FMC Probes Capacity Issues

(International Freighting Weekly – Damian Brett)

Reports of shortages of space and containers sparks federal investigation

The US Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) has launched an investigation into ocean capacity and container availability as the country looks to double its exports over the next five years. The FMC announced the probe after reports of a shortage of space on ships and container availability raised concerns over “both the cause of the constraints and whether those constraints could hinder the nascent economic recovery”.

“The commission has received a growing number of reports that importers and exporters have had difficulty obtaining vessel space and containers, particularly in the US-Asia trades,” it said. FMC commissioner Rebecca Dye will lead the investigation. […]

Dye will issue an interim report of findings and recommendations by 15 June and her findings and recommendations by 31 July. Read more here.