The Federal Maritime Commission has announced that its Vessel-Operating Common Carrier (VOCC) audit programme is expanding its scope to evaluate how shipping lines are serving US export shippers.
The added emphasis on carrier export performance and service was directed by FMC chairman Daniel B. Maffei, who will implement meetings with 11 carriers to discuss their export programmes, according to a statement.
Ocean carriers are now being asked to share information about the export services they offer American shippers and responses will provide better insight into not only market trends and performance, but where opportunities exist for individual lines to improve or increase access to service offerings.
“The FMC’s expanded ocean carrier audit programme will provide better visibility into which ocean carriers work well with US exporters, and more importantly, which ocean carriers can and should do more to support exporters,” stated Maffei, who went on to add, “If the shipping companies continue the cooperative attitude they have by and large shown the Audit Team to date, I am confident we can make progress on some of the issues that have frustrated exporters.”
The companies in question will provide specific information related to vessel calls they have made to the United States since June 2021, including the number of loaded and empty containers carried on a ship’s return journey to Asia. Bureau of Enforcement (BoE) will assess responses to determine if further actions are warranted.
The shipping companies being questioned by BoE do not traditionally operate in US trade lanes but, according to FMC, they entered the marketplace in response to historically high rates shippers are paying to import cargo to the United States.
“All ocean carriers calling the United States have an equal obligation to conduct themselves in accordance with the law. New entrants to the market, including the so-called pop-up carriers, have all the same responsibilities as companies that have served the US trades for decades,” noted Maffei.
The VOCC audit programme, which was established in July 2021 by Chairman Maffei had an initial mandate to assess ocean carrier compliance with the FMC’s rule on demurrage and detention and to identify and gather additional information beneficial to the continuous monitoring the commission conducts of the marketplace for ocean cargo services.
