BusinessAugust 16, 2026

demurrage

di-MUR-ij

Definition

A charge payable to the owner of a chartered ship or vehicle for failing to load or unload it within the agreed-upon time frame.

Etymology

Derived from the Old French 'demorer,' meaning to delay or tarry. It entered English in the 17th century specifically to describe the penalty for detaining a merchant vessel beyond its allocated time.

In the news

The article highlights how cargo delays in Karachi cause steep demurrage fees, creating financial pressure for traders and transport operators.

Pakistani transporters hold talks with government as strike enters ninth day

Read the full article ↗

Arab News PK

Related words

Learn words like this every day

Meet new words every morning.

Newspoken pulls carefully chosen words from the day’s news — with clear definitions, context, and light review that makes them stick. Get it on your phone.