Does demurrage stop when the port closes for a hurricane?

Not automatically. Some lines grant relief during declared closures, but you have to confirm it u2014 assume the clock keeps running until told otherwise.

Should I reroute to Port Everglades during a storm?

Possibly u2014 the two ports can reopen on different timelines, so a dual-port carrier gives you a backup. Decide with your carrier based on conditions.

How do I prepare my supply chain for hurricane season?

Buffer critical inventory, keep routing flexible across both ports, confirm demurrage-relief terms, and line up a local asset-based carrier before the season peaks.

Hurricane Season Logistics in South Florida: A Shipper's Contingency Playbook

By Rob Goldstein, Managing Member

2026-07-10 Port Operations

Hurricane season runs June 1 through November 30. For supply chains through PortMiami and Port Everglades, a single named storm can mean closed terminals and a backlog that takes a week to clear. Here's how to plan for it.

How a Storm Disrupts Your Freight

Every South Florida shipper knows the dates: hurricane season runs June 1 through November 30, with the peak in late summer. For supply chains that run through PortMiami and Port Everglades, a single named storm can mean closed terminals, diverted vessels, and a backlog that takes a week to clear. You can't control the weather u2014 but the shippers who plan for it lose far less than the ones who improvise.

As a system approaches, the U.S. Coast Guard sets port condition levels that progressively restrict vessel movements and can close the port entirely. Terminals suspend gate operations, so no containers move in or out. Vessels divert or wait offshore. And here's the subtle trap: the demurrage and per-diem clocks don't always stop just because the gates are closed u2014 so a storm can leave you owing storage on a container you literally cannot pick up. Power outages and flooded roads then slow everything for days after the all-clear.

Before the Season u2014 Set Up to Bend, Not Break

The shippers who weather hurricane season best are the ones who prepare before June 1, not after a storm is named.

During a Storm

Move time-sensitive and perishable freight out ahead of the closure if you can; secure what you can't. Monitor Coast Guard port conditions and CBP advisories rather than rumors. And pause non-urgent pickups so you're not paying drivers to sit at a closed gate.

After the All-Clear

Expect a surge: every shipper hits the terminals at once, queues balloon, and chassis get scarce. Prioritize your hottest containers, and lean on a carrier with local drivers and owned equipment who can pre-stage and react instead of scrambling for third-party capacity that's already spoken for.

The Local-Carrier Edge

When a storm hits, the advantage goes to operators who know the ports, cover both of them, and control their own trucks and chassis. That's the difference between your freight moving in the first wave after reopening and sitting in the backlog.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does demurrage stop when the port closes for a hurricane?: Not automatically. Some lines grant relief during declared closures, but you have to confirm it u2014 assume the clock keeps running until told otherwise.
Should I reroute to Port Everglades during a storm?: Possibly u2014 the two ports can reopen on different timelines, so a dual-port carrier gives you a backup. Decide with your carrier based on conditions.
How do I prepare my supply chain for hurricane season?: Buffer critical inventory, keep routing flexible across both ports, confirm demurrage-relief terms, and line up a local asset-based carrier before the season peaks.

Get your hurricane-season freight plan in place u2014 talk to our dispatch team or call (786) 733-0270.