The Federal Maritime Commission will change its rules for claims of Shipping Act violations involving less than $50,000, it said. "The current rules provide that claims less than $50,000 will be decided by a Settlement Officer appointed by the Commission’s Alternative Dispute Resolution Specialist," said the FMC in a notice. The new rules provide that claims in the amount of $50,000 or less will be decided by a Small Claims Officer appointed by the Commission’s Chief Administrative Law Judge." The change will be effective Nov. 7, unless "unless significant adverse comment is received" by Sept. 8, it said. Because the change is not a "major rule," a proposed rulemaking notice is not required, said the agency.

The number of commercial truck crossings into the U.S. from Canada and Mexico was 10.8 million in 2013, which was 1.1 percent more than in 2012, according to statistics released on July 25 by the Bureau of Transportation Statistics. The 2013 increase comes on top of gains from 2010 to 2012, following four years of decline from 2005 to 2009, said BTS. The announcement came as the agency posted 2013 border crossing and entry data to its website (here).

Several “significant developments” over the past year should make U.S. ports more competitive with their North American counterparts and help stem the trend of U.S. inland cargo coming in through Canadian and Mexican ports, said the Federal Maritime Commission in a report issued on July 21. According to the update to the commission’s 2012 “Study of U.S. Inland Containerized Cargo Moving through Canadian and Mexican Seaports,” the drop in market share for U.S. ports has begun to stabilize after losing business to Canadian ports, especially Prince Rupert, over recent years. That trend should be reinforced by several recent events, including an information sharing agreement between the Ports of Seattle and Tacoma and enactment of the Water Resources Reform and Development Act of 2014, said FMC.

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.

The Federal Maritime Commission released notices on recently received applications for Ocean Transportation Intermediary licenses, as well as reissuances and revocations and terminations of current agreements. Interested parties may contact the Office of Transportation Intermediaries at 202-523-5843 or at OTI@fmc.gov.

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.

The Federal Maritime Commission is increasing its maximum civil monetary penalties to adjust for inflation. Effective July 11, the agency will up penalty amounts by $1,000-$5,000, depending on the violation. FMC’s biggest penalties like adverse impact to U.S. carriers by foreign shipping practices and adverse shipping conditions under the Merchant Marine Act will be increased by $100,000 to $1.6 million for each. FMC last adjusted its penalties for inflation in 2009, it said.

The Federal Maritime Commission said the following licenses have been reissued, revoked or terminated for Ocean Transportation Intermediaries 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.

A potential strike or work slowdown affecting West Coast ports should be “short and manageable,” said credit rating agency Fitch Ratings on June 27. But if negotiations persist for too long after the June 30 expiration of the work contract between the International Longshore and Warehouse Union and the Pacific Maritime Association, then longer-term diversion of cargo to other ports and broader economic effects could occur, it said.

The Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) should take a closer look into the "congestion surcharges" planned by ocean carriers if there's a labor contract disruption at the West Coast ports, said a number of industry groups in a letter to the FMC. While the letter voiced appreciation for the agency's recent advisory on the issue (see 14060214), they said the FMC should be able to provide more information to those affected by the surcharges. The groups also voiced their support for a recent National Customs Brokers & Forwarders Association of America letter to the agency that also asked the FMC to step in on port disruption issues (see 14060613).