FMC Probing Spain's Denial of Port Access to Certain US Carriers
The Federal Maritime Commission is investigating reports that the Spanish government is denying port access to ships participating in the Maritime Security Program led by the U.S. Maritime Administration, it said in a notice.
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The FMC said it received information in November that Spain wasn’t allowing certain vessels to enter its ports, including the Maersk Denver and the Maersk Seletar. Both participate in the Maritime Security Program, which includes merchant ships that can be called on by the Pentagon in “times of conflict or in other national emergencies.” The commission is concerned Spain’s “apparent policy of denying entry to certain vessels will create conditions unfavorable to shipping in the foreign trade” of the U.S., the FMC said. The commission is also investigating Spain’s decision to “deny entry to other vessels” not participating in the program.
The commission said it will allow interested parties, including the Spanish government and ocean carriers that have been denied entry to Spanish ports, to “provide information, perspectives, and proposed solutions.” It’s specifically seeking information about when these entry denials occurred, which vessels have been denied entry “and any reason or reasons given for the denial.” Comments are due Dec. 26.