The Federal Maritime Commission released notices on recently received applications for Ocean Transportation Intermediary licenses, as well as reissuances and revocations and terminations of current agreements. Interested parties may contact the Office of Transportation Intermediaries at 202-523-5843 or at OTI@fmc.gov.

The Federal Maritime Commission is increasing its maximum civil monetary penalties to adjust for inflation. Effective July 11, the agency will up penalty amounts by $1,000-$5,000, depending on the violation. FMC’s biggest penalties like adverse impact to U.S. carriers by foreign shipping practices and adverse shipping conditions under the Merchant Marine Act will be increased by $100,000 to $1.6 million for each. FMC last adjusted its penalties for inflation in 2009, it said.

The Federal Maritime Commission released a notice of the filing of the following agreements under the Shipping Act of 1984. Interested parties may submit comments on the agreement to the Secretary, Federal Maritime Commission, Washington, DC 20573, within 10 days.

A potential strike or work slowdown affecting West Coast ports should be “short and manageable,” said credit rating agency Fitch Ratings on June 27. But if negotiations persist for too long after the June 30 expiration of the work contract between the International Longshore and Warehouse Union and the Pacific Maritime Association, then longer-term diversion of cargo to other ports and broader economic effects could occur, it said.

The Federal Maritime Commission said the following licenses have been reissued, revoked or terminated for Ocean Transportation Intermediaries pursuant to section 19 of the Shipping Act of 1984.Interested persons may contact the Office of Transportation Intermediaries, Federal Maritime Commission, Washington, D.C. 20573, at 202-523-5843 or at OTI@fmc.gov.

The Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) should take a closer look into the "congestion surcharges" planned by ocean carriers if there's a labor contract disruption at the West Coast ports, said a number of industry groups in a letter to the FMC. While the letter voiced appreciation for the agency's recent advisory on the issue (see 14060214), they said the FMC should be able to provide more information to those affected by the surcharges. The groups also voiced their support for a recent National Customs Brokers & Forwarders Association of America letter to the agency that also asked the FMC to step in on port disruption issues (see 14060613).

While China's Ministry of Commerce recently decided against allowing for the P3 Network Sharing Agreement, the Federal Maritime Commission's approval will remain in effect, the FMC said. The agency took a long look and ultimately approved the pact (see 14032117), which would allow for regional vessel sharing among the three largest container carriers: Maersk Line, CMA-CGM, and Mediterranean Shipping Company. "The Commission’s decision remains in effect absent a withdrawal of the agreement by the parties," it said. FMC Chairman Mario Cordero touted the effects of carrier alliances in a statement. "Ocean carrier vessel space alliances offer the potential benefit of cost savings and environmental efficiencies that come from coordinated deployment of newer, larger vessels," he said. "The FMC, in evaluating such agreements, will continue to balance those benefits with the potential harm from a concentration of decision-making power in terms of port coverage, sailing schedules, and necessary trade lane capacity."

The Federal Maritime Commission released a notice of the filing of the following agreements under the Shipping Act of 1984. Interested parties may submit comments on the agreement to the Secretary, Federal Maritime Commission, Washington, DC 20573, within 10 days.

The Federal Maritime Commission formally asked the parties to the OVSA/PIL Space Charter Agreement to provide additional information about the agreement. The request prevents the agreement from taking effect as originally scheduled. Interested parties can file comments on the request by July 9. Parties to Agreement No.: 012274 are: Hamburg Sud; Hapag-Lloyd AG; CMA CGM S.A./ANL Singapore Pte Ltd. (acting as a single party); and Pacific International Lines (Pte) Ltd.

The Coast Guard will impose conditions of entry for vessels arriving from ports in Nigeria, after finding the country does not have adequate anti-terrorism measures in place. Effective June 26, vessels that have visited a Nigerian port in its last five port calls must meet certain requirements related to vessel security in order to . The conditions do not apply to certain terminals at the ports of Apapa, Bonny, Calabar, Escravos, Forcados, Onne, and Tincan/Lagos.