Last month, the US Senate confirmed Robert Harvey as the newest Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) commissioner. Mr. Harvey fills the fifth and final seat on the FMC.
The FMC is gaining prominence and proving they do not mind following up a bark with a bite.
They reaffirmed their decision that ocean carrier interference with chassis choice is a violation of the Shipping Act.
They collected $1.9 million in civil penalties from Maersk for assessing detention charges to “parties who had not consented to be bound by the terms of Maersk’s bills of lading, service contracts or tariffs.”
They ordered OOCL to pay $45 million to Bed Bath & Beyond for refusal to deal and failure to meet contract commitments. The claim originated out of OOCL’s practices during the COVID-era when Bed Bath & Beyond was forced to use higher spot rates rather than their contract rates in order to get containers on ships.