The Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) will hold hearings beginning this week concerning vessel capacity and equipment availability in the United States export and import liner trades.

 

The agency said it will take testimony and receive documents in evidence in closed, non-public sessions on April 6-7 in San Francisco, and April 8 in Portland, Ore.

In February the FMC announced it was launching the investigation into capacity and equipment availability, in the wake of reports that importers and exporters have had difficulty obtaining vessel space, particularly in the U.S./Asia trades. The FMC also said it has received reports of U.S. exporters experiencing problems with the distribution and availability of shipping containers for their goods on those same Asian trades.

 

Those interested in participating in these hearing are asked to contact the FMC at (202) 523-5715 or at factfinding@fmc.gov.

 

The agency is also considering holding hearings on the East Coast; the public and interested parties are invited to contact Federal Maritime Commissioner Rebecca F. Dye's office directly for more information.

 

The agency said it would keep information it receives from shippers confidential. .