Nvocc News

U.S. based shipping and logistics company Crowley announced it has acquired Tamarind Consolidated, a logistics services company serving the U.S. to the British Virgin Islands.The acquisition will transition Tamarind’s operations and services, including warehousing and non-vessel operating common carrier (NVOCC) services, to Crowley. According to Crowley, the expansion complements its existing maritime and logistics solutions and will expand solutions for customers in Virgin Gorda and surrounding BVI locations.

NVOCCs are caught in the middle of the Ocean Shipping Reform Act of 2022 requirements for reporting demurrage and detention; FMC needs to pump the brakes and allow the industry to catch upThe Ocean Shipping Reform Act of 2022, passed by Congress without industry input and signed into law on June 16, has left the industry in a difficult position regarding how to comply with the new requirements for invoicing demurrage and detention (D&D) charges.At issue is the Container Availability Date…

The Ocean Shipping Reform Act of 2022 (the Act) was signed by President Biden on Thursday, June 16, 2022. The long term fixes, which require Federal Maritime Commission rule-making, establishes additional requirements requiring the FMC to issue rules related to certain fee assessments, prohibited practices, and establishment of a shipping registry, and prohibited conduct for ocean carriers. It further authorizes the FMC under certain circumstances to issue an emergency order requiring common carriers to share information directly with shippers and rail and motor carriers.

Dubai-based DP World said it has agreed to acquire a 60% stake in South Korea's UNICO Logistics Co. Ltd. as the firm continues its expansion across the worldwide end-to-end logistics supply chain. The transaction, subject to regulatory clearances, is expected to close in the fourth quarter of 2020.Established in 2002 by H.J. Park and headquartered in South Korea, UNICO is one of the largest independent NVOCC (Non-Vessel Operating Common Carrier) in South Korea, with a global footprint of 25 subsidiaries in 20 countries.

On April 28, 2020, the Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) released the long-awaited interpretive rules in Docket No. 19-05 relating to how ocean common carriers may lawfully apply demurrage and detention charges to exporters, importers and ocean transportation intermediaries, including Customs brokers in certain circumstances and still be compliant with the “reasonableness” requirement of 46 U.S.C § 41102(c). The analyses and guidance in the interpretive rules have been in high…

What might not be so obvious in this COVID-19 environment, which we have grown to associate with shortages, is that counterintuitively there are issues beginning to appear dealing with the opposite situation. The Journal of Commerce has reported that “[t]he container shipping industry is marshaling a response to signs of a building import backlog as some retailers and manufacturers fail to pick up containers because warehouses are full or closed due to not being deemed essential…

The International Maritime Bureau (IMB) announced that it has launched a new initiative aiming to mitigate bills of lading (B/L) fraud conducted by non-vessel owning common carriers (NVOCCs).The IMB NVOCC Register provides a business solution to a business problem impacting parties involved in international shipping and trade.B/Ls are crucial documents relied upon by many stakeholders in the trading chain including banks, shipping companies, carriers and charterers.IMB - which conducts B/L checks for its members - says while the vast majority of NVOCCs issue B/Ls correctly, there is a small minority that do not.This could lead to fraudulent practices…

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.

Slovenia-based supplier of blockchain solutions for logistics, CargoX has  launched the CargoX latform to become the first open, neutral, and accessible blockchain platform in the shipping industry.The company said that the platform can be used by businesses of any size, and it was recently selected as the winning innovation at the IRU World Congress among 77 startups after a presentation in front of over 1000 attendees from more than 60 countries."Shipping, freight forwarding, NVOCC, exporting and importing companies, forwarder alliances and networks, and ecosystems providing solutions for logistics and supply chains all over the world can now start using the CargoX platform to speed up their business and slash costs…

Mitsui O.S.K. Lines (MOL) announced the establishment, effective July 1, of MOL Worldwide Logistics (MWL), and that they will lead MOL Group non vessel operating common carrier (NVOCC) business in Hong Kong.In a press release the company clarified that Non Vessel Operating Common Carrier (NVOCC) does not have own transport means (vessels), but carries cargoes between ports and to the final place of delivery by using other shipping companies.MOL Executive Officer Michael P.Y. Goh was appointed CEO of MWL. MWL has been making various preparations including permission of acquisition from relevant authorities, aiming for an October 1 launch of MWL business operations.As the MOL Group NVOCC headquarters…

Mitsui O.S.K. Lines (MOL) announced that it completed the acquisition of 14.27% shares in PKT Logistics Group, a Malaysian logistics company. MOL's stake will rise from the current 20.86% to 35.13%.PKT provides end-to-end logistics solutions comprising freight forwarding, customs brokerage, contract logistics, haulage, distribution and others, to its customers from diverse market sectors.PKT owns and operates warehouses hub in Shah Alam, Selangor, offering over 55,000m2 of warehouse space in total. In 2014, PKT acquired a strategic 70-acre piece of land in Batu Kawan Industrial Park, Penang, to develop an auto hub, a landmark investment to support the logistics needs of automotive and electronics manufacturers in northern Malaysia.

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…

OL International Holdings LLC (OL International) today announced the renaming and rebranding of TTS Worldwide as OL USA. Effective February 1st, 2017, the change is the latest and most symbolic development in an aggressive, multi-year strategic expansion plan for OL International’s businesses – now with representatives on the ground in over 140 countries. The announcement follows quickly on the heels of the launch of OL South Africa and OL Dubai in recent months. The far-reaching NVOCC network now encompasses 14 offices and more than 210 agents worldwide, many of which are part of the Oceanwide Logistics Global Network. This integrated structure allows OL International’s offices and affiliates to deliver seamless door-to-door service with local expertise to and from ports worldwide…

Federal Maritime Commission Chairman Mario Cordero announced that the Commission has completed compromise agreements recovering a total of $338,000 in civil penalties. The agreements were reached with one vessel-operating common carrier and six ocean transportation intermediaries (both non-vessel-operating common carriers and ocean freight forwarders). The agreed-to penalties resulted from investigations conducted by the Commission’s Area Representatives in Houston, Seattle, South Florida, and New York, and by Washington D.C. headquarters staff.

