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.
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).
The Federal Maritime Commission is reviewing a federal court decision issued this week that said the FMC’s 2024 demurrage and detention billing rule (see 2402230049) arbitrarily and capriciously exempted motor carriers from being assessed those fees (see 2509230039). "The Commission is reviewing the court's opinion and will take appropriate action going forward," a commission spokesperson said in a Sept. 24 email.
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit on Sept. 23 set aside part of the Federal Maritime Commission's rule limiting the parties against whom "demurrage and detention" fees may be assessed. Judges Sri Srinivasan, Robert Wilkins and J. Michelle Childs held that the commission arbitrarily and capriciously exempted motor carriers from being assessed these fees, given the FMC's "stated rationale" to confine fees to parties who are in a "contractual relationship with the billing party."
The New York-based entity formerly known as Bed Bath & Beyond Inc. has accused France-based ocean carrier CMA CGM of charging “unjust and unreasonable” demurrage and detention fees during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a complaint filed Sept. 2 with the Federal Maritime Commission.
A Federal Maritime Commission small claims officer on Aug. 7 dismissed a complaint against New Jersey-based Citi Freight Logistics (CFI) and Best International Cargo (BIC) of Canada, saying HP Logistics (HPL) failed to show that the firms engaged in unfair charging practices for dismantling and shipping an excavator from Tennessee to Vietnam.
Lawmakers expressed concerns this week that the Federal Maritime Commission may not have enough resources to continue reforming ocean shipping regulations and enforcing existing shipping laws, particularly after a host of employees resigned from the agency this year.
A Federal Maritime Commission small claims officer on July 14 dismissed a demurrage-related complaint against ZIM Integrated Shipping Services, saying Oregon-based exporter Bridgewell Agribusiness had no contractual relationship with the Israeli ocean carrier.
American Iron & Metal Co. (AIM), a Montreal-based scrap metal recycling company, has accused non-vessel operating common carrier Priva Logistics of New York state of preventing it from retrieving cargo shipped to India and Italy, according to a complaint filed with the Federal Maritime Commission.