Lawmakers expressed concerns this week that the Federal Maritime Commission may not have enough resources to continue reforming ocean shipping regulations and enforcing existing shipping laws, particularly after a host of employees resigned from the agency this year.
A Federal Maritime Commission small claims officer on July 14 dismissed a demurrage-related complaint against ZIM Integrated Shipping Services, saying Oregon-based exporter Bridgewell Agribusiness had no contractual relationship with the Israeli ocean carrier.
American Iron & Metal Co. (AIM), a Montreal-based scrap metal recycling company, has accused non-vessel operating common carrier Priva Logistics of New York state of preventing it from retrieving cargo shipped to India and Italy, according to a complaint filed with the Federal Maritime Commission.
A Federal Maritime Commission administrative law judge has approved a confidential agreement to settle allegations by U.S. shipper Supply Source that France-based ocean carrier CMA CGM imposed unfair demurrage and detention charges, according to an FMC notice served June 18. Two Supply Source Enterprises subsidiaries filed the complaint against CMA CGM in February 2024 (see 2402150055), and TZ SSE Buyer later purchased Supply Source’s assets from bankruptcy. CMA CGM denied the allegations.
U.S. shippers QVC Inc. and Cornerstone Brands have accused Singapore-based ocean carrier Ocean Network Express (ONE) of failing to meet its minimum quantity commitments under service contracts for the period of May 2021 to April 2022, according to a complaint filed this month with the Federal Maritime Commission.
FormuKleen, a Boca Raton, Florida-based importer in the hospitality industry, accused Miami-based freight forwarder and customs broker Top Shipping Systems (TSS) of violating the Shipping Act by withholding two “high-value” shipments in an attempt to obtain payment for past-due invoices for other shipments, according to a complaint filed this month with the Federal Maritime Commission.
Shippers are continuing to press the Federal Maritime Commission for clarity around which agency should regulate certain rail storage fees imposed by ocean carriers on through bills of lading, saying little progress has been made in recent months, despite urging from the National Shipping Advisory Committee.
A Federal Maritime Commission administrative law judge ordered ocean carrier SM Line Corp. May 28 to pay consumer goods company Samsung Electronics America $1.9 million in reparations for unfair demurrage and detention fees.
A Federal Maritime Commission administrative law judge has approved a confidential agreement to settle allegations by U.S.-based protective equipment supplier AirBoss Defense Group that non-vessel-operating common carrier FedEx Trade Networks Transport & Brokerage and ocean carrier Mediterranean Shipping Co. charged unfair demurrage and detention fees, according to an FMC notice released May 15.
PKDC LLC, a Colorado-based furniture distributor, accused China-based ocean carrier Cosco Shipping Lines Co. of charging “hundreds of thousands of dollars” in unfair demurrage and detention fees, according to a complaint filed with the Federal Maritime Commission this month.