2021 年 7 月 20 日星期二
The Federal Maritime Commission plans to audit nine of the largest container carriers operating in U.S. markets to find out if they are using their market power to overcharge shippers on detention and demurrage fees.
The Vessel-Operating Common Carrier Audit Program, launched on Monday by FMC Chairman Daniel Maffei, will also “provide additional information beneficial to the regular monitoring of the marketplace for ocean cargo services,” according to the agency.
The top nine carriers by market share included in the audit are Maersk, MSC, CMA CGM, COSCO Group, Hapag-Lloyd, ONE, Evergreen, HMM and Yang Ming.
“The Federal Maritime Commission is committed to making certain the law is followed and that shippers do not suffer from unfair disadvantages,” Maffei commented, noting that his audit team will work to enhance dialogue with carriers on supply chain challenges.
“Of course, if the audit team uncovers prohibited activities, the Commission will take appropriate action. Furthermore, the information gathered by the audit process might lead to changes in FMC regulations and industry guidance if warranted,” Maffei said.
The audit program comes just a week after the FMC announced an agreement with the Department of Justice to boost the economic oversight of foreign carriers serving in the U.S. international container trades, following an executive order issued by the White House aimed at reining in what it considers to be excessive market power by the ocean carriers.
联邦海事委员会计划对9家在美国市场运营的最大集装箱运输公司进行审计，以查明它们是否在利用市场力量向托运人多收扣留费和滞期费。
据该机构称，FMC主席丹尼尔·马菲（Daniel Maffei）周一启动的船舶运营共同承运人审计计划还将“提供有利于定期监测海洋货运服务市场的额外信息”。
按市场份额排名前九位的航空公司包括马士基、MSC、CMA CGM、中远集团、Hapag Lloyd、ONE、Evergreen、HMM和杨明。
“联邦海事委员会（Federal Maritime Commission）致力于确保法律得到遵守，确保托运人不会遭受不公平的不利条件，”Maffei评论说，他的审计团队将致力于加强与承运人就供应链挑战的对话。
“当然，如果审计小组发现违禁活动，证监会将采取适当行动。此外，如果有必要，审计过程中收集的信息可能会导致FMC法规和行业指南发生变化，”Maffei说。
就在一周前，FMC宣布与司法部达成协议，加强对从事美国国际集装箱贸易的外国承运人的经济监管，此前，白宫发布了一项行政命令，旨在控制远洋运输公司的过度市场势力。
The carriers involved in the audit will be analyzed for compliance with FMC regulations as they apply to detention and demurrage practices in the U.S. Each will be audited “irrespective of whether a formal or informal complaint has been filed at the Commission,” FMC stated. “The Commission will work with companies to address their application of the rule and clarify any questions or ambiguities. Information supplied by carriers may be used to establish industry best practices.”
FMC Managing Director Lucille Marvin will lead the audit program, the agency noted, which will be made up initially of current FMC employees. The audit will begin with an information request establishing a database of quarterly reports allowing the Commission to assess how detention and demurrage is administered. Responses will be followed by individual interviews with the carriers.
Aside from detention and demurrage, the audit may include carrier practices related to billing, appeals procedures, penalties assessed and any other restrictive practices, according to the FMC.
将分析参与审计的承运人是否符合FMC法规，因为这些法规适用于美国的扣留和滞期费做法。FMC表示，“无论是否已向委员会提交正式或非正式投诉”，都将对每一家承运人进行审计委员会将与各公司合作，解决它们对该规则的适用问题，并澄清任何疑问或模棱两可之处。运营商提供的信息可用于建立行业最佳实践。”
该机构指出，FMC董事总经理露西尔·马文（Lucille Marvin）将领导审计项目，该项目最初将由FMC现任员工组成。审计工作将首先提出资料要求，建立季度报告数据库，使委员会能够评估如何管理拘留和滞期费。回应之后，将对运营商进行个别访谈。
根据FMC的说法，除了扣留和滞期费外，审计还可能包括承运人与账单、上诉程序、罚款评估和任何其他限制性做法有关的做法。
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