FMC to hold hearings

FMC to hold hearings    Federal Maritime Commissioner Rebecca F. Dye will hold hearings next week concerning vessel capacity and equipment availability in the United States export and import liner trades.

Dye

   Last month the Federal Maritime Commission announced it was launching the investigation into capacity and equipment availability, saying it had received a growing number of reports that importers and exporters have had difficulty obtaining vessel space, particularly in the U.S./Asia trades. The FMC also said it has received reports of U.S. exporters experiencing problems with the distribution and availability of shipping containers for their goods on those same Asian trades.
   On Wednesday the agency said Dye would take testimony and receive documents in evidence in closed, non-public sessions on April 6-7 in San Francisco, and April 8 in Portland, Ore.
   Those interested in participating in these hearing are asked to contact Dye’s office at (202) 523-5715 or at factfinding@fmc.gov. The agency is also considering holding hearings on the East Coast, and the public is also invited to contact Dye’s office directly. The agency said it would keep information it receives from shippers confidential.