According to today's USDA Grain Transportation Report, the Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) has asked the top 20 U.S.-calling shipping lines to detail their compliance with new prohibitions on retaliation, in effect since June.
Established by the Ocean Shipping Reform Act of 2022 (OSRA), the prohibitions apply to common carriers, marine terminal operators, and ocean transportation intermediaries. OSRA clarified that it is illegal for ocean carriers to discriminate or retaliate against a shipper for filing a complaint or challenging a charge.
FMC’s Vessel-Operating Common Carrier Audit Team will specifically focus on how companies are training personnel at all levels to act legally and to maintain awareness of the consequences of breaking the law.