Port Delays Cost Shipping $6.9bn—Why Automation Can’t Wait

A bulk carrier idled off South Africa’s east coast for 26 days last year, far beyond the industry benchmark of 50 to 67 hours, while waiting for a berth. The delay wasn’t an isolated incident. Across the globe, ports without real-time automation are bleeding billions in demurrage fees, lost productivity, and carbon emissions. New data reveals the staggering cost of inefficiency: $6.9 billion in demurrage and detention fees were collected by shipping lines between 2020 and 2022 alone. The figure underscores a systemic failure, one that automation could mitigate, but…

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