FMC Seeks Comments on Service Contracts, NVOCC Rulemaking

The Federal Maritime Commission wants public input on possible amendments to the agency's rules on service contracts and non-vessel operating common carrier service arrangements, it said in an advance notice of proposed rulemaking (here). Among the issues the agency is seeking comment on are its definition of "affiliate" within the regulations, an extension to the time a service contract correction request can be filed and possible "metadata" requirements for service contracts, it said. The FMC is also considering regulatory changes to allow "a service contract amendment to be filed individually and sequentially within 30 days of its effectiveness" or "any number of service contract amendments to be consolidated into a single document, but filed within 30 days of the effective date of the earliest of all amendments contained in the document." The FMC began work on the regulatory review in September of 2013 and "informally solicited views from various stakeholders in order to gather a broad range of perspectives," it said. Among those that provided comments were the National Customs Brokers & Forwarders Association of America, beneficial cargo owners, NVOCCs and shippers associations, it said. Comments are due March 30.