U.S. Federal Maritime Commission

Regulator vows to back US exporters fearful about Trump’s shipping fees

WASHINGTON — Federal Maritime Commission Chairman Louis Sola told port executives that a priority under his tenure would be assisting U.S. exporters, but that didn’t quell concerns about the effect that million-dollar port fees planned against Chinese vessel operators would have on American ports.

“Exports, particularly energy and agriculture, could be priced out and make competitors from other nations more affordable for our customers abroad,” an attendee told Sola at a legislative conference...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/regulator-vows-to-back-us-exporters-fearful-about-trumps-shipping-fees

US opening investigation into container shipping choke points

WASHINGTON — The Federal Maritime Commission may consider blocking foreign container ships from entering U.S. ports if it finds that the country in which they’re registered is causing choke points at various shipping locations around the world.

In a notice published on Thursday, the FMC announced it would be launching an investigation into transit constraints that the agency says could be creating unfavorable conditions for shipping in U.S. foreign trades.

The seven choke points targeted by the...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/us-opening-investigation-into-container-shipping-choke-points

Senate debates ways to gain leverage over Panama Canal

WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump vowed to “take back” the Panama Canal in his inaugural address, but he likely wouldn’t be able to do so and still be within the confines of the 1977 treaty that signed over authority to Panama, according to an international law expert.

Testifying before the Senate Commerce Committee on Tuesday, Eugene Kontorovich, a senior research fellow at the conservative Heritage Foundation, told lawmakers that countries “need to think long and hard” before signing...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/senate-debates-ways-to-gain-leverage-over-panama-canal

Top 10 freight market rulemakings scheduled for 2025

WASHINGTON — Earlier this month, the Biden administration’s Office of Management and Budget released the Fall 2024 edition of the biennial Unified Agenda of Federal Regulatory and Deregulatory Actions. The agenda updates the status of active and longer-term rulemakings, including the latest estimated target date for the next step in the rulemaking process.

U.S. freight markets are indirectly affected by regulations crafted by almost any agency, but several, including the modal agencies at the...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/top-10-freight-market-rulemakings-scheduled-for-2025

FMC investigating Spain’s alleged blocking of US ships

WASHINGTON — The Federal Maritime Commission has launched an investigation into allegations that Spain has been denying certain U.S-flagged vessels entry to its ports. Separately, Spanish authorities say a Danish-flagged ship was denied entry because it was carrying military weapons to Israel.

The FMC was informed Nov. 19 that Spain had denied entry to at least three vessels, including some that are participants in the U.S. Maritime Administration’s (MarAd) Maritime Security Program (MSP), the...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/fmc-investigating-spains-alleged-blocking-of-us-ships

Fear rises at FMC about possible East, Gulf Coast port strike

WASHINGTON — A member of the Federal Maritime Commission told Congress he is concerned about the potential for a work stoppage at the nation’s East and Gulf Coast container ports as the countdown to a strike hits six days.

Commissioner Carl Bentzel told lawmakers Wednesday that while his agency is “immunized” from the collective bargaining process, the FMC is providing advice to shippers in case the International Longshoremen’s Association calls a strike next week.

Carl Bentzel testifying in the...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/fear-rises-at-fmc-about-possible-east-gulf-coast-port-strike

FMC rejects claims it is using new container rule to regulate prices

WASHINGTON — The Federal Maritime Commission has rejected arguments that it is trying to regulate rates in issuing a new rule largely prohibiting ocean carriers from refusing to provide vessel space for their customers’ containers.

The final rule, which also addresses instances in which carriers unreasonably refuse to deal or negotiate contract provisions with their customers regarding container vessel space, was required under the Ocean Shipping Reform Act of 2022. It goes into effect Sept. 23.

“...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/fmc-rejects-claims-it-is-using-new-container-rule-to-regulate-prices

Truckers, shippers warn against delaying container fee rule

WASHINGTON — Drayage truckers and shippers are pushing hard against a request by container ship operators to delay a recent rule regulating how containers can be billed, warning the Federal Maritime Commission that such a move would lead to supply chain havoc.

The Ocean Carrier Equipment Management Association (OCEMA), which represents 10 of the largest international ocean carriers, argued in its petition to the FMC that because the agency made a correction to its final rule on demurrage and...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/truckers-shippers-warn-against-delaying-container-fee-rule

FMC building case for new container data-sharing rules

WASHINGTON — The Federal Maritime Commission is seeking another round of comments from container line operators and their customers as part of its quest to build the case for potential new mandates on container shipment data sharing.

The FMC wants to supplement an information request issued last year along with a May 2023 report on the agency’s Maritime Transportation Data Initiative (MTDI). That project, led by Commissioner Carl Bentzel, attempts to measure the extent to which shipment data is...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/fmc-building-case-for-new-container-data-sharing-rules

FMC fears glut of container fee disputes after Baltimore bridge collapse

WASHINGTON — Federal regulators are bracing for disputes over container fees caused by routing cancellations in the wake of the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse.

Shortly after the collapse early on March 26 that closed the Port of Baltimore, MSC, the world’s largest ocean carrier, advised customers that containers en route to the port would be diverted for unloading at alternate U.S. East Coast ports, and that the carriage contract would be declared terminated at the alternate port instead of...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/fmc-fears-glut-of-container-fee-disputes-after-baltimore-bridge-collapse

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