The Federal Maritime Commission is investigating reports that the Spanish government is denying port access to ships participating in the Maritime Security Program led by the U.S. Maritime Administration, it said in a notice.

The Alliance for Chemical Distribution (ACD) led a group of more than 20 shippers and trade associations in urging the Federal Maritime Commission Dec. 3 to implement the proposed Maritime Transportation Data System (MTDS) through a rulemaking.

Ocean carrier ZIM Integrated Shipping Services unfairly charged more than $136,000 in fees for a cargo container that spent more than 20 months in detention, Baylink Shipping said in a complaint filed with the Federal Maritime Commission.

California-based motor carrier Access One Transport and France-based ocean carrier CMA CGM have jointly asked the Federal Maritime Commission to approve a confidential agreement that would settle Access One’s complaint against CMA CGM over unfair detention and unfair chassis, storage, stop-off and redelivery fees, according to a notice FMC released Nov. 22. Access One filed its complaint in April (see 2405010027). CMA CGM answered the complaint in May by denying the allegations.

The Federal Maritime Commission is seeking public comments on a new vessel sharing agreement among Japanese carrier Ocean Network Express, South Korea-based Hyundai Merchant Marine and Taiwan-based Yang Ming Marine Transportation. Under the agreement, called the Premier Alliance Agreement, the carriers will share vessels; charter or exchange vessel space; work together on the “operational characteristics of vessels operated under the agreement”; and more, the FMC said. The proposed effective date of the agreement is Dec. 12. Comments are due Nov. 21.

The Federal Maritime Commission is “carefully” reviewing fees and other surcharges announced, implemented or suspended by ocean carriers and terminal operators during labor strikes at U.S. East and Gulf coast port terminals earlier this month (see 2410010048), the commission said Oct. 11. The FMC’s said it's examining those fees’ “relevance and legality,” adding that all charges “must be reasonable, clearly defined, and serve a specific measurable purpose.” Shippers or other parties who believe they were wrongly billed should contact the FMC to try to resolve their dispute, report an alleged legal violation or file a complaint, the FMC said.

A Federal Maritime Commission small claims officer this week dismissed a complaint against CMA CGM, saying that shipper Sameh Elawamry failed to show that the ocean carrier did anything improper in its unsuccessful delivery of two vehicles to Egypt.

A Federal Maritime Commission administrative law judge this week dismissed a Los Angeles-based shipper’s complaint against ocean carrier Hapag-Lloyd, saying the FMC has no jurisdiction because the case has “no nexus to a port in the United States.”

The Federal Maritime Commission reminded the shipping industry that it will continue to enforce its regulations and offer dispute resolution services amid ongoing labor strikes at U.S. East and Gulf coast port terminals (see 2410010048).

Hong Kong carrier Bal Container Line Co. Ltd. and U.S. terminal operator SSA have jointly asked the Federal Maritime Commission to approve a confidential agreement that would settle Bal’s complaint against SSA over congestion surcharges, according to a notice released by the FMC this week.