Archive for 2021

FMC VOCC Audit Team Urges Carriers to Adopt Detention & Demurrage Best Practices

Ocean carriers should rapidly adopt three common best practices related to detention and demurrage that promote clarity and certainty about how and when fees will be assessed as well as how to challenge disputed charges. The call for an industrywide adoption of best practices came in a letter Federal Maritime… Read More »

FMC Briefed on Enforcement and Audit Activities, and Upcoming NSAC Meeting

Enforcement matters, information learned to date from audits of carrier detention and demurrage practices, and the role of the National Shipper Advisory Committee were matters addressed during a meeting of the Federal Maritime Commission held today. The meeting was held virtually in both open and closed sessions. The Commission was… Read More »

Commissioner Sola Receives Award for Work Addressing COVID Impacts to Passenger Cruise Sector

Commissioner Louis Sola was recognized by Seatrade Cruise magazine for his leadership in calling attention to COVID-19 related impacts to the cruise industry and identifying ways for this critical part of the hospitality and tourism industries to safely resume operations. The “Seatrade Outstanding Achievement of the Year” award was presented… Read More »

Commission Meeting Scheduled for October 13, 2021

SUNSHINE ACT MEETING FEDERAL MARITIME COMMISSION AGENDA STATUS: Part of this meeting will be open to the public and will be streamed live, accessible from www.fmc.gov. The rest of the meeting will be closed to the public. DATE AND TIME: October 13, 2021; 10:00AM PLACE: This will be an open meeting to the… Read More »

Chairman Daniel B. Maffei Visits West Coast Ports

Last week, Chairman Daniel B. Maffei, accompanied by the Director of Bureau of Trade Analysis, Kristen Monaco, visited Los Angeles and Long Beach to tour facilities and meet with supply chain participants. As a part of his visit, he participated in the California Supply Chain Success Initiative Summit held at… Read More »

Chairman Maffei Addresses NCBFAA Conference

Federal Maritime Commission Chairman Daniel B. Maffei addressed the NCBFAA annual Government Affairs Conference, discussing conditions in the trade, Commission actions and initiatives in response to events of the past year, and possible priorities for the agency moving forward. The remarks were delivered in person on Monday, September 20, in… Read More »

AUGUST 2021 ACTIVITY REPORT

STATEMENTS & ANNOUNCEMENTS Commission Questions Shipping Lines About Surcharges The Federal Maritime Commission has launched an expedited inquiry into the timing and legal sufficiency of ocean carrier practices with respect to certain surcharges. FMC Invites Comment on Proposed Rule Addressing Cruise Line Non-Performance and Refunds The Federal Maritime Commission announced… Read More »

Meeting of the Federal Maritime Commission – September 21, 2021

Authority: 46 U.S.C. Sec. 303 The meeting commenced at 10:03 and recessed at 10:31. All individuals present at the briefing were Commissioners or Commission employees: Chairman Daniel B. Maffei, Commissioner Rebecca F. Dye, Commissioner Michael A. Khouri, Commissioner Louis E. Sola, Commissioner Carl W. Bentzel, Katharine Primosch, John Moran, Clark… Read More »

Commissioner Bentzel hosts two roundtables in California, meets with Supply Chain Stakeholders and Federal and State Officials

In early September, Commissioner Carl W. Bentzel met with California-based shippers and supply chain stakeholders, in addition to convening two roundtables on supply chain issues, to explore opportunities for greater efficiencies. The roundtables were convened at the Port of Oakland, and at the Port of Long Beach, which also jointly… Read More »

Statement by Commissioner Carl W. Bentzel on Commission Vote on Demurrage and Detention and Notice of Proposed Rule Making

Last week, the Commission voted to potentially consider further industry guidance on reasonable practices governing the issuance of demurrage and detention charges. Specifically, FMC staff was charged with the development of an Advanced Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (ANPRM) that would seek industry views on whether the Commission should require common… Read More »