a vessel.
And the reverse term of “demurrage” is “despatch”, which means that if a charterer returns a ship to a shipowner in less time than allowed, then the charterer may require the shipowner to pay despatch for the time saved.
After the end of a ship’s stay in a port, a port agent draws up a Statement of Facts, setting out a log of events during the ship’s stay in port. This document helps in calculating laytime and therefore demurrage or despatch of a ship.
World Maritime News Staff