MaritimeFedWatch

On November 5, 2021, Federal Maritime Commissioners Carl W. Bentzel and Louis E. Sola wrote a letter to Treasury Secretary Yellen expressing concerns about the takeover of Ports America, the largest terminal operator in North America, by Canadian Pension Plan Investment Board (CPP Investments).

Amid increasing pressure to take action on ocean carrier demurrage and detention (D&D) practices perceived by the shipper community as unfair, opaque, and punitive, the U.S. Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) has become more engaged in investigating and finding solutions to the ongoing supply chain crisis gripping the nation.

The global shipping industry produces 3% of global annual carbon emissions and is now beginning to feel the heat as pressure mounts for it to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to a net-zero goal by 2050.

On July 9, 2021, President Biden signed an Executive Order entitled “Executive Order on Promoting Competition in the American Economy” aimed at promoting competition across various aspects of the U.S. economy and perceived monopolies.

On January 15, 2021, the U.S. Federal Maritime Commission issued a notice of proposed rulemaking which would permit ocean carriers to wait up to thirty days before filing service contracts with the Commission.