The US Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) has launched investigations into detention charges levied by two major liner operators.
The regulator is looking into Wan Hai Lines and Ocean Network Express (ONE), according to filings made on 30 December.
The commission alleged Taiwanese container ship company Wan Hai charged shippers fees ranging from $125 to $1,550 per container at least 21 times without giving a return location for the container, giving a return location where there were no appointments available, or giving a location where a chassis cannot be returned.
The FMC investigation order said detention fees exist to incentivise returning containers, but in the alleged circumstances are likely unreasonable and violate the law.
"Under these circumstances, the incentive to return the container is not enhanced by detention charges," the order said.
The investigation into ONE centres around fees the liner operator says it is owed by Greatway Logistics.
Those funds — which are the subject of a federal lawsuit — were allegedly charged after ONE "unreasonably" defined a merchant in its terms and conditions.
Greatway, the FMC said, had no interest in the cargo and simply arranged for its shipment.
Neither Wan Hai nor ONE immediately returned a request for comment.
The FMC began looking at liner operators more closely last summer following an executive order from President Joe Biden on competitiveness in the US economy and Covid-19-related supply chain congestion.
Liner operators and trade groups have pushed back, arguing that the issues are shoreside.
The FMC has sought new powers to launch its own investigations and has been looking into detention and demurrage charges, requesting documentation from leading container ship operators and auditing their practices related to fees.
