According to today's USDA Grain Transportation Report, on January 25, the Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) provided the following updates on its recent progress and upcoming plans:
First, FMC will issue a supplemental notice of proposed rulemaking (SNPRM) on carriers’ “unreasonable refusal to deal.” The SNPRM addresses issues that commenters (including USDA) raised to FMC’s original proposed rule, which still has no announced effective date.
Second, FMC is drafting a proposed rulemaking to address “unfair or unjustly discriminatory methods,” but has not yet announced a date for public comment. Also, FMC lifted its temporary emergency requirement that carriers, marine terminal operators, shippers, and other supply chain participants share certain information.
Finally, FMC reported favorable results from its increased efforts to address shippers’ filed complaints on unfair detention and demurrage charges. Carriers are increasingly willing to resolve disputes with shippers, and FMC estimates carriers have refunded more than $700,000 in charges since June.