The Federal Maritime Commission continues to consider a request to delay its new final rule on demurrage and detention billing requirements, said Rich Roche, who chairs the Non-Vessel Operating Common Carrier Subcommittee of the National Customs Brokers & Forwarders Association of America.
Ocean carrier Hapag-Lloyd provided motor carrier S.P.F. Logistics of Long Beach, California, with inadequate opportunities to return empty containers, forcing SPF to store the containers at its own expense, according to a complaint filed July 16 with the Federal Maritime Commission.
The Federal Maritime Commission announced this week that it’s adding China-based Anji Shipping Co. to its Controlled Carrier List, a list of carriers subject to increased FMC regulations because they are directly or indirectly owned by foreign governments. The FMC said Anji will be subject to certain controlled carrier regulations, including rate review standards to ensure that it doesn't unfairly use its government-supported position against competitors.
The Federal Maritime Commission will prevent a new vessel-sharing agreement between major ocean carriers Maersk and Hapag-Lloyd from going into effect this week because it needs more information about the potential competitive impact of the arrangement, the agency announced July 12.
The Federal Maritime Commission on July 1 added Hyundai Merchant Marine to its Controlled Carrier List, a list of carriers that are subject to increased FMC regulations because they are directly or indirectly owned by foreign governments. The FMC said Hyundai Merchant Marine, a container transportation company, is controlled by the South Korean government but will be exempt from certain controlled carrier regulations because of a treaty the U.S. and Korea signed in 1957.
The Federal Maritime Commission recently reminded carriers about the requirements they must meet to maintain their status before the commission as a vessel-operating common carrier (VOCC), warning they may face penalties if they fail to meet those requirements. The FMC said carriers publishing automated tariffs as VOCCs must “operate at least one vessel in common carriage in the foreign commerce of the United States to maintain their status.” Companies offering common carriage but that don’t operate at least one vessel are considered non-vessel-operating common carriers, the commission said, and must follow the licensing, registration and financial responsibility requirements for NVOCCs. “Operating as an NVOCC and failing to meet all relevant requirements may result in a civil monetary penalty.”
HMM Co. Ltd., formerly known as Hyundai Merchant Marine Co. Ltd., has charged unfair demurrage and detention fees for inland transportation since 2020, Samsung Electronics America (SEA) alleged in a complaint filed with the Federal Maritime Commission on May 30.
The Federal Maritime Commission is seeking public comments on a new vessel sharing agreement between major ocean carriers Maersk and Hapag Lloyd. The Gemini Cooperation Agreement would allow the carriers to “globally coordinate their vessel operations,” FMC said, including by sharing vessels on trade routes between the U.S., Asia, the Middle East and Europe. Public comments are due June 18. If the FMC takes no action, the agreement will take effect July 15.
The Federal Maritime Commission has approved a confidential settlement between Access One Transport and Zim Integrated Shipping Services and dismissed Access One’s complaint against Zim. The settlement, approved June 4, comes after Access One accused Zim in April of charging unfair detention and unfair chassis, storage, stop-off and redelivery fees for containers that couldn't be returned due to lack of appointments or terminal closures out of its control (see 2404230050).
The Federal Maritime Commission is hoping to release a rule this fall that would create a registry for national shipping exchanges, FMC Chair Daniel Maffei said during a May 29 event hosted by the Consumer Technology Association. The Ocean Shipping Reform Act of 2022 gave the FMC until June 2025 to craft the rule, and lawmakers have called on the FMC to provide a counterbalance to China's Shanghai Shipping Exchange, which they said is poised to become a monopoly without more competition (see 2402020060).