A Federal Maritime Commission administrative law judge has approved a confidential agreement to settle allegations by Giti Tire USA that San Francisco-based Flexport International charged unfair detention and demurrage fees and millions of dollars in other "accessorial charges" at unreasonable rates, according to an FMC notice released Jan. 24. “The parties have determined that the settlement reasonably resolves the issues raised in the complaint without the need for costly and uncertain litigation,” the judge wrote. Giti filed its complaint against Flexport in May (see 2405200019). Flexport, a non-vessel-operating common carrier, denied Giti’s allegations (see 2405210036).

President Donald Trump has chosen Louis Sola to chair the Federal Maritime Commission, the White House announced. Sola, previously an FMC commissioner, replaces Daniel Maffei, who is now listed as an FMC commissioner on the FMC’s website. Maffei chaired the FMC as it worked to implement a range of rulemakings as part of the Ocean Shipping Reform Act of 2022, including new rules governing unreasonable carrier conduct (see 2407220019) and detention and demurrage billing requirements (see 2402230049).

The New York-based entity formerly known as Bed Bath & Beyond Inc. has accused Hong Kong-based carrier BAL Container Line Co. of charging “unjust and unreasonable” demurrage and detention fees during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a complaint released by the Federal Maritime Commission Jan. 8.

The Federal Maritime Commission released a two-page policy statement Jan. 2 clarifying it's authorized to hear class-action complaints involving statutes it administers.

Export Compliance Daily is providing readers with the top 20 stories published in 2024. All articles can be found by searching on the titles or by clicking on the hyperlinked reference numbers.

Ocean carriers must begin filing annual export strategies and policies with the Federal Maritime Commission starting March 1 as part of a broader effort by the FMC to better regulate carriers that unfairly refuse vessel or cargo space to exporters.

Recent reports of actions by the Spanish government to deny port access to certain U.S. ships could “strain” U.S. trade ties between the two countries, Federal Maritime Commissioner Louis Sola warned in a Dec. 19 statement. He said he’s concerned Spain's actions could threaten U.S. critical supply chains and that he supports the FMC’s ongoing investigation of the matter.

A report released by outgoing Federal Maritime Commissioner Carl Bentzel (see 2412130068) calls on the FMC to create a new Maritime Transportation Data System, which he said would allow the ocean shipping industry to better share and receive information on planned carrier voyages, cargo retrieval windows, real-time vessel transits and times of arrival, and more.

Federal Maritime Commissioner Carl Bentzel is leaving the FMC to become president of the National Association of Waterfront Employers and executive director of the National Maritime Safety Association, he said in a Dec. 13 statement. “I am looking forward to this exciting opportunity to continue to work within the maritime industry and to contribute to the growth of the terminal operating industry,” he said.

The Federal Maritime Commission is ending one of its two investigations into new Canadian rules that were thought to have imposed unfair burdens on U.S. vessels, making the announcement after Canada granted exemptions for six ships and took other steps to “temporarily” resolve the issue. The FMC said it’s still moving forward with a separate, broader investigation into whether the Canadian regulations unfairly affect all U.S.-flagged Great Lakes vessels.