The Federal Maritime Commission ordered MSC Mediterranean Shipping Company to pay about $22.7 million in civil penalties for violating U.S. shipping laws, up from the $16 million amount that an administrative law judge called for last year (see 2502260072).

The New York-based entity formerly known as Bed Bath & Beyond Inc. has accused South Korean ocean carrier HMM Co. of “systematically failing" to meet its service commitments under 2020 and 2021 contracts and unfairly charging millions of dollars in demurrage and detention fees during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a complaint filed Dec. 30 with the Federal Maritime Commission.

Maersk is "actively monitoring logistics operations, security conditions, and regulatory updates to ensure the safety" of cargo amid the ongoing U.S. blockade of Venezuelan energy shipments (see 2601050056), the shipping company said in Jan. 5 emailed customer advisory. "Our priorities are safety, service continuity, and full compliance. As long as safety and operational conditions allow, services will continue," Maersk said.

A Federal Maritime Commission administrative law judge on Dec. 16 dismissed a complaint against U.S. Cargo Services, saying New York City-based apparel importer Phillip Marciano LLC failed to show that a Shipping Act violation occurred.

A Federal Maritime Commission administrative law judge has approved a confidential agreement to settle allegations that ocean carrier Hapag-Lloyd provided motor carrier S.P.F. Logistics of Long Beach, California, with inadequate opportunities to return empty containers, forcing SPF to store the containers at its own expense, according to an order served Dec. 17. SPF filed its complaint against Hapag-Lloyd in July 2024 (see 2407220045).

California-based Mac Container Line alleges that COSCO Shipping Lines retaliated against it after it disputed the carrier’s detention charges for cargo shipped from Seattle to India, according to a complaint filed Dec. 18 with the Federal Maritime Commission.

The Federal Maritime Commission is removing a portion of its final rule on demurrage and detention billing requirements (see 2402230049) after a federal court earlier this year said the language arbitrarily and capriciously exempted motor carriers from being assessed those demurrage and detention fees (see 2509230039 and 2509240068).

Furniture importer Cool Living LLC has accused ALPI Logistics and its ALPI non-vessel-operating common carriers of repeatedly failing to properly carry out their responsibilities to transport cargo from Europe to the U.S., according to a complaint filed Dec. 4 with the Federal Maritime Commission.

A Federal Maritime Commission administrative law judge on Dec. 8 dismissed a complaint against non-vessel-operating common carrier Ship4wd, saying Oklahoma-based importer EcoBamboo failed to show that a Shipping Act violation occurred.

Laura DiBella and Robert Harvey, President Donald Trump’s nominees for the Federal Maritime Commission, told lawmakers Oct. 22 that if confirmed, they would vigorously enforce the Ocean Shipping Reform Act of 2022.