Joseph Bonney, Senior Editor | Apr 17, 2012 5:07PM EDT
The Federal Maritime Commission is seeking public comment on possible changes to NVOCC service arrangements, which allow non-vessel-operating common carriers to enter confidential contracts with shippers.
NSAs were authorized in December 2004 as an exemption to NVOs’ tariff-filing requirements under the shipping act. Partly because of antitrust concerns, the exemption did not allow unaffiliated NVOs to jointly offer NSAs.
After a 2005 court ruling alleviated those concerns, the commission began looking into whether to allow NVOs to jointly offer NSAs.
The FMC now has decided to broaden its inquiry to also examine possible ways to make the NSA rules “less burdensome and more effective in achieving the objectives of the shipping act.”
The comment deadline is June 18.
Contact Joseph Bonney at jbonney@joc.com. Follow him on Twitter @josephbonney.