The International Air Transport Association (IATA) released figures in April for air freight markets that showed a growth of 1.4 percent from last April. This growth offset March’s 2.6 percent decline in comparison to March of last year, and simultaneously continues an 18-month trend of no growth in cargo markets. However, IATA’s Director General and CEO Tony Tyler said “some encouraging signs of growth” can be seen in emerging markets like Latin America and the Middle East. This growth can be attributed to factors like strong domestic demand and the opening of new routes to developing economies, said IATA in a press release (here) .
The Federal Maritime Commission cautioned the trade about doing business with an Ocean Transportation Intermediary (OTI) operating as Tam Tam and T-Square. The FMC received reports that the unlicensed OTI failed to pay others in the transportation chain resulting in "consumers making additional payments in order to receive their goods," the agency said. Consumers were then also unable to contact the companies, which ship automobiles and personal effects, about the problems.
The Federal Maritime Commission said the following have filed applications for a license as a Non-Vessel-Operating Common Carrier (NVO) and/or Ocean Freight Forwarder (OFF)-Ocean Transportation Intermediary (OTI) pursuant to section 19 of the Shipping Act of 1984. The FMC also gave notice of the filing of applications to amend an existing OTI license or the qualifying individual for a license. 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 Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration issued a proposed rule on hazardous materials procedural regulations for the opening of packages and emergency orders and recalls, as well as notification and inspection requirements, as required by 2012’s Hazardous Materials Transportation Safety Improvement Act. The proposed rule adds an amendment recognizing “the special characteristics and handling requirements of perishable hazardous material.” It says that agents will stop or open perishable hazardous material packages only after they have utilized “appropriate alternatives.”
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.
An advanced notice of proposed rulemaking meant to update rules for Ocean Transportation Intermediaries (OTI) is expected to run in the Federal Register this week following approval by the Federal Maritime Commission on May 15, said an FMC spokeswoman. The notice will begin a 60-day comment cycle, she said. The proposal would require OTI licensees to renew licenses every two years and extend regulations to foreign-based nonvessel-operating common carriers. FMC Commissioner Rebecca Dye and Commissioner Michael Khoir voted against the proposal. Dye lodged some objections to the proposal at the meeting, calling into question the need for additional OTI regulations and new OTI bonding levels (here).
The Nuclear Regulatory Commission is amending security regulations for transportation of spent nuclear fuel, it said in a final rule. The rulemaking also creates performance standards for the protection of spent fuel shipments from theft diversion or radiological sabotage, it said. The amended rules are effective Aug. 19.
The Federal Maritime Commission said the following have filed applications for a license as a Non-Vessel-Operating Common Carrier (NVO) and/or Ocean Freight Forwarder (OFF)-Ocean Transportation Intermediary (OTI) pursuant to section 19 of the Shipping Act of 1984. The FMC also gave notice of the filing of applications to amend an existing OTI license or the qualifying individual for a license. 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 Nuclear Regulatory Commission issued a proposed rule to amend regulations for packaging and transportation of radioactive material, to harmonize NRC regulations with Department of Transportation regulations and International Atomic Energy Agency standards. The rule proposes to make the regulation of quality assurance programs “more efficient” by allowing certain changes -- ones that do not alter quality assurance approval holder commitments -- to be made without prior approval from the NRC. The rule also proposes to extend the duration of quality assurance program approvals so they don't expire, and revise current quality assurance program approvals so they too would not expire. The changes would also clarify the responsibilities of general licensees, and further limit the shipping of fissile material under a general license. Comments on the information-collection sections of the proposed rule are due June 17 and can be submitted to www.regulations.gov. Comments on the remainder of the rule are due July 30. Read the proposed rule (here).
The Federal Maritime Commission scheduled a meeting at 10 a.m. May 15 at its First Floor Hearing Room in Washington, D.C. Agenda items include: (1) Staff Briefing on Agency Initial Draft FY 2014-2018 Strategic Plan. (2) Licensing, Financial Responsibility Requirements, and General Duties for Ocean Transportation Intermediaries.