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The freight rate gets all the attention. The port charges pay for the surprises. Most African importers have had at least one experience of a destination invoice that looked nothing like what they were quoted — not because anyone was dishonest, but because port charges are levied by multiple parties, apply at multiple stages, and are frequently estimated rather than confirmed at the time of booking.
This guide maps every port-related charge category so your destination cost estimate is built on a realistic foundation rather than an optimistic one.
The Three Parties Charging You at Destination
The confusion around port charges often starts here. Three separate parties levy charges at destination, and their invoices arrive separately:
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The terminal operator — charges for physically handling your container within the port facility: unloading from the vessel, moving to the yard, and loading onto a collection truck.
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The shipping line or NVOCC — charges for the delivery order, telex release if applicable, and demurrage and detention if free time windows are exceeded.
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Your destination agent and customs broker — charges for professional services: pre-arrival coordination, customs entry lodgement, duty payment facilitation, and agency handling.
Charge by Charge: What Each One Covers
THC Destination
Terminal Handling Charge — levied by the terminal operator for container unloading and yard handling. This is a fixed charge per container, set by the terminal and non-negotiable at the point of arrival. It should be included in any responsible freight quote as an estimated destination charge.
Delivery Order (D.O.) Fee
Levied by the shipping line or NVOCC to issue the Delivery Order — the document that authorises the terminal to release your container to your transporter. Without a D.O., your container cannot leave the terminal regardless of customs status. This fee is non-negotiable and usually payable before the D.O. is issued.
Port Health / Scanning Levies
Many African ports levy mandatory scanning fees and port health certificates as a condition of cargo entry. These are government-imposed levies that apply to all imports regardless of cargo type, and they are payable before customs release. The amounts vary by country and port — confirm them with your customs broker before the vessel arrives.
Customs Clearance Fee
Your customs broker's professional fee for lodging the customs entry, managing the assessment process, and coordinating release. This is separate from the duties and taxes themselves, which are paid directly to the customs authority. A broker's fee that seems unusually low may indicate limited service — or hidden charges that appear on the final invoice.
The Charges Most Often Missing from Initial Quotes
⚠️ Watch Out — three categories of port charges are routinely absent from initial freight quotes:
Demurrage and detention — these only apply if your cargo exceeds free time windows, which is why they're not in the base quote. But on a corridor where clearance regularly runs 7 to 14 days and terminal free time runs 5 to 7 days, they're not exceptional. They're the norm for anything that doesn't clear fast. See: Smart Planning to Avoid Demurrage and Detention Fees.
Pre-import authorisation costs — the cost of obtaining a BSC/ECTN, Form M processing fees, or SONCAP inspection are incurred before the vessel sails but often outside the freight quote. They belong in your total landed cost calculation regardless.
Inland transport — quoted separately if not included in your booking scope, and highly variable depending on distance from port to delivery address, vehicle availability, and port congestion on collection day.
👉 Pro Tip: When you receive a freight quote, ask explicitly: "Does this include an estimate of destination port charges including THC, D.O. fee, port levies, and customs clearance fee?" A quote that includes all of these with named estimated amounts is genuinely comparable to another quote. A quote that includes only ocean freight is not comparable to anything until the destination charges are added. CALL's quotes always include an itemised destination charge estimate — so your total landed cost calculation starts with real numbers. See: What's Actually on Your Freight Invoice.
Want a quote that shows you the full destination cost picture?
CALL's itemised quotes include named destination charge estimates for your specific port — so nothing appears on the final invoice that wasn't in your planning budget.
Get a Quote →Last reviewed: June 2026 · Category: Ports & Terminals
Related articles: What's on Your Freight Invoice · Smart Planning to Avoid Demurrage & Detention · Your Cargo Is Stuck at Customs · Pre-Import Verification Schemes
