THE US Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) has launched a probe into shipping lines' compliance with new anti-retaliation laws established by the Ocean Shipping Reform Act of 2022 (OSRA), reports Ventura, California's gCaptain.
The fmc asked the top 20 shipping lines calling on US ports to provide information on how they will comply with the new prohibitions.
The added protections against retaliation were created by Section five of OSRA and became effective upon the law's enactment this past June.
The prohibitions apply to common carriers, marine terminal operators (MTO), and ocean transportation intermediaries.
The probe is conducted by the Commission's Vessel-Operating Common Carrier (VOCC) Audit Team, which is examining how ocean carriers are adapting to the increased prohibitions on retaliatory and discriminatory behaviour.
'The Ocean Shipping Reform Act made it clear that it is absolutely illegal for ocean carriers to discriminate or retaliate against a shipper for filing a complaint or challenging a charge,' said FMC chairman Daniel Maffei.
'The FMC will thoroughly investigate any allegation of illegal behaviour and prosecute aggressively when warranted. This is something that everyone in a company, from the newest sales associate to the CEO, must understand, and that is why the VOCC Audit Team is carrying this message directly to ocean carriers serving the United States. Even a simple verbal threat to a shipper from an ocean carrier employee could undermine US law and will not be tolerated.'
All recipients will have until mid-January to provide their initial responses, and the top 11 carriers were reached through their designated compliance officer.
The VOCC Audit Programme was established in July 2021 by Mr Maffei with the initial mandate of assessing ocean carrier compliance with the FMC's rule on demurrage and detention.
SeaNews Turkey
The fmc asked the top 20 shipping lines calling on US ports to provide information on how they will comply with the new prohibitions.
The added protections against retaliation were created by Section five of OSRA and became effective upon the law's enactment this past June.
The prohibitions apply to common carriers, marine terminal operators (MTO), and ocean transportation intermediaries.
The probe is conducted by the Commission's Vessel-Operating Common Carrier (VOCC) Audit Team, which is examining how ocean carriers are adapting to the increased prohibitions on retaliatory and discriminatory behaviour.
'The Ocean Shipping Reform Act made it clear that it is absolutely illegal for ocean carriers to discriminate or retaliate against a shipper for filing a complaint or challenging a charge,' said FMC chairman Daniel Maffei.
'The FMC will thoroughly investigate any allegation of illegal behaviour and prosecute aggressively when warranted. This is something that everyone in a company, from the newest sales associate to the CEO, must understand, and that is why the VOCC Audit Team is carrying this message directly to ocean carriers serving the United States. Even a simple verbal threat to a shipper from an ocean carrier employee could undermine US law and will not be tolerated.'
All recipients will have until mid-January to provide their initial responses, and the top 11 carriers were reached through their designated compliance officer.
The VOCC Audit Programme was established in July 2021 by Mr Maffei with the initial mandate of assessing ocean carrier compliance with the FMC's rule on demurrage and detention.
SeaNews Turkey