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
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
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
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
For background information regarding open-loop scrubber environmental studies by the Japanese Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transportaiton and Tourism (MLIT) and the classification society Det Norske Veritas Germanischer...more
• The Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) has published a series of proposed rule changes covering licensing, financial responsibility requirements and general duties pertaining to ocean transportation intermediaries.
• The...more
• The Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) has adopted an interpretive rule that tightens certain prohibitions under the 1984 Shipping Act. Specifically, the change tightens the Section 10(d)(a) prohibition against regulated...more
• According to a California statute set to take effect in January 2019, ocean carriers, marine terminal operators (MTOs) and shippers engaging port drayage motor carriers (PDMCs) that default on obligations to pay employees...more
10/2/2018
/ Blacklist ,
DLSE ,
Drivers ,
Employer Liability Issues ,
Employment Tax ,
Hiring & Firing ,
Joint and Several Liability ,
Maritime Transport ,
Motor Carriers ,
New Legislation ,
Ports ,
Shipping ,
State Labor Laws ,
Transportation Industry ,
Wage and Hour
• The Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) issued Final Rules pertaining to Non-Vessel Operating Common Carrier (NVOCC) Service Agreements (NSAs) and Negotiated Rate Agreements (NRAs) that will become effective Aug. 22,...more
7/25/2018
/ Compliance Costs ,
Federal Maritime Commission ,
Filing Requirements ,
Final Rules ,
Negotiated Rate Agreements ,
NVOCCs ,
Regulatory Oversight ,
Service Agreements ,
Shipping ,
Shipping Cargo ,
Tariffs ,
Vessels
El 6 de junio de 2018, la Comisión Federal Marítima de Estados Unidos (FMC por su sigla en inglés) aprobó en un voto un unánime (3-0) ciertos cambios que aliviarán las cargas regulatorias sobre intermediarios de transporte...more
On June 6, 2018, the Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) voted unanimously (3-0) to approve significant changes that will relieve regulatory burdens on Ocean Transportation Intermediaries (OTI) and simplify requirements for...more
Once he assumes office on Jan. 20, 2017, President-Elect Donald Trump will be responsible for managing a mix of cargo preference, ship documentation, cabotage, and related rules and laws dating back to the First Congress,...more