ＦＭＣ發布關於荷姆茲海峽附加費的聲明，鼓勵貨主對違規收費進行舉報

當地時間3月11日，美國聯邦海事委員會（FMC）發布官方公告，稱其正密切關注當前中東衝突對荷姆茲海峽航運狀況的影響。
根據其法定權限，美國聯邦海事委員會將確保作為公共承運人的全球航運企業因海峽及鄰近水域商業航運面臨的威脅而實施的漲價、附加費和收費規則不違反美國《航運法》！
美國聯邦海事委員會（FMC）在公告中鼓勵作為貨主、貨代的託運人及時查閱船公司的收費帳單。對於任何違規收費或漲價等嫌違反服務合同行為，可及時向法院提起訴訟。
以下為美國聯邦海事委員會（FMC）公告原文及官方連結：
Commission Statement Regarding Strait of Hormuz Surcharges
委員會關於荷姆茲海峽附加費的聲明The Federal Maritime Commission (FMC or Commission) is closely monitoring the impact the current conflict in the Middle East is having on shipping conditions through the Strait of Hormuz. Under its statutory authority, the Commission ensures that rates, charges, and rules that common carriers have implemented as a result of the threats to commercial shipping in the Strait and neighboring waters do not violate the Shipping Act.
美國聯邦海事委員會（FMC 或委員會）正密切關注當前中東衝突對荷姆茲海峽航運狀況的影響。根據其法定權限，委員會確保公共承運人因海峽及鄰近水域商業航運面臨的威脅而實施的費率、收費和規則不違反《航運法》。
Commission regulations at 46 CFR 520.8(a)(1&2) require common carriers to provide at least 30 days between the publication and effective date of a change to a tariff that results in an increased cost to shippers. 46 CFR 520.14(c) outlines a process through which a common carrier may submit a Special Permission (SP) request showing good cause to reduce this 30-day waiting period. The Commission reviews and votes on all SP requests. If an SP is granted, the approval will show the effective date permitted for the charge. Per 46 CFR 520.7(c), a tariff rate, charge, or rule must be in effect at the time the carrier or its agent receives cargo.
根據聯邦法規 46 CFR 520.8(a)(1&2) 的規定，公共承運人必須在公布導致託運人成本增加的運價變更後，至少預留 30 天的通知期。46 CFR520.14(c) 概述了公共承運人提交特殊許可(SP)申請的流程，該申請需說明縮短 30 天等待期的正當理由。聯邦法規 46 CFR 520.7(c) 規定，運費、附加費或收費規則必須在承運人或其代理人收到貨物時生效。
The Commission maintains a list of all common carrier tariff locations for Vessel-Operating Common Carrier and Non-Vessel-Operating Common Carrier.
委員會維護著船舶運營公共承運人和無船運營公共承運人所有公共承運人收費地點的清單。
Shippers are encouraged to access and review their common carrier’s tariff. Ocean common carriers are responsible for ensuring that service contracts and their amendments are filed in a timely and accurate manner, and for compliance with the Shipping Act’s statutory prohibitions against unjustly discriminatory practices, unreasonable prejudices, and unreasonable refusals to deal. Parties should be familiar with the terms of their service contract. If a service contract incorporates all or a portion of a carrier’s published tariff, then the associated rates, charges, or rules must be applied based on their effective date at the time of cargo receipt. Shippers are reminded that under the Shipping Act, filing suit in a court of law is the exclusive remedy for any alleged breach of a service contract, unless parties agree to an alternative dispute resolution forum. (46 U.S.C. § 40502(f)).
鼓勵託運人查閱其承運人的運價表。海運承運人有責任確保服務合同及其修訂及時、準確地備案，並遵守《航運法》中關於禁止不公正歧視、不合理偏見和無理拒絕交易的法定規定。各方應熟悉其服務合同的條款。如果服務合同包含承運人公布運價表的全部或部分內容，則相關費率、費用或規則必須根據貨物接收時的生效日期適用。託運人請注意，根據《航運法》，除非雙方同意採用其他爭議解決方式，否則向法院提起訴訟是針對任何涉嫌違反服務合同行為的唯一救濟途徑（ 46 USC § 40502(f) ）。
Alleging breach of a contract (i.e., a failure to comply with agreed-upon terms) is different than alleging that a common carrier might have violated the Shipping Act’s guidelines. The Commission may on complaint, or its own motion, investigate potential Shipping Act violations. Shipping Act violations, if found, may result in fines being assessed against the common carrier, or damages awarded to a shipper.
指控違反合同（即未能遵守約定條款）與指控公共承運人可能違反《航運法》的規定有所不同。委員會可根據投訴或主動調查潛在的《航運法》違規行為。如果查明存在違反《航運法》的行為，委員會可能會對公共承運人處以罰款，或判令其向託運人支付賠償金
Shippers should file a complaint with the Commission or contact the office of Consumer Affairs and Dispute Resolution Services if they are concerned that a carrier is acting in a manner that does not comply with 46 CFR Part 520.
如果託運人擔心承運人的行為不符合 46 CFR 第 520 部分的規定，則應向委員會提出投訴或聯繫消費者事務和爭議解決服務辦公室。