Catapult adds carrier free time information module

The ocean freight rate and contract management software provider will allow users to use demurrage and detention data from more than 20 carriers as a carrier selection metric.    The freight rate and contract management software provider Catapult, a Mercator company, on Tuesday said it has added new capability that allows its users to track free time data from ocean carriers.
   The new functionality is an extension of the company’s rate and contract management platform Catapult QMS. Catapult customers are now able to view free time data from more than 20 ocean carriers’ tariffs covering major trade lanes and ports. The data includes origin and destination detention and demurrage charges, indicating the period of time that the port and ocean carrier allow a party to hold a container.
   Non-vessel-operating common carriers, freight forwarders and shippers often have trouble getting reliable data around carrier detention and demurrage policies and charges.
   “The introduction of the additional data set will enable our customers to make better-informed decisions on carrier selection,” said Matt Motsick, chief executive officer of Catapult.
   He added that the free time data allows customers to weigh free time metrics against rate and transit time metrics to better inform routing optimization. Catapult’s solutions, which include Catapult QMS, QMS Lite, and Springboard, are used by freight forwarders, NVOs, ocean carriers, and shippers. The company estimates it has 25,000 users globally.
   “It’s difficult to find demurrage and detention information from ocean carriers,” said Chris Mraz, senior business unit manager at TSC Container Freight, a U.S.-based NVO. “Catapult provides enhanced transparency in displaying the number of days allowed plus the charges that could apply if a container is not returned in time.”
   The new free time functionality provides information from carriers’ tariffs as well as from customers’ own negotiated ocean service contracts.