APL’s controlled carrier status
APL has asked the U.S. Federal Maritime Commission for an exemption from a “controlled carrier” regulation in the 1984 Shipping Act that may impact the liner carrier in the “very near future.”
APL specifically seeks an exemption from the first sentence of section 9(c) of the Shipping Act, which states: “except for service contracts, the rates, charges, classifications, rules, or regulations of controlled carriers may not, without special permission of the commission, become effective sooner than the 30th day after the date of publication.”
Singapore government agency Temasek increased its shareholding in Neptune Orient Lines, the parent company of APL, to more than 50 percent on Sept. 15, effectively making the shipping line a goverment-controlled carrier under the definition of the Shipping Act.
The FMC said it will conduct a “thorough evaluation” of APL’s petition and requests comments from the industry by no later than Oct. 12. For more information about submitting comments, send an e-mail to secretary@fmc.gov.