Ocean Network Express (ONE) has agreed to pay a $1.7 million civil penalty to the US Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) to avoid a formal investigation. The settlement, which was announced publicly, was reached prior to the FMC initiating enforcement action against the carrier. As part of the settlement, ONE will refund or waive the contested detention and demurrage fees to the shippers involved in the case. Although ONE did not admit to any violation of the law, the company has committed to complying with the Ocean Shipping Reform Act of 2022 (OSRA-22) and the FMC’s interpretive rule on detention and demurrage. The FMC Chairman, Daniel Maffei, stated that the agreement sends a clear message to the international shipping community regarding the need for ocean carriers to fully comply with US legal obligations. The FMC has collected a total of $4.65 million in civil penalties from shipping lines over the past year, including penalties imposed on Wan Hai and Hapag-Lloyd. Additionally, the FMC has helped waive or refund over $1 million in disputed fees to shippers in the last 11 months.
