Chairman Maffei to Recommend Go-To Person at FMC to Help Exporters

FMC Chairman Daniel Maffei expressed frustration over FMC's limited tools to help exporters during a media briefing with Port of Los Angeles Executive Director Gene Seroka.

The event was hosted by the Port of Los Angeles for the purpose of providing its monthly operational and volume update. The recorded briefing is available on Youtube. Click here to watch.

Chairman Maffei said he plans to recommend to have a go-to person for exporters in the FMC Consumer Response Division to help them with their problems. He also plans to recommend continued enhanced enforcement where appropriate in the area where exporters are denied containers, especially when it is unreasonable. In addition, he wants to suggest to the Commission to take good look at detention and demurrage rule to see if there is any area where they can strengthen it.

Director Seroka reported that cargo volume was 946,966 Twenty-Foot Equivalent Units (TEUs) in April 2021, a spike of 37% compared to last year. "This was by far the busiest April in the Port’s 114-year history and the ninth consecutive month of year-over-year increases," he said.

Chairman Maffei also spoke about the role of the Commission, the importance of ocean trade, the need to invest in American ports, supply chain performance, and Fact Finding 29.

AP Tariffs Discusses FMC Compliance at VAFFA USA Talk

Atlantic Pacific Tariffs, Inc., an FMC Compliance Management and Tariff Publishing Company, gave a presentation at an event hosted by the Venezuelan American Freight Forwarders Association (VAFFA) on April 15, 2021. Pierre and Mauricio Larenas of AP Tariffs provided VAFFA members with a wealth of information, explaining the mandate of the FMC, the present problems where NVOCCs are paying hefty penalty payments, and the responsibilities that need to be fulfilled by NVOCCs in order to avoid fines (currently $12,363 per occurrence). Experts at AP Tariffs have extensive experience in FMC Rules, Regulations, Processes, Procedures, Audits, and Licensing Requirements for Ocean Transportation Intermediaries (OTIs). Consultations are available in both English and Spanish. Contact AP Tariffs today for your FREE 30-minute compliance consultation!

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

New Service Contract Filing Rule to Take Effect on June 2

The Federal Maritime Commission recognizes the need for shippers and carriers to have more flexibility in meeting service contract filing requirements and has accordingly approved a rule change that will take effect this June 2.

Current FMC regulations require the filing of initial service contracts with the FMC before an ocean carrier is permitted to receive and move cargo under the terms of that contract. The Final Rule amends existing regulations so ocean carriers will be able to file original service contracts with the Commission up to 30-days after they go into effect.

The Commission was prompted to consider permanently amending its regulations following the positive response of the industry to the temporary service contract filing relief provided over the past year to minimize COVID-19 related impacts to the supply chain. That relief expires on June 1, 2021. As a result of this experience, the Commission determined to update the filing requirements to better reflect contemporary business practices. Additionally, these changes will set conditions that allow ocean carriers to contemplate new ways to make their services available to shippers.

The Final Rule will be published in the Federal Register in the coming weeks. In the interim, the Commission is making available as a courtesy an unofficial copy of the rule.