Law Firm ILN-telligence Podcast | Episode 81: Geraldine Spiteri and John Navarro, Acumum Legal & Advisory | Malta
Bill on Bankruptcy: Supreme Court Cases Will Have Wide Impact
Brazil’s National Agency of Waterway Transportation (“ANTAQ”) will hold a Public Consultation and Hearing from September 9 to October 23, 2024 (Notice of Public Hearing No. 11/2024). The aim is to receive feedback on a draft...more
The Federal Maritime Commission (the “FMC”) issued its Final Rule on July 22, 2024, establishing its approach to determining what constitutes an unreasonable refusal to deal or negotiate cargo space and vessel space...more
In light of the constant updates in the maritime sector, our Ports and Maritime team is launching this Bulletin. Here we cover the main legislative events, developments in Brazil’s National Agency of Waterway Transportation...more
Yet again the ocean freight bid season is unfolding against a backdrop of uncertainty. The 2024 season brings a confluence of economic, geopolitical, trade, and industry-related issues that have created a complex environment...more
Our team has prepared a summary on the main business opportunities in Brazilian ports. Below are the main opportunities that have been announced, are preparing to take effect, or are currently in progress....more
The second installment in our Baltimore Key Bridge collapse series examines the court proceedings that have begun to determine the liability incurred. The M/V Dali—which lost power just after midnight on March 26, 2024,...more
Courts have clearly established that a shipper cannot prevail in a freight claim against a carrier if an “Act of God” caused the freight loss or damage. The Act of God defense is an original, and one of the most...more
As federal regulators have recently made clear, steamship lines, non-vessel-operating common carriers, indirect air carriers, freight forwarders, and others involved in the global movement of cargo must ensure that their...more
The pessimist complains about the wind; the optimist expects it to change; the realist adjusts the sails. – William Arthur Ward The U.S. maritime industry is much like a great ship: It is subject to unforeseen forces, and it...more
The Federal Maritime Commission’s (FMC) newly revised tariff regulations will be effective February 1, 2024. These rule changes will somewhat significantly change day-to-day practices for both vessel operating common carriers...more
New guidance from the Biden Administration mandates that freight forwarders are responsible for complying with trade sanctions and export compliance. On December 11, 2023, the Biden Administration released a 10-page sanctions...more
The Jones Act is the foundational law of the American maritime industry, and compliance with it is essential whether you are a vessel operator in the US domestic trades or a foreign operator serving the US market. The Jones...more
Marine terminal operators (MTOs) and ocean common carriers became easy targets upon which to cast blame for the port congestion issues and supply chain weaknesses arising out of the COVID-19 pandemic....more
A number of developments in international ocean shipping have emerged following the enactment of the Ocean Shipping Reform Act of 2022 (OSRA) last year. The U.S. Congress sought to arm the Federal Maritime Commission (FMC)...more
On June 16, 2022, President Joe Biden signed the Ocean Shipping Reform Act of 2022 (OSRA). OSRA’s objective is to reduce shipping costs and address concerns relating to supply-chain challenges. OSRA provides the Federal...more
In light of the challenges faced by U.S. shipping interests, the Ocean Shipping Reform Act of 2022 (“OSRA 2022”) amended various statutory provisions of the Shipping Act of 1984 (“Shipping Act”), including common...more
On June 24, 2022, the Federal Maritime Commission’s Office of the General Counsel issued an opinion on the effective date of the new Ocean Shipping Reform Act of 2022 (“OSRA 2022”), Pub. L. 117-146. Per the General Counsel,...more
On June 16, 2022, President Biden signed into law the Ocean Shipping Reform Act (OSRA), bipartisan legislation aimed at providing relief to U.S. importers, exporters, freight carriers, port operators and other companies...more
Background - Almost a year to the day after the EVER GIVEN blocked the Suez Canal, making global headlines and focusing the general public’s attention on the world of shipping, bad news struck the EVER GIVEN’s parent...more
Ocean transportation procurement teams and vessel owners alike would do well to pay close attention to the effects of recent notable maritime perils that have triggered claims for general average. The running aground of both...more
Beneficial cargo owners have faced well-reported challenges in recent bid seasons. Two plus years of global pandemic unleashed supply and capacity interruption, carrier lane divergence, and an explosion in rates as well as...more
President Biden issued a Proclamation on 21 April 2022 to “prohibit Russian-affiliated vessels from entering into United States ports.” As discussed in this alert, this action significantly builds upon U.S. sanctions against...more
The author discusses the key differences between the Carriage of Goods by Sea Act (“COGSA”), which defines the basic relationship between ocean carrier and cargo owner, and the Harter Act, which governs certain transactions...more
Carriage of cargo on deck has always been problematic for vessel owners and operators. In addition to the typical risks associated with carrying cargo on deck, such as exposure to the elements and lashing and stability...more
Last week’s news of the sinking of roll-on roll-off car carrier M/V Felicity Ace provides a unique opportunity to illustrate and distinguish the two major types of marine salvage – pure salvage and contract salvage – and the...more