Carl Bentzel

US regulators balk at billion-dollar takeover of Ports America

Two U.S. Federal Maritime commissioners concerned about foreign ownership of American supply chains want federal officials to conduct a “full and thorough review” of the proposed purchase of Ports America by a Canadian pension fund.

In a letter sent last week to U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen, FMC Commissioners Carl Bentzel and Louis Sola warned that the proposed acquisition by the Canada Pension Plan Investment Board (CPP Investments) could run counter to U.S. economic interests.

“CPP...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/us-regulators-balk-at-billion-dollar-takeover-of-ports-america

Regulators eye new container-fee rules to address alleged overcharging

In the wake of complaints that ocean carriers are overcharging customers, federal regulators are considering new rules related to fees imposed by ocean carriers for the use of their containers by shippers.

The Federal Maritime Commission voted last week to solicit public comments on two questions:

  • Whether the commission should require ocean common carriers and marine terminal operators to include certain minimum information on or with demurrage and detention billings.
  • Whether the commission...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/regulators-eye-new-container-fee-rules-to-address-alleged-overcharging

US, China, Europe grapple with container shipping bottlenecks

The world’s largest regulatory agencies overseeing international container trades met remotely to discuss rampant supply chain disruptions as carriers and their customers brace for more turmoil during the fall peak shipping season.

The fifth biennial meeting of the Global Regulatory Summit, hosted on Tuesday by the European Commission, also included the U.S. Federal Maritime Commission and China’s Ministry of Transportation.

According to the FMC, the meeting focused on three areas:

  • Sectoral...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/us-china-europe-grapple-with-container-shipping-bottlenecks

US regulator probing China’s role in container shortage

A top maritime official has started an informal investigation into whether China is using its market power to monopolize containers and other equipment crucial to international supply chains to pump up rates paid by American exporters.

Carl Bentzel, a U.S. Federal Maritime Commissioner (FMC), told attendees at a virtual business meeting hosted by the Intermodal Association of North America that he is looking into the availability of containers, intermodal chassis and railroad equipment, and...

https://s29755.pcdn.co/news/us-regulator-probing-chinas-role-in-container-shortage

Biden picks Maffei to chair Federal Maritime Commission

President Joe Biden has named Daniel Maffei, a commissioner on the Federal Maritime Commission (FMC), to lead the agency as chairman.

Maffei replaces Michael Khouri, who had been designated chairman by former President Donald Trump.

Maffei acknowledged he is taking the agency’s helm amid significant container supply chain disruptions and related concerns over container ship rates and service.

“I am grateful and humbled by the confidence President Biden has placed in me by appointing me Chairman at...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/biden-picks-maffei-to-chair-federal-maritime-commission

Regulators weigh in on fight between tankers and container ships

A Texas law that has largely pitted the energy and container trades against each other at the Port of Houston has sparked interest from the Federal Maritime Commission.

In a letter sent Tuesday addressed to the Port of Houston Authority Port Commission and the Houston channel pilots board, Federal Maritime Commissioners Carl Bentzel and Louis Sola warned that the law, which is meant to promote safety in the Houston Ship Channel (HSC), “could severely hamper” the competitiveness not only of the...

https://s29755.pcdn.co/news/regulators-weigh-in-on-fight-between-tankers-and-container-ships

GSCW chat recap: Managing the container storm

This fireside chat recap is from Day 7 of FreightWaves’ Global Supply Chain Week.

FIRESIDE CHAT TOPIC: Managing the storm: The FMC’s role in addressing the container shortage.

DETAILS: Booming imports and the effects of COVID-19 are straining container supply chains while causing transportation rates to surge and port congestion to worsen. This fireside chat features Federal Maritime Commissioner Carl Bentzel in a discussion about the Federal Maritime Commission’s role in this unprecedented...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/gscw-chat-recap:-managing-the-container-storm

Regulators ask Biden for ‘immediate’ dockworker vaccinations

The wave of dockworkers testing positive for COVID-19 up and down the U.S. coasts has prompted maritime regulators to seek help directly from the White House.

In a letter sent Thursday to President Joe Biden, Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) Commissioners Carl Bentzel and Daniel Maffei asked that in addition to prioritizing dockworkers for vaccines – which they requested from the Trump administration in December – they should be given access, in the interim, to rapid testing to minimize port...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/regulators-ask-biden-for-immediate-dockworker-vaccinations

US Trade Deficit In Goods Widened 5.5% Y-O-Y

The US trade deficit in goods widened 5.5% year on year to a new record in November at $84.82 billion as a lack of containers available for exporters contributed to an unequal growth rate compared with import volumes, says an article published in S&P Global.

What Data Says

US goods exports were valued at $127.22 billion in November, up 0.8% from the previous month, but down 6.6% from November 2019, according to US Commerce Department data.

US goods imports in November totaled $212.04 billion as...

https://mfame.guru/us-trade-deficit-in-goods-widened-5-5-y-o-y/

Container lines question claims of unreasonable rates, poor service

The World Shipping Council (WSC) has pushed back against allegations by two Federal Maritime Commissioners (FMC) that the container lines are not meeting service obligations — particularly to U.S. agriculture exporters — citing a lack of evidence.

In a Monday letter to FMC Commissioners Carl Bentzel and Daniel Maffei, WSC President and CEO John Butler pointed out that the customer bases of his members — which account for 90% of global liner vessel capacity — are too varied for the association to...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/container-lines-question-claims-of-unreasonable-rates-poor-service

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