FMC TO START ACCEPTING SERVICE-CONTRACT FILINGS APRIL 26
The U.S. Federal Maritime Commission will allow ocean carriers to start
filing confidential service contracts with the commission on Monday, five
days ahead of the May 1 implementation of the Ocean Shipping Reform Act.
The contracts are to be filed via the Internet, and the commission wants
to allow filers extra time to get properly registered and to be assigned a
password by the FMC.
The commission has "unshakable confidence" in the filing system,
said
FMC general counsel Tom Pannebianco.
In case the system breaks down, the contracts will be allowed to go
into effect, but filers will be required to refile their contracts within
24 hours after the system is fixed, the FMC said.