demurrage and detention

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

NCBFAA’s 35-year general counsel retires

NCBFAA

Ed Greenberg plans to retire as general counsel for the National Customs Brokers and Forwarders Association of America (NCBFAA) at the end of December after 35 years of representing the ocean freight transportation intermediary industry in Washington.

Greenberg, 78, made the decision four weeks ago after spending the past six months working from his home office and enjoying the presence of his 2-year-old grandson.

“It had never occurred to me. I had no interest in retirement,” Greenberg told...

https://s29755.pcdn.co/news/ncbfaas-35-year-general-counsel-retires

Do you know where your chassis are?

container chassis

Container chassis may be simple assets, but there is nothing simple about tracking their location throughout the U.S. supply chain.

Chassis providers and technology developers in recent years have chipped away at the challenge to electronically track usage of these assets with shippers, third-party logistics providers (3PLs), carriers, marine terminals and rail ramps.

“The problem is that there are many parties and systems involved when using chassis to dray containers,” Glenn Jones, global vice...

https://s29755.pcdn.co/news/do-you-know-where-your-chassis-are

Industry groups ready responses to FMC’s ocean carrier pricing review

U.S. Federal Maritime Commission

Freight transportation industry and shipper groups say they are preparing detailed responses to the U.S. Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) review of ocean carrier pricing practices.

The FMC, which announced the notice of inquiry on Wednesday, said it is seeking information from the container-shipping public on alleged attempts by ocean carriers to hold companies financially responsible for transportation services that they did not contract for and may not legally be required to pay.

The FMC said...

https://s29755.pcdn.co/news/industry-groups-ready-responses-to-fmcs-ocean-carrier-pricing-review

FMC examines ocean carrier billing practices

U.S. Federal Maritime Commission

The U.S. Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) said it is seeking information from the container-shipping public on alleged attempts by ocean carriers to hold companies financially responsible for transportation services that they did not contract for and may not legally be required to pay.

The FMC said it received comments for its earlier Docket No. 19-05, Interpretative Rule on Detention and Demurrage under the Shipping Act, from industry groups such as the Agriculture Transportation Coalition and...

https://s29755.pcdn.co/news/fmc-examines-ocean-carrier-billing-practices

FMC’s Dye keeps eye on COVID-19-challenged US supply chains

The U.S. Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) official in charge of monitoring the current U.S. supply chain impacts related to the COVID-19 pandemic said she has brought together myriad industry stakeholders to find immediate remedies to these problems and prepare for the reopening of the economy.

“We need to be ready in our seaports for the increased cargo that we know is coming soon,” FMC Commissioner Rebecca Dye told attendees of the virtual annual Agriculture Transportation Coalition...

https://s29755.pcdn.co/news/fmcs-dye-keeps-eye-on-covid-19-challenged-us-supply-chains

Navigating service contract negotiations during COVID-19

This is no ordinary year for American shippers and freight forwarders that are attempting to finalize their annual ocean service contracts with the container carriers.

The uncertainty of how much cargo will be available from the shippers and the amount of capacity offered by the carriers for the next contract season, which generally starts in May, remains anyone’s guess in the face of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

“The biggest obstacle we face in service contract negotiations this year is the...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/navigating-service-contract-negotiations-during-covid-19

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