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US Federal Maritime Commission beefs up enforcementUS Federal Maritime Commission beefs up enforcement

The US Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) is strengthening its enforcement with a new Bureau of Enforcement, Investigations, and Compliance (BEIC).

Marcus Hand, Editor

August 1, 2022

1 Min Read
Containership at sunset in Singapore
Photo: Marcus Hand

The new Bureau consolidates investigation and prosecution processes as the FMC looks to strengthen enforcement around the Ocean Shipping Reform Act 2022 (OSRA 2022). The Bureau will be headed by an attorney in the Senior Executive Service with regulatory, prosecutorial, and investigatory experience.

“Robust enforcement of the Shipping Act is absolutely key to the effectiveness of the Federal Maritime Commission.  This reorganization has the support of all five Commissioners and creates a structure better suited to meeting the mandate the President and Congress have given this agency to prioritise enforcement,” said FMC Chairman Daniel B. Maffei.

“Specifically, it enhances FMC’s capacity to closely scrutinize the conduct of the ocean carrier companies and marine terminal operators to ensure compliance with the law and fairness for American importers and exporters.”

The recent passage of OSRA 2022 has seen both President and Biden and Congress take a sharp interest in perceived excess profiteering by shipping lines, and a failure to serve US exporters and consumers.

The Bureau is divided into the Office of Enforcement, the Office of Investigations, and the Office of Compliance. The Commission’s Managing Director, Lucille M. Marvin, will also serve as Acting Director until a permanent Director is hired.

Related:US President Biden lauds passage of Ocean Shipping Reform Act 2022

Following the signing into law of OSRA 2022 by President Biden on 16 June new demurrage and detention legislation has come into force from the FMC. You can read the key points of this legislation here: New US Demurrage and Detention rules – what you need to know

In early June, the FMC had agreed with Hapag-Lloyd on $2 million fine, following an April decision in a case involving difficulty in returns of containers at the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach.

 

 

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About the Author

Marcus Hand

Editor

Marcus Hand is the editor of Seatrade Maritime News and a dedicated maritime journalist with over two decades of experience covering the shipping industry in Asia.

Marcus is also an experienced industry commentator and has chaired many conferences and round tables. Before joining Seatrade at the beginning of 2010, Marcus worked for the shipping industry journal Lloyd's List for a decade and before that the Singapore Business Times covering shipping and aviation.

In November 2022, Marcus was announced as a member of the Board of Advisors to the Singapore Journal of Maritime Talent and Technology (SJMTT) to help bring together thought leadership around the key areas of talent and technology.

Marcus is the founder of the Seatrade Maritime Podcast that delivers commentary, opinions and conversations on shipping's most important topics.

Conferences & Webinars

Marcus Hand regularly moderates at international maritime events. Below you’ll find a list of selected past conferences and webinars.

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