US shippers take their complaints to the FMC

The Federal Maritime Commission seeks feedback on maritime data accuracy, focusing on container movement between service providers and importers/exporters.

Ports America and NAWE say it is “quite frankly astonishing” that the FMC would seek to limit a marine terminal operator’s ability to charge demurrage in its Notice of Proposed Rulemaking.

Despite a US FMC Judge telling the carrier its conduct “cannot be permitted in Commission adjudications” and issuing a default decision against it, MSC is refusing to back down and will appeal an order for damages against the company.

The case relates to a complaint filed by furniture shipper MCS Industries. The carrier says it will continue to defend its position vigorously

Following a visit to the port of New York/New Jersey, Daniel Maffei has called on carriers to drop fees for empty containers that shippers and 3PLs cannot deliver to the port because of congestion; Port of NY/NJ to introduce its own fees

To match the Ocean Shipping Reform Act, the FMC has reorganised its investigative and prosecution functions by consolidating them into a newly created Bureau of Enforcement, Investigations, and Compliance (BEIC)