The Federal Maritime Commission should develop a strategy to modernize how it collects data, so the agency can better monitor shippers' challenges and trends in the maritime shipping industry, the Government Accountability Office said in one of four recommendations to the FMC in an April 23 report examining whether carriers took advantage of shippers during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Zim Integrated Shipping Services charged unfair detention and unfair chassis, storage, stop-off and redelivery fees for containers that couldn't be returned due to lack of appointments or terminal closures out of its control, Access One Transport said in a complaint filed with the Federal Maritime Commission on April 16.
The Federal Maritime Commission is seeking comments by June 17 on what data elements are communicated between transportation service providers and importers and exporters about "containers moving through marine terminals." It also seeks information on how changes are conveyed and where communication is most likely to break down "or information is most likely to be conveyed inaccurately," the commission said. The effort, the commission said in a request for information released April 15, is an expansion of the commission's May 2023 Marine Transportation Data Initiative and its associated August 2023 request for information regarding data availability, accuracy, and exchange, the FMC said.
'Head Scratching' Likely After D&D Rule in Effect; Changed Broker Terms Possible, NCBFAA Lawyer Says
FORT LAUDERDALE -- The effective date for the Federal Maritime Commission's new rule on detention and demurrage may not provide a long enough "runway" for industry to prepare, given that it's a "systemic alteration" of how the industry operates, said Ashley Craig of Venable. He said he suspects there will be a lot of "head scratching" after the rule becomes effective on May 28 (see 2402230049).
Two subsidiaries of a U.S.-based cleaning product supplier voluntarily dismissed their charge complaint against major ocean carrier Mediterranean Shipping Co., telling the Federal Maritime Commission April 10 that the companies have agreed to reach a “resolution of this matter outside of” FMC proceedings. Impact Products and Safety Zone, subsidiaries of Supply Source, accused MSC in February of issuing unfair detention and demurrage and committing other violations of U.S. shipping laws, leading to over $200,000 in financial damages (see 2402140014).
The Federal Maritime Commission's enforcement bureau is asking the agency's administrative law judge to fine major ocean carrier Mediterranean Shipping Company $63.2 million for violating U.S. shipping regulations. MSC used “overbroad” merchant clauses in its bills of lading, billed incorrect rates for certain containers and failed to publish certain container tariff rates, causing "obscurity" and "uncertainty" for shippers, the commission's Bureau of Enforcement, Investigations and Compliance said in an April 3 report.
Shipping company Shiplane Transport said ocean transportation firm Seaboard Marine violated the U.S. shipping regulations when it moved its containers without consent, refused to issue it a bill of lading, engaged in price fixing and solicited customers unfairly, Shiplane said in a complaint filed with the Federal Maritime Commission April 3.
The Federal Maritime Commission on April 5 warned the ocean transport industry against imposing unreasonable detention and demurrage fees as shippers and carriers adjust their supply chains due to the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore last month (see 2403260047).
The Federal Maritime Commission will be conducting network maintenance April 6, and said some of its systems will “experience intermittent outages” from 9 a.m. to noon EDT. Those include the FMC’s common carrier tariff and marine terminal operator schedule registration form; its application for a license as an ocean transportation intermediary; its Foreign Based Unlicensed Non-Vessel Operating Common Carrier Registration; its Agreement Library; its eAgreements Filing System; and its List of FMC Licensed & Bonded OTIs. The FMC said its Service Contract Filing System, or SERVCON, will “remain available” throughout.
Ocean carriers COSCO Shipping Lines and Orient Overseas Container Line Limited violated U.S. shipping regulations when they failed to perform their “inland transportation obligations," charged unfair detention and demurrage fees, and refused to release cargo, Samsung Electronics America said in two separate complaints filed with the Federal Maritime Commission on March 28.