Optimize your logistics operations by calculating Cost Per TEU, transit times, and port dwell times with precision.
This tool utilizes standard logistics metrics to evaluate shipping performance:
1. Cost Per TEU = Total Maritime Costs / Total TEUs Shipped
2. Average Voyage Transit Time = Total Voyage Transit Days / Total Containers Shipped
3. Average Container Dwell Time = Pickup Time (Avg) - Arrival Time (Avg)
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The global supply chain relies heavily on the efficiency of ocean freight. The Maritime Shipping Calculator is a specialized financial and operational tool designed for logistics managers, freight forwarders, and supply chain analysts. It goes beyond simple cost tracking by integrating time-based metrics that reveal the true health of your shipping operations. By analyzing Cost Per TEU alongside Transit and Dwell times, businesses can identify bottlenecks, audit carrier performance, and uncover cost-saving opportunities.
One of the most critical metrics included in this tool is the Cost Per TEU. TEU, or Twenty-foot Equivalent Unit, is the standard unit of cargo capacity. Normalizing costs to this unit allows for accurate benchmarking across different trade lanes and carriers, regardless of container sizes (20ft vs. 40ft). The Maritime Shipping Calculator simplifies this calculation, ensuring you have a clear financial baseline for your maritime budget.
Operational efficiency is measured through Voyage Transit Time and Container Dwell Time. Transit time reflects the speed of the vessel and the reliability of the carrier's schedule. In contrast, Dwell Time measures the efficiency of port operations and customs clearance. As noted by the Federal Maritime Commission, excessive detention and demurrage charges often stem from high dwell times. By using the Maritime Shipping Calculator to track these delays, companies can pinpoint whether inefficiencies are occurring at sea or at the port, allowing for more targeted problem-solving.
Ultimately, the Maritime Shipping Calculator serves as a dashboard for logistics health. Whether you are shipping raw materials for manufacturing or finished goods for retail, understanding the relationship between cost and time is vital. High costs with fast transit might be acceptable for urgent goods, but high costs with high dwell times represent wasted capital. This tool empowers you to make data-driven decisions that align your logistics strategy with your business goals.
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TEU stands for "Twenty-foot Equivalent Unit." It is the standard unit of measure for container capacity. A standard 20ft container equals 1 TEU, while a 40ft container equals 2 TEUs. Using TEUs allows shippers to standardize volume and cost measurements across different container sizes.
Dwell time is the duration a container sits at a port terminal after being unloaded. High dwell times often lead to expensive storage fees (demurrage) and delay the product getting to market. Tracking this helps in optimizing pickup schedules and customs processes.
Reducing Cost Per TEU can be achieved by maximizing container space utilization (shipping Full Container Loads), consolidating smaller shipments, or negotiating better long-term rates with freight forwarders or carriers.
You should include any demurrage, detention, or surcharge fees in the "Total Maritime Costs" input field to get a truly accurate "All-In" Cost Per TEU.