In June 2022, the US Congress passed the Ocean Shipping Reform Act (OSRA-22). This legislation prohibited ocean carriers from "unreasonably" refusing export cargo as well as "unreasonably" assessing demurrage and...
FREEDOM TO CHOOSE
In a huge win for motor carriers and cargo owners alike, the Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) sided with motor carriers in their suit against ocean carriers regarding the ability to use chassis of their choice. A bit...
ANTITRUST IMMUNITY
The European Union (EU) announced last month they would not extend the ocean carrier's exemption to antitrust laws as it no longer promotes competition. The exemption is set to expire on April 25, 2024. The ocean...
FMC DISPUTES
The Federal Maritime Commission created easier avenues for cargo owners to file complaints against ocean carriers for unreasonable demurrage and detention charges. Now, an ocean carrier, BAL, is using the complaint...
OSRA, FMC & YOU
The Ocean Shipping Reform Act (OSRA) will celebrate its first year on the 16th of this month. OSRA prohibited the unreasonable assessment of detention and demurrage fees as well as the unreasonable refusal to carry...
D&D AND THE FMC
Detention and Demurrage (D&D) has long been a point of contention between the ocean carriers and everyone else in the supply chain. Last year, the US Congress passed the Ocean Shipping Reform Act (OSRA) and the...
DOMINOES FALLING
Maersk, Hyundai and MSC have all announced they will no longer be assessing per diem or demurrage charges on days when the terminal is closed. This decision is a HUGE win for cargo owners and motor carriers alike. The...
FIRST, DO NO HARM
The Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) has said the passing of the Ocean Shipping Reform Act (OSRA) should, first and foremost, not make things worse. Well, it has! OSRA shifted the responsibility of demurrage...
THE GOOD
President Biden signed the Ocean Shipping Reform Act (OSRA) 2022 into law on Thursday, June 16th. It is the first major overhaul of the act in two decades and had tremendous support in both the US Senate, who approved...
COMPLAINT DEPARTMENT
Fresh on the heels of The Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) ordering Hapag-Lloyd to pay $822,220 and Wan Hai $850,000 in civil penalties resulting from per diem charges assessed when the ocean carriers did not have...
OCEAN SHIPPING REFORM ACT PROGRESSING
Yesterday, the US Senate unanimously approved the Ocean Shipping Reform Act (OSRA) of 2022. In December (and again this past Tuesday), the House approved their version of OSRA. There are a few differences between the...
USING EVERY TOOL IN THE TOOLBOX
There is considerable attention being paid to the supply chain right now. Let's be candid...supply chain is interesting, and we are happy it is finally getting the due it deserves. Here is a snapshot of some of the...