Shipping Act of 1984 Archives - Maritime Shipping News

Regulator wants more ‘enforcement capacity’ against container lines

21 July 2021

The Federal Maritime Commission asked lawmakers to boost its budget to help enforce Shipping Act regulations governing detention and demurrage practices as the agency intensifies its oversight of container lines.

Testifying on his agency’s FY2022 budget before the House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee on Wednesday, FMC Chairman Daniel Maffei said it is seeking $30.8 million — $1 million more than authorized for FY2021 — to bolster resources dedicated to the agency’s Bureau of...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/regulator-wants-more-enforcement-capacity-against-container-lines

Vessel group rejects allegations of threats against US exporters

17 June 2021

U.S. exporters should not fear payback from container lines if they complain to the Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) about excessive cargo fees or canceled contracts, according to the carriers’ representative in Washington.

“I categorically reject the idea that shippers are being threatened with retaliation for bringing complaints — I don’t buy that,” John Butler, president and CEO of the World Shipping Council, which represents most of the world’s container ship fleet, told lawmakers.

Testifying...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/vessel-group-rejects-allegations-of-threats-against-us-exporters

Congress drafting law barring ocean carriers from refusing US exports

15 June 2021

Bipartisan legislation being drafted by members of the U.S. House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee (House T&I) would require ocean carriers to accept all U.S. export container bookings.

The legislation, to be proposed by John Garamendi, D-Calif., and Dusty Johnson, R-S.D., is in response to mounting complaints by U.S. agricultural shippers that unscrupulous business practices by foreign container ship operators are causing them to lose money and market share overseas.

“We’ve got a...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/congress-drafting-law-barring-ocean-carriers-from-refusing-u-s-exports

Power Index: Top 10 Biden regulatory reviews affecting freight markets

1 June 2021

President Joe Biden’s election signaled a stark change in policies and priorities from those of the Trump administration — not uncommon when the White House flips political parties — highlighted by a flurry of executive orders that started just hours after Biden was inaugurated.

Included in those changes are a host of regulations that could also be reversed or altered (or already have been). Below are 10, in no specific order, that have the biggest ramifications for freight.

Regulation: FMCSA —...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/power-index-top-10-biden-regulatory-reviews-affecting-freight-markets

Shipper group pressures Congress to clamp down on ocean carriers

19 May 2021

A request by the nation’s oldest industrial shipper group to expand federal oversight of commercial contracts between ocean carriers and their customers was swiftly rejected by the organization representing most of the world’s ocean carriers.

Frustrated by an ongoing container shortage, service delays and added shipping costs, the National Industrial Transportation League (NITL) is calling on Congress to make changes to U.S. shipping laws, including shifting the burden of proof onto carriers to...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/shipper-group-pressures-congress-to-clamp-down-on-ocean-carriers

World Shipping Council stays in step with Shipping Act

20 October 2020

The World Shipping Council (WSC) has filed an agreement with the U.S. Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) to ensure that its continued container shipping advocacy work complies with the 1984 Shipping Act.

WSC submitted the six-page agreement to the agency on Oct. 1. Without objection from the commission, it will become effective Nov. 15.

Since its formation in 2000, the Washington-based WSC has interfaced with governments and advocated positions in regard to laws, policies, rules and regulations of...

https://s29755.pcdn.co/news/world-shipping-council-stays-in-step-with-shipping-act

FMC considers changing service contract filing requirements

10 October 2020

The U.S. Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) on Friday announced it initiated a notice of proposed rulemaking that will consider a change to regulations that would allow initial service contracts to be filed at the agency up to 30 days after the agreement’s effective date.

This action is separate from the temporary exemption granted by the commission in April and extended earlier this month.

FMC Chairman Michael Khouri sees this potential regulatory action as one of many taken by the agency in...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/fmc-considers-changing-service-contract-filing-requirements

Truckers counter ocean carrier effort to dismiss chassis complaint

6 October 2020

Drayage truckers represented by the American Trucking Associations’ Intermodal Motor Carriers Conference (IMCC) fired back at a group of ocean carriers’ effort to have a complaint before the U.S. Federal Maritime Commission dismissed.

The initial IMCC complaint, which was filed with the FMC on Aug. 17, alleged the Ocean Carrier Equipment Management Association (OCEMA) and its 10 carrier members use “unjust and unreasonable” chassis provision model practices.

Specifically, the truckers claimed...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/truckers-counter-ocean-carrier-effort-to-dismiss-chassis-complaint

Ocean carrier group seeks dray truckers’ chassis complaint dismissal

24 September 2020

A group of ocean carriers that has been accused of abusing its commercial position in how it secures container chassis wants a complaint brought before the U.S. Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) dismissed.

The American Trucking Associations’ Intermodal Motor Carriers Conference (IMCC) alleged in its Aug. 17 complaint to the FMC that the Ocean Carrier Equipment Management Association (OCEMA) and its 10 carrier members use “unjust and unreasonable” chassis provision model practices by “requiring...

https://s29755.pcdn.co/news/ocean-carrier-group-seeks-dray-truckers-chassis-complaint-dismissal

FMC keeps spotlight on ocean forwarder, consolidator concerns

14 September 2020

The coronavirus pandemic may have disrupted international supply chains for much of the year, but a top official at the Federal Maritime Commission said his agency has remained vigilant in its responsibility to ensure competition within the U.S. ocean container shipping trades.

“I am pleased to say that, because of advance planning and preparation, the commission has remained fully open and operational throughout these difficult times,” FMC Chairman Michael Khouri told online attendees of the Nat...

https://s29755.pcdn.co/news/fmc-keeps-spotlight-on-ocean-forwarder-consolidator-concerns

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