AAEI is calling on the commissioners of the Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) to help end the causes of port congestion in the U.S. and around the world.

AAEI sent a letter to the FMC in April 2021 to draw attention to “reported practices of certain vessel-operating common carriers (VOCCs) and terminal operations that are related to the current movement of US exports to the world markets. The results are an economic threat, especially to small and medium-size enterprises (SMEs), and hurt millions of producers across the nation by preventing them from competing in overseas markets.”

The letter specifies some of the root causes of port congestion and urges the FMC to expand its investigation into the problem. “We support this investigative effort,” says AAEI, “and in the event that unjust or unreasonable practices by certain VOCCs are discovered, we urge the Commission to take appropriate and timely enforcement actions under the Shipping Act to put an end to these costly practices.”

AAEI’s Transpacific Committee is leading AAEI’s efforts to pursue solutions to port congestion, a recurring problem exacerbated by the pandemic. In addition to ocean carrier policy, equipment shortages and aging infrastructure contribute to port congestion. Other factors include  advanced data, port labor and land use.

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