Change is on the horizon in the shipping industry, and it is important to make sure you are staying informed. Effective July 1st, 2016, changes adopted by the International Maritime Organization (IMO) regarding verified container weights will become effective. These changes were first introduced at the 2014 Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) Convention, but it is now time for […]
On May 31, 2013 the Federal Maritime Commission (“FMC”) published proposed changes to the rules regulating Ocean Transportation Intermediaries (“OTI’s”) and Non-Vessel-Operating Common Carriers (“NVOCC’s”). The 60-day comment period ended on July 30, 2013 and the Final Publication is expected to be released sometime in December 2013 with the effective date sometime in February 2014. We have created an easy […]
The United States Department of Agriculture has teamed up with members of the Westbound Transpacific Stabilization Agreement[1] to enhance shipping and exports in the agricultural market by creating weekly projected equipment and container availability reports designed to increase efficiency and transparency of containers flows. Current carriers including data for the initiative are APL, COSCO, Evergreen, Hanjin Shipping, Hapag Lloyd, Yang […]
The Federal Maritime Commission revised its Negotiated Rate Arrangement (NRA) regulations to reduce recordkeeping requirements. With immediate effect, the FMC is a) eliminating the requirement for the shipper’s title and address in their written assent to rates, b) eliminating the requirement that the bill of lading include a notice that a shipment is moving pursuant to an NRA; and c) […]
The Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (C-TPAT) was established to ensure the safety and security of cargo arriving in the United States. Although being C-TPAT certified is not required by any governmental agency, many private companies only partner with C-TPAT compliant businesses. Thus, Third Party Logistics Providers (3PLs) are strongly motivated to obtain certification. However, in order for a 3PL to be eligible for C-TPAT […]
Sometimes the best intended act can lead to unanticipated results. In the case of informal docket no. 1916(I) GUMTREEFABRICS, INC. v. EVER-LOGISTICS INTERNATIONAL FORWARDING LIMITED d/b/a EVEROK INTERNATIONAL FORWARDING CO., LTD, the FMC opened the door to conduct which would ordinarily be prohibited. In that case an importer claimed that cargo was extortionately withheld from delivery to it by a […]
On April 29, 2010, the Federal Maritime Commission published a proposed rulemaking to implement its February 18, 2010, decision to relieve licensed NVOCCs from the costs and burdens of tariff rate publication. The April 29 rulemaking promulgated new and amended regulations that, when given effect, will establish the criteria that must be adhered to by NVOCCs that seek to be […]