[120111.EN.SEA] US Regulator To Investigate Who Benefits From Slow Steaming

THE US Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) has announced its intention to investigate the cost savings made by slow steaming and who reaps the benefits, reports American Shipper.

"We want to see if savings are shared with shippers, if there has been reduced surcharge activity based on slow-steaming. It will be a very wide-reaching snapshot of slow steaming activity," said FMC chairman Richard Lidinsky.

While European shippers have said slow steaming only benefits, "I've yet to see a US group complain, so my impression is that people support it in a general economic and environmental sense, so we will have to see what the carriers say," Mr Lidinsky said.

The FMC allowed carriers in the Transpacific Service Agreement to establish a forum to discuss ways to reduce vessel-related pollution including implementation of "slow steaming".

The commission will solicit public opinion and also seeks views public comments on the impact of the European Union's 2008 ban on shipping conferences.

At a meeting of the European Maritime Law Organisation in Dublin in October there was "a great deal of discussion and interest in this study "because it is the first comprehensive look at ending antitrust immunity for conferences in Europe," Mr Lidinsky said. 

The FMC is soliciting comments through January 18 from carriers, shippers and other parties worldwide. 

Source : HKSG, 11.01.11.