Shipper group wants FMC action on dwell fees and demurrage
A Federal Maritime Commission-appointed shippers’ committee including Target, DuPont and IKEA is pressing the FMC to rectify injustices arising from the system of dwell fees and demurrage, reports New York’s Journal of Commerce.The FMC body, known as the National Shipping Advisory Committee (NSAC), has been asking the FMC to ensure the financial penalties are reasonable.…
EU to impose curbs on imports of Chinese green technologies
THE European Commission is expected to impose curbs on imports of Chinese green technologies, demoting bidders for public contracts and making it harder for buyers to access subsidies, reports London’s Financial Times. The measures are expected to be unveiled by the European Commission as part of a more aggressive drive to tackle China’s dominance in…
FMC makes US$44 million budget plea to enhance market oversight
THE Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) has announced its intention to request a 14 per cent increase in its fiscal 2024 budget as it faces new shipping regulations and heightened demand for market oversight, reports New York’s Journal of Commerce. The proposed budget of US$43.7 million includes provisions for hiring 23 new employees, with FMC chairman…
Europe responds to US green bill with its own legal push to net-zero
© Dan Talson By Nick Savvides 17/03/2023 The EC has responded to last year’s US bill to drive investment into green technology with its own Net-Zero Industry Act. It claims the NIZA will overhaul industry in the EU with a view to achieving the commission’s 2030 carbon targets. According to the EC, the global market for…
Eleven carriers appeal FMC ruling on who decides on chassis
ELEVEN ocean carriers have appealed Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) chief judge Erin Withered ruling that container lines violated the US Shipping Act when they insisted what chassis must be used, reports New York’s Journal of Commerce. Banded together in the Ocean Carrier Equipment Management Association (OCEMA), the carriers filed the appeal saying the judge erred…
Update of EU Maritime Security Strategy key to address evolving maritime threats
The European shipping industry warmly welcomes the updated EU Maritime Security Strategy and its Action Plan on “An enhanced EU Maritime Security Strategy for evolving maritime threats”. The updated Strategy solidifies the commitment of the EU to enhance its role as a global maritime security provider in a rapidly evolving geopolitical context. Protecting economic activities…
European Green Deal: EU agrees stronger rules to boost energy efficiency
The Commission welcomes the provisional agreement reached this morning with the European Parliament and the Council to reform and strengthen the EU Energy Efficiency Directive, according to the release. This deal marks a further step in the completion of the ‘Fit for 55′ package to deliver the European Green Deal and the REPowerEU Plan. It…
More concerns in the US about Chinese-made cranes
News06 Mar 2023by Paul Avery Wall Street Journal says ZPMC cranes in the US “could give Beijing a possible spying tool hiding in plain sight.” ZPMC’s remote crane monitoring centre in Shanghai The spectre of remote monitoring systems on ZPMC cranes being a “Trojan horse” for Chinese espionage has reared its head again in the US…
Panama and Belgium strengthen maritime ties, inking letters of intent
PANAMA and Belgium have signed three letters of intent to strengthen their ties in the maritime area. The letters of intent were signed by Panama’s Minister of Maritime Affairs, Noriel Arauz, and Belgium’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Justice and the North Sea, Vincent Van Quickenborne. Minister Arauz thanked Belgium for the support it…
EU targets shipping in latest package of Russia sanctions
By : Sam Chambers The European Union approved a tenth package of Russia sanctions on Friday with shipping very much in the sights of politicians. Sun Ship Management, the Dubai-based manager of the Sovcomflot fleet, is part of the new sanctions as is the Russian National Reinsurance Company (RNRC) and Atomflot, which manages Russia’s icebreaking…
UK logistics welcomes the 'end of the Irish Sea border'
© Alan5766 By Alex Whiteman 01/03/2023 UK logistics leaders have welcomed changes to the Northern Ireland Protocol contained in the ‘Windsor Framework’, announced by the UK and EU this week. Representatives from retail, forwarding and customs in the UK said the deal – still subject to a vote by MPs – would not only reduce…
Offshore Wind’s Jones Act Supply Chain Getting into Gear
Illustration courtesy Crowley Barry Parker February 28, 2023 By Barry Parker (gCaptain) – Capital Link’s Jones Act webinar on Offshore Wind, moderated by lawyer Winston & Strawn’s Charlie Papavizas, provided good insights into the plans of leading U.S. participants in the sector. The panel offered an extremely positive view of the most exciting sector in…
China in crosshairs of new US ocean shipping reforms
US lawmakers want to build off last year’s regulatory overhaul, including more restrictions on carriers, reports New York’s FreightWaves. US South Dakota Republican Congressman Dusty Johnson confirmed that curbing China’s ability to exploit proprietary cargo shipping data would be included in ther new ocean shipping reforms he and California Democratic Congressman John Garamendi, want to…
FMC in tussle with MSC over $1,000 surcharge
The Ocean Shipping Reform Act of 2022 (OSRA 2022) broke new ground, in creating mechanisms for cargo interests to challenge charges initiated by carriers that are potentially not conforming with the legislation’s language. Barry Parker | Feb 22, 2023 In an advisory regarding these “Charge Complaints”, the Federal Maritime Commission (FMC), the agency said: “Under…
FMC plans to enforce Ocean Shipping Reform Act in 2023
THE Federal Maritime Commission is preparing to ramp up investigations into carriers this year following two years of congestion and high fees in the shipping industry, reports Washington, DC’s Supply Chain Dive. The FMC is currently working through more than 200 complaints against carriers. “When a delay is manageable, it tends to take away a…
FMC seeks answers from MSC on congestion charges
© Sheila Fitzgerald By Nick Savvides 07/02/2023 US lawmakers have given carrier MSC until the end of the month to explain why it was levying congestion charges. The deadline follows a complaint filed by SOFi Paper Products. Under the new powers given to the Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) since the Ocean Shipping Reform Act 2022…
Carriers cough up as complaints rain in at the FMC
Kim BiggarJanuary 27, 2023 Port of Los Angeles The US Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) has received more than 200 charge complaints since the Ocean Shipping Reform Act of 2022 (OSRA) was enacted in June 2022. More than 70 of those complaints met the FMC’s threshold requirements to be referred to investigators. Commission staff reported at…
UK government considers its own liner consortia regulations
© VinceZen By Nick Savvides 27/01/2023 The UK government could set up its own Consortia Block Exemption Regulation (CBER) for shipping when it revokes all EU laws. Jacob Reees-Mogg, secretary for business, energy and industrial strategy, has proposed a Retained EU Law (Revocation and Reform) Bill, which aims to scrap all existing EU law retained…
FMC Provides Ocean Shipping Reform Update
U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) speaks to U.S. President Joe Biden while attending the signing into law of the Ocean Shipping Reform Act of 2022, which will level the playing field for American exporters and importers, including farmers, and reduce costs for American consumers by lowering the cost of ocean shipping, at the White House…