Wharfage is a port or terminal charge for using a wharf, pier, or dock area to load, unload, or stage cargo. It is usually assessed by the facility or terminal operator rather than by the ocean carrier, and it may appear as a separate line item on a freight invoice or terminal bill.
How wharfage works
In practice, wharfage helps recover the cost of maintaining the waterfront infrastructure and the space needed to move cargo safely. The charge can apply to imported or exported goods, and the amount or billing method may vary by port, commodity, weight, volume, or container status, depending on local tariff schedules and the governing terminal rules.
Wharfage is different from ocean freight, which pays for transportation on the vessel, and from demurrage or detention, which relate to delays in using equipment or returning containers. A shipment may incur wharfage even when the cargo is not moved immediately on arrival, because the fee is tied to the cargo’s use of the waterfront facility, not to transit time alone.
For importers and exporters, the responsibility for wharfage depends on the contract of sale, shipping terms, and the port’s billing practice. A customs broker or freight forwarder may help identify the charge, but the exact payer can still depend on the carrier, terminal, and service arrangement for that shipment.