Ten Points to Rationalize and Restart the United States Maritime Industry
Significant changes are expected at the Federal Maritime Commission (FMC), the bipartisan body tasked with regulating the U.S. international ocean transportation system for the benefit of U.S. exporters, importers and...more
The Federal Maritime Commission ( FMC) issued its Final Rule on July 22, 2024, establishing its approach to determining what constitutes an unreasonable refusal to deal or negotiate cargo space and vessel space accommodations...more
Starting a cargo shipping business is no small feat; the financial barriers alone can be overwhelming. But for entrepreneurs willing to take on the challenge, the maritime industry has a high potential for reward. For...more
The Federal Maritime Commission (the “FMC”) issued its Final Rule on July 22, 2024, establishing its approach to determining what constitutes an unreasonable refusal to deal or negotiate cargo space and vessel space...more
The pessimist complains about the wind; the optimist expects it to change; the realist adjusts the sails. – William Arthur Ward The U.S. maritime industry is much like a great ship: It is subject to unforeseen forces, and it...more
The Federal Maritime Commission’s (FMC) newly revised tariff regulations will be effective February 1, 2024. These rule changes will somewhat significantly change day-to-day practices for both vessel operating common carriers...more
Marine terminal operators (MTOs) and ocean common carriers became easy targets upon which to cast blame for the port congestion issues and supply chain weaknesses arising out of the COVID-19 pandemic....more
A number of developments in international ocean shipping have emerged following the enactment of the Ocean Shipping Reform Act of 2022 (OSRA) last year. The U.S. Congress sought to arm the Federal Maritime Commission (FMC)...more
On June 16, 2022, President Joe Biden signed the Ocean Shipping Reform Act of 2022 (OSRA). OSRA’s objective is to reduce shipping costs and address concerns relating to supply-chain challenges. OSRA provides the Federal...more
In light of the challenges faced by U.S. shipping interests, the Ocean Shipping Reform Act of 2022 (“OSRA 2022”) amended various statutory provisions of the Shipping Act of 1984 (“Shipping Act”), including common...more
On June 24, 2022, the Federal Maritime Commission’s Office of the General Counsel issued an opinion on the effective date of the new Ocean Shipping Reform Act of 2022 (“OSRA 2022”), Pub. L. 117-146. Per the General Counsel,...more
On June 16, 2022, President Biden signed into law the Ocean Shipping Reform Act (OSRA), bipartisan legislation aimed at providing relief to U.S. importers, exporters, freight carriers, port operators and other companies...more
Beneficial cargo owners have faced well-reported challenges in recent bid seasons. Two plus years of global pandemic unleashed supply and capacity interruption, carrier lane divergence, and an explosion in rates as well as...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
Less than two weeks after President Biden officially announced his agreement with the Port of Los Angeles to begin operating 24/7, the ports of LA and Long Beach have decided to implement a new fee for containers sitting at...more
In late May, the Global Shipping Business Network (GSBN), a consortium of ocean carriers and terminal operators, filed a petition with the Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) to obtain an antitrust exemption under the U.S....more
On March 31, 2020, in response to concerns stemming from the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, the Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) initiated Fact Finding Investigation No. 29, which is aimed at developing improvements to the...more
Note from the Editor - Happy (almost) spring! Every year seems to be a new adventure and a new challenge, and this year, on top of the dramatic new International Maritime Organization 2020 bunker regulations that have now...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
• The Federal Maritime Commission Authorization Act of 2017 was signed into law by President Donald Trump on Dec. 4, 2018, marking the first substantive revision to the U.S. Shipping Act, 46 U.S.C. § 40101 et seq. (the...more
A cloud of uncertainty hangs over the shipping industry with respect to violations of the Shipping Act - can a single act constitute a Shipping Act violation or does there have to be more pervasive or systematic conduct? But...more
• 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, 2018. ...more
WHEN? The Federal Maritime Commission by Final Rule issued July 19, 2018 took final rules to simplify freight pricing requirements for Non-vessel Operating Common Carriers (“NVOCCs”) by establishing changes to Negotiated Rate...more
In the wake of a hearing held by the Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) in January regarding detention, demurrage, and per diem charges, the FMC voted on Monday, March 5, to launch an investigation focusing on the practices of...more
In August 2015, a federal court held in an apparent case of first impression that the Shipping Act of 1984 (the “Shipping Act”), preempts state law claims as well as federal antitrust claims. Direct and indirect purchasers of...more