Ocean Shipping Reform Act of 2022 Introduced in Senate

On February 3, Senators Klobuchar (D-MN) and Thune (R-SD) introduced the Ocean Shipping Reform Act of 2022, which garnered bipartisan support from senators Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), John Hoeven (R-ND), Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), Jerry Moran (R-KS), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Todd Young (R-IN), Mark Kelly (D-AZ), Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), Cory Booker (D-NJ), and Joni Ernst (R-IA). The legislation aims to place the responsibility on the ocean carrier to certify that the detention and demurrage charge is fair under Federal Maritime Commission rules. It would also require ocean carriers to prioritize loaded exports rather than empty containers.

The U.S. House of Representatives passed a version of the bill in early December, and ASTA signed an industry letter urging the Senate to take quick action in moving forward its own bill. For more information, access the full text of the Senate bill here, along with a one-pager outlining the differences between the House and Senate versions of the bill.