22.06.10FMC to Launch 3 New Initiatives

The U.S. Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) is establishing three new initiatives that will provide enhanced assistance to shippers, continue to improve legal and regulatory compliance of regulated entities and focus on remedies to supply chain problems.

At the direction of Chairman Daniel Maffei, the FMC will: 1) establish a new and permanent international ocean shipping supply chain program, 2) re-establish the Export Rapid Response Team and 3) take the steps necessary for carriers, marine terminal operators, and operating seaports to employ a designated FMC compliance officer.

Each of these was contained in the final recommendations made by Commissioner Rebecca Dye in the Fact Finding 29 Final Report, which she issued to the FMC in May and issued publicly earlier this month.

The need for a dedicated international ocean shipping supply chain program has grown out of the recognition that there are longstanding, systemic problems and shortcomings in the networks and facilities serving America's ocean commerce. The International Ocean Shipping Supply Chain Program will allow the FMC to identify where issues exist in the supply chain and offer proposals for steps that can be taken to remedy impediments to the free flow of shipments. The Export Rapid Response Team will provide a dedicated resource for shippers to use in resolving emergency commercial disputes. Ocean carriers, marine terminal operators, and operating seaports designating an FMC Compliance Officer who reports directly to the senior-most U.S.-based executive will aid in ensuring industry-wide observance of legal and regulatory requirements.