Nine days to prove to the Federal Maritime Commission that the recent increase in tariffs was introduced in accordance with applicable laws and regulations.
Eight ocean carriers – CMA CGM, Hapag-Lloyd, HMM, Matson, MSC, OOCL, SM Line and ZIM – are being investigated by the US Federal Agency for introducing, in an apparently questionable manner, tariff increases linked to the negative impact that port congestion problems are having on shipping.
The FMC Bureau of Enforcement has launched an enquiry to stop the improper use of congestion surcharges.
FMC President Dan Maffei said he would like to know the reasons why carriers have raised their tariffs, pointing out that the congestion is mainly due to the huge volume of traffic coming from ocean carriers and through ports to meet record import demand.
According to Mr. Maffei, far from being a sudden or isolated event in one port or geographical area, congestion in the goods transport system is everywhere and has been going on for many months. The problems associated with this phenomenon have already been included in the record rates charged by carriers.
The FMC has launched an enquiry into the timing and legal viability of the practices of ocean carriers in relation to certain surcharges.
The eight carriers have until 13th August to provide the Bureau of Enforcement with details of the congestion or related surcharges that they have introduced or announced.
Translation by Giles Foster