U.S. shippers QVC Inc. and Cornerstone Brands have accused Singapore-based ocean carrier Ocean Network Express (ONE) of failing to meet its minimum quantity commitments under service contracts for the period of May 2021 to April 2022, according to a complaint filed this month with the Federal Maritime Commission.
FormuKleen, a Boca Raton, Florida-based importer in the hospitality industry, accused Miami-based freight forwarder and customs broker Top Shipping Systems (TSS) of violating the Shipping Act by withholding two “high-value” shipments in an attempt to obtain payment for past-due invoices for other shipments, according to a complaint filed this month with the Federal Maritime Commission.
A Federal Maritime Commission administrative law judge has approved a confidential agreement to settle allegations by U.S. shipper Supply Source that France-based ocean carrier CMA CGM imposed unfair demurrage and detention charges, according to an FMC notice served June 18. Two Supply Source Enterprises subsidiaries filed the complaint against CMA CGM in February 2024 (see 2402150055), and TZ SSE Buyer later purchased Supply Source’s assets from bankruptcy. CMA CGM denied the allegations.
Market demand for ocean carriers from Asia to the U.S. West Coast has picked up as importers rush to beat any additional increases in tariff rates -- including potentially higher U.S. duties on goods from China, according to multiple sources.
A Federal Maritime Commission administrative law judge ordered Chinese ocean carrier COSCO Shipping Lines June 6 to pay California-based motor carrier Access One Transport $32,495 in reparations for imposing unfair detention fees.
Shippers are continuing to press the Federal Maritime Commission for clarity around which agency should regulate certain rail storage fees imposed by ocean carriers on through bills of lading, saying little progress has been made in recent months, despite urging from the National Shipping Advisory Committee.
A Federal Maritime Commission administrative law judge ordered ocean carrier SM Line Corp. May 28 to pay consumer goods company Samsung Electronics America $1.9 million in reparations for unfair demurrage and detention fees.
The Federal Maritime Commission this week launched an investigation on whether the vessel flagging laws, regulations or practices of foreign countries or shipowners, including the use of flags of convenience, are creating “unfavorable shipping conditions in the foreign trade of the United States.” The FMC said May 21 that its “nonadjudicatory” investigation will look into whether those practices or laws are violating U.S. shipping regulations, specifically referring to foreign countries that lower their shipping standards or ease “compliance requirements to gain a potential competitive edge” on vessels from other nations.
A Federal Maritime Commission administrative law judge has approved a confidential agreement to settle allegations by U.S.-based protective equipment supplier AirBoss Defense Group that non-vessel-operating common carrier FedEx Trade Networks Transport & Brokerage and ocean carrier Mediterranean Shipping Co. charged unfair demurrage and detention fees, according to an FMC notice released May 15.
PKDC LLC, a Colorado-based furniture distributor, accused China-based ocean carrier Cosco Shipping Lines Co. of charging “hundreds of thousands of dollars” in unfair demurrage and detention fees, according to a complaint filed with the Federal Maritime Commission this month.