FMC Hires Bill Cody as New Secretary

FMC Press Release Posted November 29, 2021 -- Federal Maritime Commission Chairman Daniel B. Maffei said William “Bill” Cody has been hired to serve as the agency’s Secretary.

Mr. Cody has more than 20 years of extensive legal and administrative experience at the federal and state government levels as well as in the private sector. He most recently worked as an attorney for the U.S. Department of Energy. Earlier in his career, he held positions in the Louisiana state government, the U.S. House of Representatives, and worked as an attorney in private practice.

“I am pleased to be able to make this personnel announcement. Mr. Cody has important legal and administrative experience in government and the private sector that includes a strong background in maritime issues. The Commission and those it serves will benefit from this experience during his new assignment,” said Chairman Maffei.

The Office of the Secretary is the gateway for all matters and documents submitted to and emanating from the Commission. It also manages the Commission’s agenda, votes, and meetings.

Mr. Cody earned a Juris Doctorate from the Loyola University School of Law and is admitted to the Louisiana and District of Columbia bars. He earned his Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Texas.

AP Tariffs Briefs VAFFA Members on FMC Enforcement & Penalties

Pierre Larenas and Mauricio Larenas of Atlantic Pacific Tariffs, Inc. (AP Tariffs) were among the speakers at a business networking event hosted by the Venezuelan American Freight Forwarders Association (VAFFA) on November 11, 2021, at Wingate by Wyndham Miami Airport. AP Tariffs' presentation focused on enforcement and penalties when operating unlicensed and during FMC audits of licensed companies. They presented interesting case studies, making it easy for representatives from Venezuelan American Shipping, Transportation and Logistics Companies to understand. FMC Compliance Management is one of the essential services provided by AP Tariffs to its clients. AP Tariffs' free consultation to help customers avoid FMC compliance penalties ($12,363 per occurrence) is what sets it apart from other tariff publication companies. AP Tariffs is always on the lookout to improve its services for the benefit of its clients. Recently, it partnered with CDM Software Solutions to offer clients a Fully Integrated Web-Based Freight Forwarding & NVOCC Operations Software Solution at a much lower cost compared existing logistics software systems. Free consultations are available in both English and Spanish. Contact AP Tariffs today!

Pierre Larenas Pierre@aptariffs.com 305-610-2244 Mauricio Larenas Mauricio@aptariffs.com 954-461-6152

FMC Bares New Supply Chain Initiatives at Meeting

FMC Press Release Posted November 17, 2021 -- Six Supply Chain Innovation Teams are being convened by Commissioner Rebecca F. Dye to identify and implement improvements to the process and timing of return and delivery of containers to marine terminals.

This announcement came at a Tuesday meeting of the Federal Maritime Commission where briefings were provided on topics related to conditions in the marketplace for container shipping services, the current state of the ocean-linked supply chain, and the commercial and operational behavior of shipping lines.

Commissioner Dye is convening the teams under her authority as the Fact-Finding Officer for Fact Finding 29. Her goals for the Teams’ work are two-fold. First, for truckers to be able to return an empty container to a terminal and pick-up a loaded container, commonly referred to as a “double move.” The second is to bring certainty and predictability to the earliest return date process to address exporter complaints about the unreliability of the deadline for getting cargo to a terminal. Teams will focus their efforts on improving conditions at the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach and New York and New Jersey. They will be comprised of executives from each ocean carrier operating in an alliance and from the marine terminal operators that serve them. The first meetings of the Teams will be held December 1.

“Achieving double moves for truckers would improve trucker productivity and remove a constant source of conflict over container return as well as resolve problems with appointment systems and chassis shortages. Earliest return date confusion is a terrible problem for U.S. exporters. This reform would also remove the constant problem to U.S. agricultural exporters of demurrage and detention charges that are not in compliance with our interpretative rule,” said Commissioner Dye.

Chairman Daniel B. Maffei endorsed this latest initiative to address supply chain congestion issues.

“I fully support Commissioner Dye’s leadership in addressing these issues and applaud her continuing efforts to use the Commission’s statutory authorities to improve conditions contributing to inefficiencies in the Nation’s ocean supply chain,” said Chairman Maffei.

In the open session of the meeting, the Commission was briefed on U.S. macroeconomic indicators generally, and their associated impact on shipping, the state of the U.S.-International ocean trades, vessel capacity, and pricing. In closed session, Commissioners were briefed on ocean carrier revenue and pricing, capacity, cancelled sailings, and port calls.