Archive for the ‘Statement’ Category

Statement of Commissioner Rebecca F. Dye Applauding the Creation of the FMC National Shipper Advisory Committee

I have long believed and said publicly on repeated occasions, the Commission would benefit from having a formal and established method for collecting the advice of its shipper constituency. In fact, one of the final recommendations I made to the Commission at the conclusion of Fact Finding 28 was the need… Read More »

Letter of Commissioner Sola to President Biden on Caribbean Cruise Vaccines

Letter of Commissioner Sola to President Biden encouraging the prioritization of Caribbean and Central American cruise ports when distributing surplus vaccines to foreign shores. Louis E. Sola is a Commissioner with the U.S. Federal Maritime Commission. The thoughts and comments expressed here are their own and do not necessarily represent the… Read More »

Statement by Commissioner Bentzel on the Commission’s Demand Order

I strongly support the FMC moving forward on the information demand orders. The impact of COVID-19 has clearly taken a toll and disrupted everyday life in our country, and our maritime operations have not been spared. Today, in the news, it was reported that over 60 large ships lay at… Read More »

Statement of Chairman Michael A. Khouri: Letter to the Editor, Lloyd’s List

Chairman Michael A. Khouri released the below Letter to the Editor (paywall), submitted to Lloyd’s List earlier this month. In his correspondence, Chairman Khouri answers an Opinion piece suggesting that regulatory agencies are an impediment to addressing the issue of misdeclared hazardous cargoes. The Chairman stated the shared concern the Federal… Read More »

Commissioner Sola Statement on Canada’s Recent Decision to Bar All Cruise Vessels From Their Waters Until February 2022

Last September, as the Fact Finding Officer examining the COVID-19 Impact on the Cruise Industry, I released Interim Report: Economic Impact of COVID-19 on the Cruise Industry in Alaska, Washington, and Oregon. My report found that perhaps more than any other state in the Nation, the cessation of cruise operations… Read More »

Commissioner Bentzel Statement: The Health of Our Maritime Industry Will Lead Our Economy Back

The year 2020 illustrated our nation’s reliance on maritime transportation and international trade. Our society has adopted necessary, but dramatic, changes in how we work, travel, and go to school. The transportation sector has not been without impact. Aviation is down close to 50%, and the cruise industry has been… Read More »

Commissioners Bentzel and Maffei Urge Ocean Carriers to Carry U.S. Exports

Yesterday, Commissioners Carl W. Bentzel and Daniel B. Maffei sent a letter to World Shipping Council President and CEO John Butler, expressing concern about reports that ocean carriers are refusing the carriage of U.S. exports. The Commissioners noted that U.S. exporters should not bear the entire burden of volume fluctuations… Read More »

Statement by Commissioner Bentzel on the Foundation Carrier Agreement (No. 201351)

Today, I voted to support the FMC staff recommendation to allow the Foundation Carrier Agreement to go into effect on December 13th. While I am a strong supporter of the implementation of digital technology that will facilitate the employment of blockchain platforms to assist the movement of our international trade,… Read More »

Commissioner Louis E. Sola Statement on Expanded Supply Chain Investigation

Earlier this year, the FMC voted unanimously to finalize the interpretive rule addressing detention and demurrage charges in the hopes of improving the situation on the ground and improving the supply chain. Unfortunately, months later, we find ourselves facing significant congestion at our Nation’s largest seaports and allegations that parties… Read More »

Statement by Commissioner Bentzel on the Supplemental Order to Fact Finding 29 (International Ocean Transportation Supply Chain Engagement)

I strongly support the issuance of the supplemental order to Fact Finding Investigation 29 (FF29) that builds on the important work my colleague Commissioner Rebecca Dye started over a year ago. Separately, I have been reviewing issues related to the on-going congestion at the ports of Los Angeles and Long… Read More »