SHIPPERS SEEK FMC’s HELP ON CARRIERS’ WEST COAST ACTIONS

SHIPPERS SEEK FMC’S HELP ON CARRIERS’ WEST COAST ACTIONS    Shippers have approached the U.S. Federal Maritime Commission in Washington to seek help after ocean carriers announced U.S. West Coast congestion surcharges, declared “force majeure” and asked shippers to pay for the extra cost of moving containers stranded on the West Coast.
   Six or seven shippers contacted the regulator with complaints or questions, an FMC official told American Shipper. The agency is currently working individually with the shippers concerned to see whether the applicable tariff or service contract entitles the carrier to take such actions.
   Shippers have asked the FMC about the level and the timing of carriers’ congestion surcharges. Shipping lines of the Trans-Atlantic Conference Agreement and other carriers are reportedly asking for the payment of $500 per container U.S. West Coast congestion surcharges.
   For shippers’ containers discharged by carriers at ports other than the destination port, shipping lines may be able to say, under their “force majeure” clause, that they were forced to divert the ship due to exceptional circumstances.
   The FMC said that the obligations of carriers depend on their service contracts and tariff conditions.