The status of Hanjin Shipping and the disruptions caused by its bankruptcy to the American shipping community, as well as global supply chains, was examined closely by the Federal Maritime Commission during the closed session of the September 20, 2016 public meeting. Commissioners were briefed by staff from the Office of the General Counsel; the Bureau of Trade Analysis; the Bureau of Enforcement; and the Office of Consumer Affairs & Dispute Resolution Services about a variety of developments related to the insolvency of Hanjin Shipping. Topics addressed included: proceedings in the U.S.

Consolidation of shipping lines, realignment of carriers alliances, environmental improvements in the shipping industry and achieving supply chain efficiencies were all among topics addressed during the U.S.-China Bilateral Maritime Consultations held in Los Angeles last week. Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) Chairman Mario Cordero co-headed the U.S. delegation to the meeting with Deputy Maritime Administrator Michael Rodriguez. The consultations are organized by the Maritime Administration and the Chinese Ministry of Transportation and take place on a regular basis.

Representatives from all aspects of the maritime shipping industry met in Cocoa Beach, Fla., May 16-18 for the Caribbean Shipping Associations’ (CSA) Shipping Executives Conference. Attendees include shippers, ship owners, port authorities and terminal operators, and non-vessel owners, such as brokers. A major theme of the conference was the close relationship between Florida ports and the Caribbean markets. “Florida ports have had a long relationship of trade with the Caribbean nations, and are proud to count them as some of our most valuable partners,” said Doug Wheeler, president and CEO of the Florida Ports Council. The CSA conference focused on the emerging market opportunities represented by the opening of Cuba to commerce, as well as the widening of the Panama Canal.

India’s integrated logistics solution provider Allcargo Logistics Ltd announced the rebranding of its global subsidiaries, ECU Line, Econocaribe and China Consolidators to ECU Worldwide. “The name ECU-Worldwide heralds the start of a new chapter,” said Allcargo Logistics Founder and Chairman Shashi Kiran Shetty. “This is in line with our vision to become a $2 billion revenue organization by the year 2020. “The new name signifies more than just a rebranding of our group companies. It provides us with the impetus to deliver more, create new products and proactively propose solutions to surpass client’s expectations to help achieve our ambitious growth targets.” Shetty added.

CaroTrans, a global non-vessel operating common carrier (NVOCC) and ocean freight consolidator, has entered a partnership with Thrutainers International, an established NVOCC in South Africa. This cooperation creates a U.S.- Sub-Saharan Africa import/export LCL service network in this important trade lane. In 2016, Sub-Saharan Africa is forecasted to have a 3.5 percent GDP increase over 2015, the U.S. a 2.3 percent increase in GDP (Economist Intelligence Unit). Established in 1978, Thrutainers offers a national footprint within South Africa including container freight stations (CFS), multimodal inland services, and warehousing and distribution.

San Francisco, California-based CAI International Inc. (CAI) has reported a fourth-quarter loss of $12.6 million, compared to the profit in the same period a year earlier. CAI aid it had a loss of 62 cents on a per-share basis. Earnings, adjusted for one-time gains and costs, came to 52 cents per share. The transportation finance and logistics company eported revenue for the fourth quarter of 2015 of $65.7 million, an increase of $6.9 million or 12% compared to the fourth quarter of 2014. Lease-related revenue for the fourth quarter of 2015 was $59.7 million, an increase of $0.9 million, or 1%, compared to the fourth quarter of 2014. Lease-related revenue for the full year increased 5% to $238.2 million.

The U.S. Federal Maritime Commission (FMC, the federal agency responsible for regulating the nation’s international ocean transportation, has completed compromise agreements recovering a total of $520,000 in civil penalties, announced FMC Chairman, Mario Cordero. The agreements were reached with four ocean transportation intermediaries (both non-vessel-operating common carriers and freight forwarders) and one vessel-operating common carrier. The agreed penalties resulted from investigations conducted by the Commission’s Area Representatives in Seattle and New York, and by Washington D.C. headquarters staff. The parties settled and agreed to penalties, but did not admit to violations of the Shipping Act or Commission regulations.

Hutchison Ports (UK) Limited in its latest ship2shore Magazine takes a look at methods of weighing containers. Half a century after containerization first emerged to transform the world of shipping, a landmark new regulation is on the horizon. From 1 July 2016, an amendment to the SOLAS (Safety of Life at Sea) Convention will require every packed export container to have its weight verified before it is loaded on to a ship. The new regulation puts this responsibility firmly on the shipper – but how many shippers are actually ready for container weighing? The Freight Transport Association recently warned that shippers could fall foul of the new legislation after 1 July 2016 if they don’t put measures in place to verify the gross mass of their containers.

Further reinforcing its commitment to the Puerto Rico market, Crowley Maritime Corp. is enhancing its total suite of shipping and logistics solutions for consumers and businesses with the consolidation of its Caribbean logistics services into a single new facility in Guaynabo, Puerto Rico. “By consolidating our non-vessel-operator-common-carrier (NVOCC) and less-than-container load (LCL) operations into a single logistics services center, we will be able to serve our customers more efficiently and handle increased cargo throughput…