How to Release a Container in Dar es Salaam Without a Container Deposit (2026 Guide)
Short answer: Clearing and forwarding agents in Tanzania can release containers at Dar es Salaam port without paying a container deposit by using VCS (Viaservice Container Solution). If demurrage, damage or total-loss charges arise, Viaservice advances them to the shipping line, and the agent reimburses them after returning the container. Registration is free at viaservice.ch.
Why container deposits slow agents down
A container deposit is money a clearing agent pays the shipping line before releasing a container. The line holds it until the empty container comes back to the depot. That can take days or weeks, and on busy months an agent may have deposits sitting on many containers at once.
Every shilling held in a deposit is working capital that cannot fund the next shipment. For a growing agency, deposits are often the biggest single drain on cash flow.
What VCS changes
VCS (Viaservice Container Solution) removes the need for a container deposit. Instead of the agent paying cash up front, Viaservice steps in on a reimbursement basis:
The agent releases the container with no container deposit.
If demurrage, damage or total-loss charges arise, Viaservice advances them to the shipping line.
The agent reimburses only what Viaservice advanced, once the container is returned.
This is an advance payment on a reimbursement basis. The agent still owes any real charges. What changes is that capital is no longer locked up before anything goes wrong.
Which shipping lines work with VCS in Tanzania
VCS is available in Tanzania with Maersk, MSC, CMA CGM, PIL, Messina, ESL (through its agent Blue Funnel), WOSAC and WEC Lines.
How to release a container without a deposit: 5 steps
Register free on the VCS portal at viaservice.ch.
Get your portal login and set up your agency profile.
Request the VCS service for your container and pay the VCS invoice in the portal.
Receive your VCS certificate and use it to release the container from the port with no container deposit.
Return the container to the designated depot, then reimburse any charges Viaservice advanced.
Who it is for
VCS is built for licensed clearing and forwarding agents handling containerised imports through Dar es Salaam port. According to Viaservice, 70% of licensed clearing agents in Tanzania are already registered on VCS.
FAQ
Is VCS registration free? Yes. Registration on the VCS portal is free.
Do I still pay demurrage with VCS? If demurrage arises, Viaservice advances it to the shipping line. You reimburse Viaservice after the container is returned.
How does VCS work financially? VCS is an advance payment on a reimbursement basis. Viaservice advances any demurrage, damage or total-loss charges, and the agent reimburses them.
Where is Viaservice in Tanzania? Capital Place, 1st Floor, Ohio Street, Dar es Salaam. Phone +255 745 540 190, email info@viaservice-tz.com.
Call to action
Stop locking your capital in container deposits. Register free at viaservice.ch, or visit us at Capital Place, Ohio Street, Dar es Salaam (Monday–Friday 8:00–17:00, Saturday 9:00–14:00).
Internal links: TZ2 (container deposit and working capital), TZ3 (demurrage vs detention), viaservice.ch/service
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