The Federal Maritime Commission has initiated a process that may ultimately lead to amending its regulations concerning “non-performance” by a Passenger Vessel Operator (PVO/cruise line) and under what circumstances passengers must be provided a refund…

Operations and cargo flow at the Port of New York and New Jersey have been minimally impacted by COVID-19 and the leadership at the bi-state organization has prioritized improving the container return process to further…

COVID-19 related impacts on ocean shipping and the cruise industry were discussed Wednesday in a conference call that brought together two Commissioners of the Federal Maritime Commission, a senior official from the Department of Transportation,…

Updated 8/10/20 to provide details on the proposed changes to passenger refunds for canceled bookings. Commissioner Louis E. Sola has proposed the Federal Maritime Commission initiate a rulemaking to amend its regulations governing Passenger Vessel Operators…

The Federal Maritime Commission voted to support a proposal put forward by Fact Finding Officer Commissioner Louis E. Sola that provides limited and temporary relief to small passenger vessel operators whose operations and business have been disrupted…

Commissioner Rebecca Dye’s Fact Finding investigation of COVID-19 related impacts to the supply chain (Fact Finding 29) is entering Phase Two with a concentration on issues related to operations at the Port Authority of New…

Cruise lines, marine terminal operators, and port authorities participating on Innovation Teams established by Commissioner Louis Sola as part of his Fact Finding 30 investigation are taking positive steps to address the sufficiency of agency administered financial…

Earlier this week I had an excellent discussion with the senior leadership of the International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) concerning the impact of the current pandemic on the financial wellbeing of their members. International…

An Initial Report issued today by Commissioner Louis Sola identifies a regulatory step that addresses a critical COVID-19 fiscal impact experienced by the cruise industry generally, but most significantly by small passenger vessel operators that are largely…

Following conversations with the port directors in Los Angeles and Long Beach, ocean carrier chief executive officers, Southern California marine terminal operators, longshore labor leaders, and FMC Innovation Teams, Commissioner Rebecca Dye has identified approaches…