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Michael A Khouri News

31 Mar 2021

President Biden Taps Maffei as Next FMC Chairman

Commissioner Daniel B. Maffei has been sworn in as the Chairman of the Federal Maritime Commission. Photo courtesy FMC

Commissioner Daniel B. Maffei has been named Chairman of the Federal Maritime Commission, as appointed by President Joe Biden on March 29, 2021. Maffei is a sitting member of the FMC and replaces Michael A. Khouri in the role of Chairman.A native of New York, Maffei was a Member of the U.S. House of Representatives for two terms. His previous professional experience includes serving in the Department of Commerce during the Obama Administration, and earlier in his career, working as a Capitol Hill aide and as a broadcast reporter.

12 Oct 2020

FMC: Ocean Shipping Challenges Abound

“The mis-declaration of hazardous materials is an area where we work in cooperation with Customs and Border Protection and the U.S. Coast Guard. The FMC’s Shipping Act concern is the market fraud when a shipper declares to a common carrier in its shipping documents that the tendered cargo is some innocuous variety, when the cargo is properly categorized as hazardous; thereby receiving a lower freight rate.”
– Michael A. Khouri, Chairman, Federal Maritime Commission (FMC)

© Pawinee/AdobeStock

Since early Spring 2020, American consumers have received a practical education in supply chain operations. One lesson is that it takes more than simply going online and clicking a “Buy Now” button for goods to show-up on our front porches. While the networks and systems that deliver commodities from around the globe might have been stretched as a result of COVID-19 related impacts, the men and women who move the freight have worked selflessly and tirelessly to meet consumer and manufacturing demand.Early on in the response to COVID-19…

20 May 2020

FMC to Investigate Alleged Discriminatory Canadian BWMS Regulations

© johnsroad7 / Adobe Stock

The U.S. Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) said it will initiate an investigation into whether ballast water regulations proposed by the Government of Canada discriminate against U.S. flag vessel operators in the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence River.The FMC commissioners voted unanimously to accept a petition filed by trade group the Lake Carriers’ Association (LCA) asking the commision to perform the investigation and examine the detriment and harm to the U.S. flag fleet resulting…

29 Apr 2020

FMC Issues New Guidance on Detention and Demurrage

© Mariusz / Adobe Stock

The U.S. Federal Maritime Commission has issued new guidance about how it will assess the reasonableness of detention and demurrage regulations and practices of ocean carriers and marine terminal operators (MTOs) under 46 U.S.C. 41102(c).The final rule, “Docket No. 19-05, Interpretive Rule on Demurrage and Detention under the Shipping Act”, will become effective upon its publication in the Federal Register.Under the new interpretive rule, the Commission will consider the extent…

27 Apr 2020

FMC Eases Requirements for Service Contract Filings

© leungchopan / Adobe Stock

The U.S. Federal Maritime Commission voted to temporarily allow parties to file service contracts up to 30 days after they take effect, as a measure to relieve COVID-19 impacts to the supply chain.The Commission published an order today making the relief effective immediately and lasting through December 31, 2020.The benefits of service contract filing relief were identified by the Fact Finding 29 Supply Chain Innovation Teams working under the direction of Commissioner Rebecca Dye.“The criticality of supply chains is something the Federal Maritime Commission understands well…

27 Dec 2018

FMC Offices Closed due Partial Federal Shutdown

The Federal Maritime Commission is closed effective Wednesday, December 26, 2018 as part of the partial federal government shutdown due to a lapse in appropriations. The Commission will resume normal operations when appropriations legislation is enacted and the federal government reopens.With the exceptions of Acting Chairman Michael A. Khouri and Commissioner Rebecca Dye, who are Presidentially-appointed, Senate-confirmed officials, all Commission employees have been placed on furlough and are prohibited by law from performing any duties during the shutdown.

19 Jul 2018

New Rule Creates Flexibilities for NVOCC Agreements

© Jelle van der Wolf / Adobe Stock

A Final Rule published today by the U.S. Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) offering deregulatory flexibilities for non-vessel-operating common carrier (NVOCC) negotiated rate arrangements (NRAs) and NVOCC service arrangements (NSAs) will go into force on August 22, 2018.The key changes to NRAs allow them to be amended at any time; allow the inclusion of non-rate economic terms; and, allow an NVOCC to provide for shipper’s acceptance of the NRA by booking a shipment. NSAs will…

13 Mar 2017

FMC Establishes Regulatory Reform Task Force

Acting Chairman of the U.S. Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) Michael A. Khouri has designated the agency’s Managing Director, Karen V. Gregory, to serve as Regulatory Reform Officer. Gregory will stand up a Regulatory Reform Task Force that will work to identify burdensome, unnecessary and outdated directives and recommend how they should be remedied. "Relief from regulatory requirements that have outlived their usefulness is one of the easiest contributions the Federal Maritime Commission can make to increased efficiencies and creating economic benefits," said Acting Chairman Khouri. The designation of a Regulatory Review Officer and establishing a Regulatory Reform Task Force is consistent with the intent of the Executive Order issued by President Donald J.

30 Jun 2016

Senate Confirms Three to Serve on Federal Maritime Commission

The U.S. Senate has confirmed the nominations of three individuals to serve as Federal Maritime Commissioners: Rebecca F. Dye, Michael A. Khouri and Daniel B. Maffei. Dye and Khouri, both of whom currently serve as Commissioners, were renominated by the President to serve in terms that will last until 2020 and 2021 respectively. Maffei is new to the Commission and will serve a term that expires in 2017. “I applaud the action taken by the Senate yesterday. Each of these individuals is not only committed to public service, they also take the core mission of the Commission seriously,” said Federal Maritime Commission Chairman Mario Cordero. “The shipping industry is going through a period of significant change that dictates our close attention.

10 Jan 2010

Commissioner Khouri Joins the FMC

Photo courtesy FMC

The Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) announced that Michael A. Khouri of Louisville, Ky., has been sworn in as a Commissioner for a term to expire on June 30, 2011. Commissioner Khouri was nominated by President Barack Obama on December 3, 2009, and confirmed by the Senate on December 24, 2009. Commissioner Khouri comes to the FMC as a 35-year veteran in the maritime industry from positions held in vessel operations, legal and executive positions. He has also served on the boards of directors at the American Waterways Operators Association and the Waterways Council.