On Dec. 8, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Ocean Shipping Reform Act (H.R. 4996), which “provides long-needed additional authorities and powers to the Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) to level the playing field between ocean shipper and carriers,” ISRI says.
According to Adina Renee Adler, ISRI’s VP of Advocacy, the legislation would
■ help ensure a level playing field by requiring ocean carriers to adhere to minimum service standards that reflect best practices in the global shipping industry;
■ require carriers and marine terminal operators to certify that any shipping container late fees—known as detention and demurrage charges—are fair and comply with federal regulations;
■ prohibit common carriers from unreasonably reducing shipper accessibility to equipment needed to load and unload cargo, unreasonably declining export cargo bookings if the cargo can be loaded in a safe and timely manner, and withholding containers or other facilities needed to perform transportation services;
■ increase the FMC’s authorized funding levels by 10% percent; and
■ improve data collection and reporting requirements, establishing a Shipping Exchange Registry and authorizing the FMC to register shipping exchanges and issue licenses for registered exchanges to operate.
This act “is an important first step toward addressing both the long-term unfair shipping practices employed by ocean carriers and helping to solve the nation’s supply-chain disruptions that are impacting the recycling industry as well as every sector of our nation’s economy,” ISRI said in a press statement.
Reps. John Garamendi (D-Calif.) and Dusty Johnson (R-S.D.) introduced this bill Aug. 11, 2021, shortly after ISRI’s congressional fly-in, during which ISRI members highlighted the effects of various shipping disruptions. Earlier in the year, ISRI hosted two FMC commissioners to discuss these problems and the ongoing FMC investigation about these unfair shipping practices.
The legislation now moves to the U.S. Senate for consideration.
Photo by dendoktoor from Pixabay.
