FMC Proposes To Change Ocean Service Contract Publication Requirements

Highlights

• The Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) issued a notice of proposed rulemaking on Feb. 14, 2020, proposing to change tariff publication requirements related to ocean service contracts.
• The proposed rule would grant an exemption from the current requirement that Vessel-Operating Common Carriers (VOCCs) publish essential terms, but in its place would establish a new requirement to publish a "statement of service contract rules and notices."
• The exemption component of the proposed rule is the logical result of the FMC's prior P3-18 Order, but the newly proposed contract rules publication requirement may have unintended consequences. Comments on the proposed rules are due by April 14, 2020.