The Agricultural Marketing Service released the Ocean Shipping Container Availability Report (OSCAR) for the week of Nov. 14-20. The weekly report contains data on container availability for westbound transpacific traffic at 18 intermodal locations in the U.S.¹ from the eight member carriers of the Westbound Transpacific Stabilization Agreement (WTSA).² Although the report is compiled by AMS, it covers container availability for all merchandise, not just agricultural products.

Federal Maritime Commission said the following have filed applications for a license as a Non-Vessel-Operating Common Carrier (NVO) and/or Ocean Freight Forwarder (OFF)-Ocean Transportation Intermediary (OTI) pursuant to section 19 of the Shipping Act of 1984. Interested persons may contact the Office of Transportation Intermediaries, Federal Maritime Commission, Washington, D.C. 20573, at 202-523-5843 or at OTI@fmc.gov.

The Federal Maritime Commission completed compromise agreements with six non-vessel-operating common carriers (NVOCCs) in the U.S. and abroad, recovering a total of $383,000 in civil penalties for alleged violations of the Shipping Act of 1984, said FMC Chairman Richard Lidinsky. The parties settled and agreed to penalties, but did not admit to violations of the Act or the Commission’s regulations. The compromise agreements are:

The Federal Maritime Commission released a notice of the filing of the following agreements under the Shipping Act of 1984. Interested parties may submit comments on the agreements to the Secretary, Federal Maritime Commission, Washington, DC 20573, within 10 days.

The International Maritime Organization Council endorsed in principle restructuring IMO's subcommittees to better address technical and operational issues covered by IMO regulations, IMO said. The proposals include:

Spending obligations for navigable waterways have decreased from over $3 billion in fiscal year 2009 to about $1.8 billion in fiscal year 2011, the Government Accountability Office said in a report. DOT does not specifically track formula funding used to maintain or improve ports or port connectors, GAO said, so officials were unable to provide GAO with the extent to which these funds were used for port improvements, although the officials said the number of port-specific projects was likely small.

The Transportation Security Administration said it ratified a collective bargaining agreement with the American Federation of Government Employees, covering about 44,000 TSA employees. It takes effect Dec. 9. Details of the decision are (here).

The Federal Maritime Commission’s New Orleans Office plans a presentation on dispute resolution services offered by the FMC and an update on Commission initiatives at 9:30 a.m. Nov. 16, it said. Jennifer Gartlan, deputy director, Office of Consumer Affairs and Dispute Resolution Services, will give the presentation on dispute resolution. The event is at U.S. Customhouse, Room 316, New Orleans -- 504-589-6662.

Inventory Locator Service signed a memorandum of understanding with Danaos Management Consultants to collaborate on developing a cloud-based procurement and management service for the shipping industry. They said the technology "has the potential to minimize cost for spares and maintenance while increasing visibility and continuity of supply." The companies will develop a platform called MarineHubsm, a network of companies in the marine industry that will facilitate planned maintenance and procurement of spares for ship owners, managers and suppliers worldwide using cloud technology, they said.

The Federal Maritime Commission released a notice of the filing of the following agreements under the Shipping Act of 1984. Interested parties may submit comments on the agreement to the Secretary, Federal Maritime Commission, Washington, DC 20573, within 10 days.