The Federal Maritime Commission will meet on Feb. 18 at 10 a.m. to discuss "International Ocean Transportation Supply Chain Engagement" and other issues, the agency said (here).

The planned new port metrics program should include information on loading and unloading operations with consideration of ship and berth size, among other things, said a group of trade associations representing various industries involved in international trade in a Jan. 14 letter (here). The letter, addressed to Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx, includes advice on "key metrics" that should be included within the Bureau of Transportation Statistics working group effort to develop the measures. The metrics can help “jump-start” private efforts to bolster efficiency and decrease congestion at U.S. ports brought on largely by big container ships, a recent surge of “very large scale” operating alliances between containership owners, evolving critical equipment procedures, and an aging port infrastructure, said the groups.

Seven shipping companies agreed to pay the Federal Maritime Commission a total of $334,000 in civil penalties related to the agency's investigations into violations of federal shipping laws, said the FMC in a press release (here). The companies, British Association of Removers, Sparx Logistics USA, Azap Motors, Wilhelmsen Ships Services, Aromark Shipping, Knopf International, N/J International settled with the FMC without admitting they violated the law or FMC regulations, said the agency. British Association of Removers and Sparx Logistics USA each agreed to pay $80,000, the largest individual penalties, said the FMC. The allegations involve several issues, including mishandling of service contracts and operations without an FMC license or bond, said the agency.

There's ongoing concerns with PierPass system at the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach and a lack of competition, "created by PierPass’s current practices," Federal Maritime Commission Chairman Mario Cordero said at a National Industrial Transportation League meeting on Nov. 19 (here). PierPass "would be wise to conduct a third party independent audit," which "would go a long way toward restoring lost trust," he said. Cordero said he will be "relentless in his pursuit of a resolution to the existing environment of distrust." Stakeholders from every major group have told Cordero that service has gone down while costs have gone up, calling into question "whether PierPass is fulfilling the mission it was authorized to fulfill," he said. Cordero also said the agency will need to increase staffing levels, up from 125 employees, to keep pace with international shipping increases.

The Federal Maritime Commission released its final rule amending new ocean transportation intermediary (OTI) licensing and financial responsibility requirements (here). Under the new regulations, OTIs will be required to renew their licenses every three years through an on-line portal beginning in late 2016. The final rule, most of which will be effective Dec. 9, also provides for an expedited hearing process for license denials, revocations, or suspensions.

The Federal Maritime Commission on Oct. 21 voted to move forward with a final rule amending new ocean transportation intermediary (OTI) licensing and financial responsibility requirements, it said in a press release (here). Under the new regulations, OTIs will be required to renew their licenses every three years through an on-line portal beginning in late 2016. The final rule also provides for an expedited hearing process for license denials, revocations, or suspensions. The rule is based on a proposal issued by the FMC in 2014 (see 14100916) that drew criticism from the National Customs Brokers & Forwarders Association of America (see 1412120016). Also in its Oct. 21 meeting, the FMC voted to seek comments on possible modifications to its rules on service contracts and non-vessel operating common carrier (NVOCC) service arrangements, it said.

The Federal Maritime Commission will meet on Oct. 21 at 10 a.m. to discuss "Amendments to Regulations Governing Ocean Transportation Intermediary Licensing and Financial Responsibility Requirements, and General Duties," and other issues, the agency said (here). During a closed session, the FMC will also discuss service contracts and non-vessel operating common carrier service arrangements, it said.

Oslo-based Siem Car Carriers paid the Federal Maritime Commission $135,000 over violations related to its failure to file space charter agreements for roll on-roll off transport services, said FMC in recent days (here). The company has cooperated with the FMC’s Bureau of Enforcement, said the agency. "The carrier has agreed to provide ongoing cooperation with other commission investigations or enforcement actions with respect to these activities,” said the FMC. “All agreements in which Siem Car Carriers currently shares space with other RO-RO operators have since been filed with the commission.”

The West Rail Bridge linking Brownsville, Texas to Mexico opened on Aug. 26, the first of its kind on the U.S.-Mexico border to open in over 100 years, according to local news reports (here). The bridge features an x-ray machine on the Mexican side of the border that CBP is able to monitor, said David Higgerson, CBP Laredo director-field operations, according to the report.

The World Shipping Council published guidelines meant to help shippers understand new international container weight verification rules, said the WSC (here). The rules, which obligate container weight verification before export (see 1501220011), come from the International Maritime Organization and the amended International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea. Effective July 1, 2016, "the regulations place a requirement on the shipper of a packed container, regardless of who packed the container, to provide the container’s gross verified weight to the ocean carrier and port terminal representative sufficiently in advance of vessel loading to be used in the preparation of the ship stowage plan," WSC said. The vessel operator and the terminal operator are responsible for using the verified gross weights in vessel stow planning and must not load a packed container aboard a vessel for export without a verified gross weight," the WSC said in the guidelines.