FMC PROBES FLORIDA PORTS’ RATE DISCUSSION PACT

FMC PROBES FLORIDA PORTS’ RATE DISCUSSION PACT    The U.S. Federal Maritime Commission has requested 15 ports in Florida to provide additional information on a rates discussion agreement announced in February.
   “The commission has determined that further information is necessary to evaluate the impact of the proposed agreement on transportation costs and services,” the FMC said. The agency warned that this action prevents the agreement from becoming effective as originally scheduled.
   The Canaveral Port Authority; Broward County, Port Everglades Department; Jacksonville Port Authority; Port of Key West, City of Key West Transportation Department; Manatee County Port Authority; Miami-Dade County, Port of Miami; Ocean Highway and Port Authority, Nassau County, Port of Fernandina; Port of Palm Beach District; Panama City Port Authority; City of Pensacola, Port of Pensacola; and Tampa Port Authority want to operate an agreement named “Florida Ports Conference II.”
   Under the agreement, filed with the FMC in February, the ports would enter into a voluntary discussion and cooperative working agreement authorizing the parties to confer, discuss, and agree on rates, charges, practices regulations and other matters.
   The agreement would supersede the present Florida Ports Conference agreement.