The US Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) has called on the world’s largest shipping companies to provide detailed documentation on how they are implementing service agreements on the US West Coast amid concerns over a supposed collaboration the companies formed to address port congestion, according to the Wall Street Journal.
Nineteen, as yet unnamed, liners have been approached by US authorities to provide clear information.
The shipping companies are party to the Pacific Ports Operational Improvements Agreement, which went into effect without opposition from the FMC on April 17. The agreement authorised the ocean carriers and West Coast marine terminal operators to work together on policies, actions and procedures to improve efficiency at West Coast ports.
FMC commissioners originally expressed support for the agreement, yet they said it would be closely monitored to identify any anticompetitive activity.
Now the FMC is seeking documentation of all the carriers’ agreements with marine terminal operators on the West Coast, including the terms and service rates, ostensibly to monitor if any practices could be in line to cause another bout of congestion around the Christmas period.
