Mar 14, 2012
Proper Identification for Boarding a Cruise Line Consumer Alert
The Commission’s Office of Consumer Affairs and Dispute Resolution Services (CADRS) has received a growing number of inquiries and complaints from cruise passengers involving the refusal of cruise lines to permit passengers to board an international cruise without proper documentation. As passenger ticket contracts usually place responsibility for proper documentation on the passenger, cruise lines decline to reimburse passengers for the missed cruise in these situations.
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Mar 14, 2012
West Africa and Nigeria Shipments Consumer Alert
The Commission’s Office of Consumer Affairs and Dispute Resolution Services (CADRS) has recently received an increased number of inquiries and consumer complaints involving unlicensed ocean transportation intermediaries (OTIs) hired to ship household goods and automobiles to West Africa and Nigeria.​
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Mar 07, 2012
Chairman Lidinsky Testifies to Congress Regarding FY 2013 FMC Budget
The President’s budget for the Federal Maritime Commission provides $26,000,000 for Fiscal Year 2013. This represents an increase of $1,900,000 over the enacted Fiscal Year 2012 appropriation and funds 131.6 full-time equivalent employees. It is $265,000 less than requested in the President’s budget for Fiscal Year 2012.
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Mar 05, 2012
Final Rule for Freight Index-Based Service Contracts Released
The Federal Maritime Commission issued a final rule for freight index-based service contracts to provide flexibility and certainty to ocean carriers and their customers. The new rule makes clear that service contracts can reference freight indices or other outside terms, so long as they are readily available to the contracting parties and the Commission.
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Feb 27, 2012
Proposed Update of Commission Pleading, Motion, and Discovery Rules Approved
A proposed rule to update the Commission’s Rules of Practice and Procedure for pleadings, motions, and discovery in agency adjudications has been approved for publication and comment. The proposed changes are intended to add clarity, reduce burdens on parties, and incorporate standards from the current Federal Rules of Civil Procedure. This is the second proposed rule change in an ongoing initiative to make the Commission’s procedural rules more clear, modern, and efficient. Comments on the proposed rule are due by April 30, 2012
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