A new vessel sharing agreement between Japanese carrier Ocean Network Express, South Korea-based Hyundai Merchant Marine and Taiwan-based Yang Ming Marine Transportation (see 2411070005) will take effect Feb. 9, the Federal Maritime Commission said Feb. 6 after completing its review. The commission said it carried out an “economic analysis of the competitive effects of the” arrangement, called the Premier Alliance Agreement, adding that all agreements “are subject to the strictest standards for ongoing monitoring by the Commission.”
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 Federal Maritime Commission is adjusting its civil monetary penalties for inflation, the agency said in a notice released this week. The changes, effective Jan. 15, increase maximum penalties for various violations of U.S. shipping regulations, including “knowing and willful” violations of the Shipping Act.
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.
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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.
A Federal Maritime Commission administrative law judge on Dec. 18 dismissed a complaint against CMA CGM, saying that New York-based freight forwarder Marine Transport Logistics (MTL) failed to show that the France-based ocean carrier routinely engaged in unreasonable conduct with container shipments.
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.