· The FMC recently held a vote to help increase supervision of international shipping. This vote comes after Rebecca F. Dye completed a probe to review how the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted ocean supply chains throughout 2020. After completing this review Commissioner Dye had several recommendations that needed to be voted on for formal Commission approval. On September 15, 2021 multiple initiatives that were approved by this commission were released by the FMC.
· The first initiative is designed to protect shippers and truckers that make complaints about unreasonable invoices or bills from carriers for detention and demurrage. The FMC has stated previously that they often do not receive formal complaints in regards to the escalating costs that are affecting so many for fears of retaliations from carriers. The FMC will issue a policy statement prohibiting such retaliation from carriers and further confirms that legal damages can be sought from carriers by complaints.
· The FMC has also approved issuing an Advance Notice of Proposal Rule-Making (ANPRM) that will request input on two questions. The first question hoping to be answered would be to determine if the Commission should require marine terminal operators and ocean carriers to provide a specific minimum of information with demurrage and detention billing. The second question the FMC is hoping to answer with this ANPRM is if the commission should require carriers and terminal operators to adhere to defined practices regarding the consistency and timing of invoicing demurrage and detention bills.
· Lastly the commission moved ahead with additional recommendations from the Fact Finding 29 commission to hire additional staff to help increase their dispute resolution department as well as a dedicated agency exporter advocate.
Thursday September 16, 2021
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