Features Breakbulk & Project Cargo
on whether foreign countries’ flagging practices, including the use of flags of convenience— i. e., registering a vessel in a different country from where the owner is based— are creating barriers to US trade.
In a comment from multipurpose vessel( MPV) operator BBC Chartering, CEO Ulrich Ulrichs and US president Tim Kopfensteiner described the term flag of convenience as“ outdated” and“ derogatory,” adding that it does not convey specific information about a vessel’ s operational standard or compliance.
“ Should the FMC decide to take any action with respect to one or more open registries, we would urge that it do so based on a data-driven assessment of the relevant registry( ies) and the associated vessel histories, rather than on the basis of anecdotal evidence only,” the comment read.
The FMC has been relatively quiet about both investigations since their respective comment periods closed May 13 and Aug. 20. Should the inquiries advance, the commission could use its findings as a basis for future rulemaking.
Laura DiBella, appointed to lead the FMC by President Donald Trump in January, has said the aim of the FMC under her leadership will be to support the administration’ s plans to restore the US maritime industry. Pending Senate confirmation, Trump nominee Robert Harvey is expected to fill the vacant fifth seat on the commission, bringing the
FMC back to a full quorum, which along with federal funding support could facilitate more enforcement activity.
Wider aspirations?
While much of the headlines early last year focused on US import tariffs and plans to impose port fees on foreign-owed and-operated vessels, the FMC’ s chokepoints investigation was an alarm bell for the industry, according to James Hookham, director of trade association the Global Shippers Forum( GSF). The investigation is focused on seven key trade routes: the English Channel, the Malacca Strait, the Northern Sea Passage, the Singapore Strait, the Panama Canal, the Strait of Gibraltar and the Suez Canal.
“ It was in some ways most intriguing because it seemed that it had very little to do with immediate US interests,” Hookham said.
Since taking office, Trump has called for the US to“ reclaim” the Panama Canal and demonstrated a willingness to use military force in Latin America, capturing Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro in January.
Trump has also cited the importance of the Northern Sea Passage in pushing for the US to acquire Greenland. The increased availability of the route due to long-term ice melt,“ has sparked competition over governance, with
Acceso denegado
FMC weighs hefty fees, port bans for Spanish vessels
By Autumn Cafiero Giusti
Spanish-flagged vessels could be looking at US fees of up to $ 2.3 million per voyage and bans from US ports as Washington doubles down on a probe prompted by Spain’ s refusal of multiple US-flag ships and a Danish multipurpose vessel( MPV) delivering weapons and military cargo to Israel.
The US Federal Maritime Commission( FMC) is considering industry comments submitted through Feb. 20 after issuing a late-December notice requesting new information on whether Spain is creating conditions“ unfavorable” to foreign trade.
The FMC’ s notice indicated that in November 2024, Spain barred three US-flag vessels that were operating
“ The basic conditions the commission initiated this investigation to address still exist.”
under the US Maritime Administration’ s( MARAD’ s) Maritime Security Program, which supports the US Department of Defense during emergencies and wartime, on grounds they were carrying cargo to Israel.
The FMC also cited policy changes the Spanish government adopted last September to limit military cargo shipments to Israel.
“ Spain’ s recent announcement and information from multiple sources indicate that the basic conditions the commission initiated this investigation to address still exist and are likely creating general or special conditions unfavorable to shipping in US foreign commerce,” the FMC said in the notice.
18 Journal of Commerce | March 2026 www. joc. com