The International Chamber of Shipping board "agreed that ICS will fully support the concept" of mandatory Monitoring, Reporting and Verification of emissions by ships, "provided that any measure adopted is developed and agreed at [the International Maritime Organization], and that it will be simple to administer and based primarily on fuel consumption measured by bunker delivery notes," said ICS Chairman Masamichi Morooka after the board meeting in London Feb. 5.
The Federal Maritime Commission formally asked the parties to the Transpacific Stabilization Agreement to provide additional information about the agreement. The request prevents the agreement from taking effect as originally scheduled. Interested parties can file comments on the request by Feb. 20. Parties to Agreement No.: 011223-048 (see ITT's Online Archives 12122711) are: American President Lines and APL Co. (operating as a single carrier); A.P. Moller-Maersk A/S trading as Maersk Line; China Shipping Container Lines (Hong Kong) Company and China Shipping Container Lines Company (operating as a single carrier); CMA CGM, S.A.; COSCO Container Lines; Evergreen Line Joint Service Agreement; Hanjin Shipping Co.; Hapag-Lloyd AG; Hyundai Merchant Marine Co.; Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha Ltd.; Mediterranean Shipping Company; Nippon Yusen Kaisha; Orient Overseas Container Line; Yangming Marine Transport Corp.; and Zim Integrated Shipping Services.
The Federal Maritime Commission said it launched an investigation and hearing into whether United Logistics (LAX) Inc. violated the Shipping Act by obtaining transportation at less than the rates and charges otherwise applicable by the device or means of unlawfully accessing service contracts to which it was neither a signatory nor an affiliate. It's also looking into whether United Logistics violated the Shipping Act by providing transportation in the liner trade that was not in accordance with the rates, charges, classifications, rules, and practices contained in its published tariff. The investigation is also to determine whether, if violations are found, civil penalties should be assessed against United Logistics and how much, whether the tariff of United Logistics should be suspended and its Ocean Transportation Intermediary license should be suspended or revoked and a cease and desist order should be issued, the FMC said. The notice provided no additional details.
The Panama Canal Towboat Masters Union agreed Jan. 31 to join the Panama Division of the International Longshore and Warehouse Union, the ILWU said. The unit has 140 members, it said. They join the Panama division, which also includes the 250-member Panama Canal Pilots Union.
Trade using surface transportation between the U.S. and Canada and Mexico was up 6.2 percent in November 2012 compared to November 2011, reaching $81.5 billion, according to the Bureau of Transportation Statistics of the U.S. Department of Transportation. BTS said $56.2 billion of the U.S.'s trade with Canada and Mexico moved by truck in November, $14.9 billion moved by rail, and $5.9 billion by pipeline. U.S.-Canada surface trade was $46.7 billion in November 2012, and U.S.-Mexico surface trade was $34.8 billion.
Worldwide air cargo dropped 1.5% for the full year 2012, said the International Air Transport Association. IATA said it was the second consecutive year of cargo decline, following a 0.6% contraction in 2011. The freight load factor for the year was 45.2%. IATA Director General Tony Tyler said air cargo "suffered a one-two punch" in 2012: "World trade declined sharply. And the goods that were traded shifted towards bulk commodities more suited for sea shipping." Freight capacity grew just 0.2% over the year, and the freight load factor was 45.2%, IATA said.
Top priorities of new Federal Maritime Commissioner William Doyle include "promot[ing] a fair, efficient, and reliable international ocean transportation system; protect the public from unfair and deceptive practices; help increase the export of U.S. goods by facilitating cooperation between the government and the private sector; provide regulatory relief to support U.S. job growth and economic recovery; and find fast and cost effective solutions to disputes between shipping lines and customers to ensure that cargo keeps moving." He made the comments Jan. 30 at his ceremonial swearing in. Doyle had been confirmed Jan. 1 and officially sworn in Jan. 10.
The Agricultural Marketing Service released the Ocean Shipping Container Availability Report (OSCAR) for the week of Jan. 30 - Feb. 5. 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.