Exporters told the Federal Maritime Commission that detention and demurrage invoices need to include the earliest return dates containers will be allowed at the terminal, and that "clock-stopping events," such as a lack of appointments to bring a container to the terminal, should also be on the invoices. However, the World Shipping Council said that while the earliest return date is something shippers need to know, they need to know it before a carrier invoice.
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The Federal Maritime Commission is seeking public comments on an information collection related to non-vessel-operating common carrier service arrangements (NSAs), which can help the FMC adjudicate shipping disputes. Comments are due April 29.
The Federal Maritime Commission has so far received mixed feedback on the possibility of new demurrage and detention billing requirements (see 2202070026), with shippers saying the rules are sorely needed and at least one carrier saying the industry shouldn’t face additional regulations.
The Federal Maritime Commission is expanding its Vessel-Operating Common Carrier Audit Program to analyze how shipping lines are serving U.S. exporters, the agency said March 21. As part of the audit program, the FMC will ask ocean carriers to share information about the export services they offer and potential opportunities to “increase access to service offerings.”
The Federal Maritime Commission this week extended the public comment deadline for its pre-rule on new demurrage and detention billing requirements (see 2202070026 and 2202140002) by 30 days. Comments were originally due March 17, but industry will now have until April 16 to submit feedback. More than 30 trade groups had asked FMC earlier this month to extend the deadline (see 2203070006).
Export Compliance Daily is providing readers with the top stories from last week in case you missed them. You can find any article by searching the title or by clicking on the hyperlinked reference number.
More than 30 trade groups asked the Federal Maritime Commission to extend the public comment deadline as it considers new demurrage and detention billing requirements (see 2202070026 and 2202140002). A March 3 letter to the FMC -- signed by the National Customs Brokers & Forwarders Association of America, the Agriculture Transportation Coalition, the Consumer Technology Association and others -- requests a 30-day extension to the March 17 deadline.
The Federal Maritime Commission is planning to issue an advance notice of proposed rulemaking on container return and "earliest return date" practices by carriers, Commissioner Rebecca Dye told the Senate Commerce Committee. She also said there will be an advance notice of proposed rulemaking on detention and demurrage billing practices.
The Justice Department and the Federal Maritime Commission agreed to more closely cooperate on Shipping Act enforcement, the two agencies announced. DOJ will provide FMC with attorneys and economists from its Antitrust Division to help with enforcement, while FMC will provide the Antitrust Division “support and maritime industry expertise.” The announcement builds on the two agencies’ July memorandum of understanding to foster better cooperation on enforcement and oversight of competition issues in the ocean shipping industry (see 2107120055). “Lawbreakers should know that the Justice Department will provide the Federal Maritime Commission all necessary litigation support as it pursues its mission of promoting competition in ocean shipping,” Attorney General Merrick Garland said in a statement.