Archive for 2020

Commission Initiates Rulemaking Process Addressing Cruise Line Performance and Refunds

The Federal Maritime Commission has initiated a process that may ultimately lead to amending its regulations concerning “non-performance” by a Passenger Vessel Operator (PVO/cruise line) and under what circumstances passengers must be provided a refund for a cancelled or delayed voyage. On Monday, the Commission voted to accept the recommendations… Read More »

Commissioner Dye Completes Work in NY & NJ, Turns Attention to New Orleans

Operations and cargo flow at the Port of New York and New Jersey have been minimally impacted by COVID-19 and the leadership at the bi-state organization has prioritized improving the container return process to further increase efficiencies and better serve shippers and truckers. Those are the two central observations highlighted… Read More »

Commissioner Sola Provides Briefing on Fact Finding 30 to Senior DoT Official

COVID-19 related impacts on ocean shipping and the cruise industry were discussed Wednesday in a conference call that brought together two Commissioners of the Federal Maritime Commission, a senior official from the Department of Transportation, and representatives of sectors affected by the pandemic’s consequences. Commissioner Louis E. Sola invited the… Read More »

RADM Steve Andersen, USCG (retired) Named FMC General Counsel

Chairman Michael A. Khouri today announced the selection of RADM Steve Andersen, USCG (retired) as the General Counsel of the Federal Maritime Commission. Also announced today is the appointment of Andersen to the Senior Executive Service. Prior to joining the Federal Maritime Commission, Andersen served as the General Counsel and… Read More »

Commissioner Sola Proposes Changes to FMC Regulations on Cruise Line Performance & Refunds

Updated 8/10/20 to provide details on the proposed changes to passenger refunds for canceled bookings. Commissioner Louis E. Sola has proposed the Federal Maritime Commission initiate a rulemaking to amend its regulations governing Passenger Vessel Operators (PVOs or cruise lines) in order to create a uniform standard for non-performance of transportation… Read More »

Statement of Chairman Michael A. Khouri on FMC Monitoring of Blanked Sailings

Regular cargo volumes and shipping patterns have been altered as a result of COVID-19 impacts to international trade, including disruptions to production and changes in consumer demand. Changes in U.S. – Asia and U.S. – Europe trade agreements and tariffs are also a factor, especially concerning short term volatility in… Read More »

FMC Provides Regulatory Flexibility to Small Passenger Vessel Operators

The Federal Maritime Commission voted to support a proposal put forward by Fact Finding Officer Commissioner Louis E. Sola that provides limited and temporary relief to small passenger vessel operators whose operations and business have been disrupted by the response to COVID-19. In approving the “Policy Statement on Passenger Vessel… Read More »

JUNE 2020 ACTIVITY REPORT

STATEMENTS & ANNOUNCEMENTS Fact Finding 30 Phase One Report Identifies Proposal That Would Help U.S. Cruise Companies An Initial Report issued today by Commissioner Louis Sola identifies a regulatory step that addresses a critical COVID-19 fiscal impact experienced by the cruise industry generally, but most significantly by small passenger vessel… Read More »

Dye Covid-19 Supply Chain Investigation Shifts Focus to NY/NJ in Phase Two

Commissioner Rebecca Dye’s Fact Finding investigation of COVID-19 related impacts to the supply chain (Fact Finding 29) is entering Phase Two with a concentration on issues related to operations at the Port Authority of New York & New Jersey (PANYNJ) and surrounding facilities. She is also announcing plans for an… Read More »

Commissioner Sola Reports on Meeting with ILWU Leadership in Fact Finding 30 to Discuss Impacts of COVID-19 on Longshore Workforce

Earlier this week I had an excellent discussion with the senior leadership of the International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) concerning the impact of the current pandemic on the financial wellbeing of their members. International President William Adams, Vice-President Robert “Bobby” Olvera, Jr., and Committeemen Frank Ponce de Leon and… Read More »