How DA Desk Supports Port Operations During Market Disruptions

Background: What's Happening

Iron-ore stockpiles have surged across major Chinese ports — including Caofeidian, where inventories of Jimblebar fines rose 26% to ~800,000 tonnes (Oct 2025). This congestion is extending discharge times, pushing up costs, and disrupting fixed Pilbara–Asia schedules.

For operators moving ore from Port Hedland to North China, every idle day for a Newcastlemax (~210,000 dwt) can exceed US $30,000 in lost hire at current market rates.

Port Congestion and Vessel Delays

The Challenge

When iron-ore stockpiles build up, discharging vessels face longer queues for berth space and clearance. Each additional hour compounds pilotage, tug, and mooring costs, plus demurrage that can reach tens of thousands of dollars per day.

Impact on Port Calls

Waiting times up 20–30% on the Pilbara–Asia corridor. Port-call cost variability up 15% year-on-year. Reduced predictability for fixed-route voyages from Port Hedland.

How DA Desk Helps

Real-time cost benchmarking across 200,000+ port calls annually. Predictive analytics flag 5–10% cost deviations instantly. Instant in-house approvals — no waiting on hub agents.

Result: Faster insight, tighter control, and reduced demurrage exposure during congestion.

Over-Reliance on Hub Agents During Disruptions

The Challenge

Irregular trade flows often force companies to rely on multiple ad-hoc agents — leading to cost leakage and inconsistent billing. If port calls change an shift with little time to plan this can mean operational teams are burdened with additional work.

Impact on Port Calls

Up to 35% of DAs from secondary agents contain duplicate or non-contractual charges. In-house teams spend hours manually verifying costs and compliance.

How DA Desk Helps

Centralized agent management eliminates duplication. Digital validation ensures every DA meets contractual terms. Automated workflows connect operations, finance, and audit teams for full visibility.

Result: Up to 30% reduction in disputed DA items and 100% audit-ready transparency — even when routes or agents change.

Increased Demurrage and Storage Fees

The Challenge

Delays in discharge or contract finalization trigger demurrage penalties and storage costs, eroding voyage margins.

Impact on Port Calls

Demurrage up 22% across North China ports in Q3 2025. Complex reconciliation with multiple suppliers and invoices. Margin squeeze on fixed-rate exports.

How DA desk helps

Reconciles DAs against charter-party terms automatically. Flags storage and demurrage exceptions to dashboards in real time. Delivers end-to-end visibility across all voyages.

Marcura Claims provides intelligence and data enabling your team to spend less time analyzing charter party agreements, bills of lading and SOF paperwork and more time negotiating an outcome armed with the facts to support them.

Result: Up to 15% faster demurrage recovery and complete cost transparency.

In-House Teams Overloaded with Manual Admin

The Challenge

When disruptions hit, internal teams are buried under manual DA reviews, SOF paperwork agent communication, and compliance checks.

Impact on Port Calls

Slower approvals, delayed payments, and compliance exposure. Limited agility in responding to port-level changes.

How DA Desk Helps

Digitizes and automates DA approvals, saving up to 60% admin time. Creates a single source of truth for every vessel and region. Frees teams to focus on strategic analysis instead of paperwork.

Result: Operational resilience and faster decision-making — even in volatile markets.

DA Desk by the Numbers

• 200,000+ port calls processed annually

• 350+ global clients in shipping, mining & energy

• US $13B+ in port costs managed per year

• Up to 40% faster DA turnaround

• 99.5% billing accuracy

• 3,000+ ports and 1,400+ vetted agents worldwide