FMC Seeks Research on Demurrage and Detention for March 2027 Symposium

The Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) will hold a research symposium on demurrage and detention on March 31, 2027, at FMC Headquarters in Washington, D.C. The event will bring together researchers and maritime industry experts to examine how these charges are set, the costs they are intended to compensate, the incentives they create, and their effects on cargo fluidity. The FMC’s announcement was published on November 2, 2026, with the event scheduled for the following March.

Demurrage and detention charges can affect how cargo moves through maritime supply chains, as well as the costs and operational decisions faced by shipping and logistics participants. The symposium’s research agenda is therefore relevant to procurement and logistics professionals assessing transportation dependencies, delivery planning, and potential cost exposure. Its focus on both charge-setting methods and operational impacts may help participants distinguish the intended purpose of charges from their observed effects on cargo movement.

For government contractors and other organizations reliant on maritime shipping, the event is an opportunity to follow evidence and discussion that could inform logistics planning. The source announcement does not describe a solicitation, contract action, funding opportunity, or change to FMC rules; it announces a research and stakeholder event. Accordingly, the near-term action for interested researchers and industry specialists is to prepare a paper submission, while prospective attendees should note the later registration opening date.

The FMC invites work addressing the basis for demurrage and detention charges, the costs those charges are meant to cover, their behavioral incentives, and their consequences for cargo fluidity. Paper submissions are due February 15, 2027, and audience registration opens March 1, 2027. Questions about paper submissions and the symposium may be sent to WWang@fmc.gov; general symposium questions may also be directed to MReilly@fmc.gov. These dates provide a practical planning timeline for researchers, maritime firms, and logistics stakeholders considering participation.

• Event: FMC research symposium on demurrage and detention.
• Date and venue: March 31, 2027, at FMC Headquarters in Washington, D.C.
• Paper deadline: Submissions are due February 15, 2027.
• Audience registration: Registration opens March 1, 2027.
• Research topics: Charge-setting methods, intended cost recovery, behavioral incentives, and cargo fluidity.
• Procurement relevance: Use the symposium’s subject areas to assess possible effects on cargo movement, shipping costs, and supply-chain planning.
• Participants: Researchers and maritime industry experts are invited to present work.
• Paper and symposium inquiries: Contact WWang@fmc.gov.
• General symposium inquiries: Contact MReilly@fmc.gov.
• Opportunity type: The announcement is for a research event, not a procurement solicitation or contract award.