Freeport, Texas · Gulf Coast
Port Freeport container demurrage & detention dispute guide
A Texas Gulf multipurpose port whose Velasco Terminal handles container, ro-ro and project cargo, where vessel timing and export cutoffs drive most D&D exposure.
- Authority
- Port Freeport (Port Freeport Navigation District)
- Volume
- More than 116,000 TEU in calendar 2024 (Port Freeport)
- Container terminals
- 1
The port at a glance
Port Freeport sits at the mouth of the Brazos River, about 60 miles south of Houston, and handles containers at its Velasco Terminal, a multipurpose facility serving container, ro-ro and project cargo vessels. The port reported more than 116,000 TEU at the container terminal in 2024. The Velasco Terminal has been expanded with additional berth and cranes, and the port serves petrochemical producers along the Brazosport industrial corridor as well as importers serving the Houston region.
D&D exposure at a smaller multipurpose port is concentrated on fewer services. A late or cancelled call affects every container booked on it. Exporters loading near the petrochemical complexes deliver against ERDs that move with vessel ETAs, and importers who route through Freeport to avoid congestion in Houston still face holds, limited appointments at peak and empty return instructions that may send equipment back to Houston.
Shippers often miss empty return instructions. If a carrier directs the empty to a Houston location and that location refuses it, the extra dray and per diem days are worth disputing, with the return instruction and refusal as evidence.
Container terminals
Velasco Terminal
Port Freeport · Multipurpose terminal for container, ro-ro and project cargo vessels
Appointments & empty returns
- Truck procedures at the Velasco Terminal are published by Port Freeport; check the port's current terminal notices for appointment requirements.
- Earliest return dates and empty return instructions are published by the carriers for each service.
Chassis
Port Freeport does not publish a port-operated chassis pool; chassis come from lessors, carriers and drayage providers serving the Houston region.
Where D&D builds up at Freeport.
Limited service frequency
With fewer services than Houston, a single late or cancelled call delays every box on it. Keep original and revised schedules.
Export ERD shifts
Exporters deliver against ERDs that move with vessel ETAs. Early gate refusals and rolled bookings create disputable detention.
Empty returns to Houston
Carriers may direct empties to Houston locations. A refusal after a long dray adds per diem days that are worth disputing.
Hurricanes and storms
Gulf storms close the port and channel. Billed days during closures should be flagged.
Multipurpose berth sharing
Container vessels share berths with ro-ro and project cargo. Berth conflicts can delay discharge and availability.
Free time and disputes at Freeport
Free time at Port Freeport is set by the ocean carrier's tariff or your service contract, and terminal charges by Port Freeport's published tariff. There is no port-wide container free time to rely on. Each D&D invoice must include the 20 minimum elements of § 541.6, including the specific tariff rule or contract section relied on.
Most Freeport disputes are export detention tied to schedule changes, and per diem tied to empty returns. When the vessel was late or the designated return location refused the box, the billed days did not serve their incentive purpose under 46 CFR § 545.5.
Invoices must be issued within 30 calendar days of the date the charge was last incurred (§ 541.7), and you have at least 30 calendar days from issuance to request relief (§ 541.8). ATAHSKIA's OSRA Audit Engine checks each invoice on receipt and flags late or incomplete ones.
Freeport D&D FAQ
How much container volume does Port Freeport handle?
Port Freeport reported handling more than 116,000 TEU at its container terminal in 2024.
Can I dispute per diem if my empty had to go back to Houston and was refused?
Yes. Keep the carrier's return instruction and the refusal record. Per diem for days when the designated location would not accept the container is a candidate for a relief request.
Who sets free time at Port Freeport?
Carrier demurrage and detention free time comes from the carrier's tariff or your service contract, and terminal charges from Port Freeport's tariff.
Nearby and related ports
Audit your Freeport invoices.
Send your recent D&D invoices for a free audit. We report what is recoverable within 48 hours.