December 8 - The Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) has announced that it has been advised that the 15 ocean carrier members of the Transpacific Stabilization Agreement have individually committed to forego imposition of any port congestion surcharges unti
The FMC says it has received numerous inquiries regarding congestion surcharges for "labour unrest" as announced in various ocean carriers' tariff rules required to be published under the Shipping Act and the Commission's regulations.
On November 17, the Commission announced that it was collecting information regarding congestion surcharge rules published in carrier tariffs and undertaking a review.
Ocean carriers in the transpacific trades were asked to respond to Commission inquiries into the timing and legal sufficiency of the surcharges, and all carriers timely responded.
During the week of November 24, following the Commission's inquiries, many carriers announced temporary suspension of the surcharge.
FMC chairman Mario Cordero stated: "I welcome the individual commitments of the ocean carriers to postpone port congestion surcharges into 2015. During this time, Commission staff will further address with the carriers our concerns for the lawfulness, fairness, and adequacy of notice of implementation. The carriers' commitment to defer the congestion surcharge offers the opportunity to continue this important dialogue and pursue greater transparency as to the timing and the need for future carrier surcharges. The monitoring by Commission staff of port congestion and related surcharges will continue."
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