FMC schedules hearings on fair port practices

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Global Trade Magazine reports that the US Federal Maritime Commission will begin hearing evidence from shippers on how they have been price-gouged by ports and terminals in the US over the recent years, particularly in relation to demurrage, detention and per diem charges. And it presents an impressive litany of evidence of shippers being penalised for port congestion issues that they played little part in: “Shippers and forwarders recounted nightmare scenarios of being charged ungodly penalties for situations beyond their control.”