U.S. West Coast terminals confirm off-peak charges filing

U.S. West Coast terminals confirm off-peak charges filing    Major U.S. West Coast terminal operators have confirmed in a filing with the Federal Maritime Commission they are seeking authority to agree on rules and charges designed to switch users to off-peak hours at busy marine terminals.
   Thirteen independent or carrier-affiliated marine terminal operators want to work under the “West Coast Marine Terminal Operators Agreement.” The agreement is a restatement of the West Coast MTO Discussion Agreement, already filed with the regulator.
   The amendment adds authority to “discuss, agree upon, implement and enforce rules, procedures and charges intended to encourage the use of off-peak hour services, as well as to adopt and implement related procedural and administrative mechanisms,” the FMC said. The agreement also provides procedures for its members to be bound by or opt out of agreement decisions and provides for the posting of financial security and resolution of disputes by arbitration.
   The agreement members are APM Terminals Pacific; California United Terminals Inc.; Eagle Marine Services Ltd.; Husky Terminals Inc.; International Transportation Service Inc.; Long Beach Container Terminal Inc.; Marine Terminals Corp.; Metropolitan Stevedore Company; Pasha Stevedoring & Terminals L.P.; Trans Bay Container Terminal Inc.; Trans Pacific Container Service Corp.; Yusen Terminals Inc.; SSA Marine (for itself and its marine terminal operator affiliates Pacific Maritime Services LLC, and SSA Terminal Long Beach LLC).
   The terminal operators have asked the FMC for expedited review of their proposed agreement. The dollar impact of future differentiated off-peak charges for users is not yet known.