The Agricultural Marketing Service released the Ocean Shipping Container Availability Report (OSCAR) for the week of April 17-23. The weekly report contains data on container availability for westbound transpacific traffic at 18 intermodal locations in the U.S.1 from the eight member carriers of the Westbound Transpacific Stabilization Agreement (WTSA).2 Although the report is compiled by AMS, it covers container availability for all merchandise, not just agricultural products.
The Pipeline Hazardous Materials Safety Administration is temporarily lowering registration fees for the 2013-14 year for persons who transport hazardous materials, due to an unexpended balance in the agency’s Hazardous Materials Emergency Preparedness Fund. The new fees cover all persons -- as defined in PHMSA regulations -- that transport or offer for transportation in commerce certain categories and quantities of hazardous materials. The new amounts are:
The Federal Maritime Commission said the following have filed applications for a license as a Non-Vessel-Operating Common Carrier (NVO) and/or Ocean Freight Forwarder (OFF)-Ocean Transportation Intermediary (OTI) pursuant to section 19 of the Shipping Act of 1984. The FMC also gave notice of the filing of applications to amend an existing OTI license or the qualifying individual for a license. Interested persons may contact the Office of Transportation Intermediaries, Federal Maritime Commission, Washington, D.C. 20573, at 202-523-5843 or at OTI@fmc.gov.
The Federal Maritime Commission released a notice of the filing of the following agreements under the Shipping Act of 1984. Interested parties may submit comments on the agreement to the Secretary, Federal Maritime Commission, Washington, DC 20573, within 10 days.
The Pipeline Hazardous Materials Safety Administration increased maximum and minimum civil penalties for knowing violations of the Federal hazardous material transportation law. The revisions set forth changes required by the Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act, passed by Congress last year. The new amounts are:
The Agricultural Marketing Service released the Ocean Shipping Container Availability Report (OSCAR) for the week of April 10-16. The weekly report contains data on container availability for westbound transpacific traffic at 18 intermodal locations in the U.S.1 from the eight member carriers of the Westbound Transpacific Stabilization Agreement (WTSA).2 Although the report is compiled by AMS, it covers container availability for all merchandise, not just agricultural products.
The International Air Transport Association announced an organizational restructuring that it said will allow the group to better address the needs of its 240 member airlines. As part of the reorganization, which will take effect July 1, IATA’s seven regional groups will be consolidated into five by creating combined Americas and Africa and Middle East operations. The reorganization will also create a new division, “Airports, Passenger and Cargo Services,” that will combine IATA’s main activities with respect to airports, security, passenger and cargo services. The new division will be led by Thomas Windmuller, currently Senior Vice President -- Member and Government Relations. The renamed “Member and External Relations” division will be led by newly-promoted Paul Steel, currently Director of Aviation Environment, IATA said.
The number of commercial truck crossings into the U.S. from Canada and Mexico grew 3.6 percent in 2012 to 10.7 million, said the U.S. Department of Transportation's Bureau of Transportation Statistics. That followed a 1.7 percent rise from 2010 to 2011, after four years of decline from 2005 to 2009, it said. The overall database (here) also includes numbers of incoming trains, buses, containers, personal vehicles, and pedestrians entering the U.S. through land ports and ferry crossings.
A suit to block FAA plans to close 149 contract air traffic control towers April 7 was filed by the American Association of Airport Executives (AAAE) and its affiliate organization the U.S. Contract Tower Association (USCTA). The suit was filed in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit. The groups had sent a letter to FAA Administrator Michael Huerta April 2 asking the FAA to reconsider its closure decision. The groups said "the decision to shutter these critical air traffic control facilities on such an unprecedented and wide-scale basis raises serious concerns about safety -- both at the local level and throughout the aviation system."