International Longshore and Warehouse Union Canada said late on July 19 that it has "removed" a notice that it would be again be striking at Canadian West Coast ports beginning July 22. The 72-hour strike notice had been issued earlier that day (see 2307190031). The ILWU did not respond for further comment.
Hapag-Lloyd violated U.S. shipping regulations by failing to establish adequate facilities to return empty containers to the Port of New York and New Jersey and unfairly charging detention and demurrage for containers caught in the "logistical paralysis" of its own making, Rahal International said in a June 30 complaint to the Federal Maritime Commission. Rahal, an Illinois-based importer and distributor of fruit and vegetable juices, said backlogs and delays created by the shipping line damaged some of its juice shipments, leading to hundreds of thousands of dollars in damages.
Longshore workers are "prepared" to walk out of work at Canadian West Coast ports at 8 a.m. on July 1, after the International Longshore and Warehouse Union Canada issued a 72-hour strike notice to the British Columbia Maritime Employers Association, ILWU Canada said in a news release June 28. The ILWU Canada Bargaining Committee "has run out options at the bargaining table because the BCMEA and their member employers have refused to negotiate on the main issues, and we feel we are left with no choice but to take the next step in the process," the news release said.
A new agreement between Singapore and the U.K. will allow certain companies from both countries to import goods with less paperwork and cargo inspections, Singapore Customs announced June 27. The deal, outlined in a "Mutual Recognition Arrangement of Authorized Economic Operator programs" signed June 23, will expedite export clearances for companies certified by the Singapore Customs and the U.K.'s Revenue and Customs. Lim Teck Leong, Singapore Customs deputy director-general, said the deal brings both countries' customs cooperation "to the next level" and encouraged more companies to become certified under the program.
The Federal Maritime Commission hired John Crews as the first director of its Bureau of Enforcement, Investigations and Compliance, the commission said May 8. He will “supervise and coordinate the personnel and activities” of the FMC enforcement program's three offices that were consolidated to form BEIC.
The American Cotton Shippers Association asked the Federal Maritime Commission to uphold a recent summary decision that ordered carriers to stop adopting, maintaining and enforcing regulations or practices that "limit the ability of a motor carrier to select the chassis provider." In an amicus brief filed to the FMC May 8, ACSA said it supports the decision because agreements between ocean carriers and non-party Intermodal Equipment Providers (IEPs) place limits on the “choice in chassis provisioning for U.S. cotton exporters, thereby causing delays in the movement of cotton, creating avoidably inefficiencies, imposing needless costs, and ultimately undermining the competitiveness of U.S. cotton shipments in the global marketplace."
CertiFit, a Utah-based auto parts importer, on May 4 filed a complaint with the Federal Maritime Commission against Evergreen Line, accusing the ocean carrier of violating shipping regulations. CertiFit accused Evergreen of "systematically failing to meet its commitments" under a service contract, "refusing tendered cargo, refusing to provide empty containers, failing to provide necessary information concerning booking issues, and a refusal to deal," the complaint said. CertiFit is seeking reparations for Evergreen's alleged violations of the Shipping Act.
Orient Overseas Container Line has "a long history of maintaining the highest standards of regulatory compliance in the U.S. and elsewhere and an equally longstanding tradition of strong customer relationships and excellent customer service," the company emailed May 1 after being accused by Bed Bath & Beyond of violating U.S. shipping regulations. "We will continue to work with our customers and all relevant authorities to resolve any disputes in a professional, efficient, and amicable manner." Bed Bath & Beyond filed a complaint at the Federal Maritime Commission last week saying OOCL failed to meet "minimum quantity commitments" as part of a contract between the two companies (see 2305010049).
Bed Bath & Beyond (BBBY) said shipping company Orient Overseas Container Line Limited (OOCL) failed to meet "minimum quantity commitments" as part of a contract with BBBY and imposed unfair detention and demurrage charges. In an April 27 complaint filed with the Federal Maritime Commission, BBBY asked the FMC to investigate OOCL for violations of the Shipping Act, order the company to put reasonable detention and demurrage practices in place and require it to pay reparations for the conduct.
NEW ORLEANS -- Federal Maritime Commissioner Max Vekich signaled he’s open to a further expansion of FMC authority, including potentially allowing the FMC to scrutinize certain rail storage fees.