The Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) announced on Sept. 13, 2022, that it is seeking public comment on a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) addressing what constitutes an unreasonable refusal to deal or negotiate with...more
Since its passage on June 16, 2022, the shipping industry is understandably focused on the implications of the Ocean Shipping Reform Act of 2022 (OSRA) (Pub. Law No. 117-146, 2022 Enacted S. 3580), and the rulemakings that...more
Commissioner Rebecca F. Dye of the Federal Maritime Commission (FMC or the Commission) has released her Final Report for Fact Finding 29 titled "The Effects of COVID-19 on the U.S. International Ocean Transportation Supply...more
The Federal Maritime Commission (FMC or the Commission) met during both open and closed session on Jan. 27, 2022, to discuss the Commission's efforts to address ocean carriers' detention and demurrage practices, as well as...more
2/8/2022
/ Advanced Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (ANPRM) ,
Antitrust Division ,
Biden Administration ,
Common Carriers ,
Competition ,
Criminal Prosecution ,
Department of Justice (DOJ) ,
Executive Orders ,
Federal Maritime Commission ,
Maritime Transport ,
Memorandum of Understanding ,
Shipping ,
Shipping Cargo ,
Vessels
The Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) announced on Sept. 15, 2021, that it would move forward with two demurrage-and-detention related initiatives proposed by Commissioner Rebecca F. Dye as part of Fact Finding 29.
The...more
While the United States continues to assess the full scope of the devastating aftermath of Hurricane Ida on the U.S. Gulf Coast, national media have already reported shortages of oil and fuel supplies, as well as food and...more
Cargo congestion has reached historic proportions during the COVID-19 pandemic as the demand for imports by U.S. consumers and businesses has skyrocketed combined with an increase in operational disruptions. The effect has...more
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) earlier this year for the first time expressly found that the Jones Act applies to transportation of merchandise from a U.S. port to a location on the U.S. outer continental shelf...more
The U.S. Department of the Treasury Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) might have left many vessel operators wondering how to avoid an economic sanctions violation when OFAC added Venezuela's maritime authority,...more
In a ruling dated Jan. 27, 2021, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) for the first time expressly found that the Jones Act applies to transportation of merchandise from a U.S. port to a location on the outer continental...more
Daily life has changed during the COVID-19 pandemic. Many expect that some of these changes will become part of the "new normal" when the pandemic is over. The Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) has gotten a head start on this...more
What to Look for in Ocean Shipping and Offshore Industries in 2021 -
Once he assumes office on Jan. 20, 2021, President-Elect Joe Biden will quickly need to develop a comprehensive strategy regarding U.S. ocean trade,...more
In struggling to address the evolving COVID-19 pandemic, the United States and many other countries continue to face major shortages of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), such as N95 masks, gowns and other vital materials...more
8/3/2020
/ Bank Secrecy Act ,
Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Customs and Border Protection ,
Department of Justice (DOJ) ,
Enforcement Actions ,
FinCEN ,
Fraud ,
Imports ,
Medical Devices ,
Medical Supplies ,
Personal Protective Equipment ,
Price Gouging ,
Scams ,
Supply Chain
The Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) has issued a final rule exempting vessel operating common carriers (VOCCs) from publishing "essential terms" of service contracts. The final rule took effect on its publication date of...more
The Federal Maritime Commission's (FMC) final rule "Docket No. 19-05, Interpretive Rule on Demurrage and Detention Under the Shipping Act" (Final Rule), which took effect on May 18, 2020, after being published in the Federal...more
The Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) has issued a Final Rule allowing the Commission more flexibility in issuing exemptions with respect to service contracts filed by vessel operating common carriers (VOCCs). 85 Fed. Reg....more
President Donald Trump signed Executive Order 139201 on May 1, 2020, declaring a national emergency in order to secure the nation's bulk-power system. The president's order explains that such systems are threatened by foreign...more
5/7/2020
/ China ,
Critical Infrastructure Sectors ,
Cybersecurity ,
Department of Energy (DOE) ,
Energy Sector ,
Executive Orders ,
Government Investigations ,
National Security ,
Power Grid ,
Russia ,
Section 232 ,
U.S. Commerce Department
The COVID-19 crisis has revealed the extent to which the United States and other countries are dependent upon a well-functioning global supply chain of critical medical supplies, including ventilators and Personal Protective...more
The Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) on March 31, 2020, issued an order – Fact Finding No. 29 International Ocean Transportation Supply Chain Engagement – to develop improvements to U.S. ocean transportation supply chains to...more
As the maritime industry continues to adjust to the implementation of the International Maritime Organization's (IMO) 2020 global low-sulfur fuel regulations, key parts of the China Ministry of Transportation's (MOT) "2020...more
The Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) issued a notice of proposed rulemaking on Feb. 14, 2020, proposing to change the publication requirements related to ocean service contracts. Currently, VOCCs must file with the FMC each...more
• The seventh session of the International Maritime Organization's (IMO) Sub-Committee on Pollution Prevention and Response (PPR7) will be held in London on Feb. 18-22, 2020, with a number of the agenda items likely to impact...more
A steady stream of recent developments has flowed as the maritime industry grapples with implementing the International Maritime Organization's (IMO) 2020 global low-sulfur fuel rules. Recent announcements by the Suez Canal...more
The Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) voted in a closed session on Sept. 26, 2019, to eliminate the requirement for vessel operators to publish essential terms of their service contracts. The decision is a response to a...more
10/1/2019
/ Contract Terms ,
Federal Maritime Commission ,
Filing Requirements ,
Maritime Transport ,
Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NOPR) ,
Proposed Rules ,
Service Agreements ,
Service Contracts ,
Shipping ,
Transportation Industry ,
Vessels
The Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) in March 2018 directed Commissioner Rebecca F. Dye to initiate a fact finding investigation (Fact Finding 28) into demurrage and detention practices at U.S. ports. Commissioner Dye issued...more