May 4, 2005 Volume 9, Number 5 Oakland, California

SIGNALS™ provides detailed information on the regulations and activities of the US Federal Maritime Commission (FMC), and related developments in the ocean freight industry. For past issues, please consult our index.

TACA Adjusts Surcharges, Reconfirms July 1 General Rate Increases

The Trans-Atlantic Conference Agreement (TACA), whose member carriers serve the trade between the USA and North Europe, United Kingdom and Ireland, Scandinavia and Baltic Ports, have announced increases to their Bunker Adjustment Factor (BAF) due to continuing increases in oil prices. Currency Adjustment Factor (CAF) will remain at 9 percent at least until June 15, 2005. TACA also reaffirmed planned General Rate Increases (GRI) effective July 1, 2005.

Bunker Adjustment Factors (BAF) effective May 16 through June 15, 2005 are as follows: US Atlantic/Gulf Coast Ports, $304/20' container, $608/40-45' container and $30/WM. US Pacific Coast Ports, $456/20', $912/40-45' and $46/WM.

TACA confirmed it will go forward with planned GRIs effective July 1, 2005. Westbound rates, from North Europe to USA, will be increased $240/20' container and $300/40-45ft container. Eastbound rates, from USA to North Europe will be increased $160/20' container and $200/40-45' container. All amounts are in US dollars. TACA members are Atlantic Container Line, Hapag-Lloyd Container Line, Mediterranean Shipping Co., A P Moller-Maersk Sealand, NYK Line, OOCL and P&O Nedlloyd Limited. Tariff rates and surcharges are published in TACA's relevant FMC tariffs and are accessible via its website www.tacaconf.com.

Irwin L. Schroeder Named FMC Chief Administrative Law Judge

FMC Chairman Steven R. Blust has announced Irwin L. Schroeder is the new Chief Administrative Law Judge for the Commission. Judge Schroeder has been with the Commission for little over a year. Chairman Blust stated "Judge Schroeder's extensive legal and governmental experience, including that gained over the last year with the Commission, will continue to benefit the FMC and those practicing before it."

Schroeder takes over from Chief Judge Norman Kline who retired April 2, 2005. Kline had been with the Commission since 1960 and served as Chief Judge since 1992. He had presided over many important cases for the FMC that set precedents and solidified Commission regulations. Chairman Blust stated: "Judge Kline is a man who has never lost his enthusiasm for the law, he has an extraordinary depth of knowledge of the cases before this agency, and his reputation throughout the maritime bar brings great credit to himself and this Agency. We will miss this outstanding Judge."

FMC Issues 43rd Annual Report - Fiscal Year 2004

The FMC's 43rd Annual Report for Fiscal Year 2004, issued March 31, 2005 provides a summary of the activities of each of the Commission's departments, and includes an overview of major US international trade areas. The report's appendices include an organization chart and statistics for FMC's activities in FY2004. The bulk of the report is concerned with FMC bureaus departments and offices, their achievements and future goals. Brief descriptions of recent important decisions, petitions and investigations are also provided. Within the report the Commission's economists include a section entitled "Developments in Major U.S. Foreign Trades." This offers a timely and free analysis of US imports and exports of Australia/Oceania, Caribbean, Central America, the Indian Subcontinent, Mediterranean, Middle East, South America, the Transatlantic and Transpacific regions. For each region an analysis of trade is provided, with a focus on year-to-year changes, as well as the commodities most heavily traded, vessel capacity, freight rates, significant developments and trade outlook for 2005. The complete report can be downloaded at www.fmc.gov.

FMC Annual Reports FY2000 - 2004 Statistics Overview

The following statistical information was compiled from the Federal Maritime Commission's Annual Reports for fiscal years 2001, 2002, 2003 and 2004. Fiscal years begin on Oct 1 and end on Sept 30. FMC Annual Reports are available at www.fmc.gov

FMC Statistical Overview

Subject	FY2001	FY2002	FY2003	FY2004
Service Contracts (New)	47,629	48,154	46,492	46,025
Service Contracts (Amended)	182,403	210,172	192.807	216,526
Agreements On File (1)	664	602	566	554
Investigations Opened	95	100	54	24
Investigations Completed	93	88	62	34
# of Entities Fined (2)	17	30	20	20
Total Civil Penalties Collected	$1,145,000	$2,450,971	$3,135,000	$2,959,000

(1) Agreements include Conference, Discussion, Joint Service, Vessel-Sharing, Cooperative Working & Other.

(2) Entities include Marine Terminal Operatios, Shippers, NVOCCs, Vessel Operators and Unlicensed entities.

US Containerized Trade

Calendar Year	2000	2001	2002	2003
Top Five U.S.	China 3,587	China 4,023	China 5,005	China 5,811
Trading Partners	Japan 1,809	Japan 1,660	Japan 1,616	HKG 1,672
TEUs (000s)	HKG 1,374	HKG 1,329	HKG 1,591	Japan 1,655
(1)(2)	Taiwan 961	Taiwan 852	S. Korea 948	Taiwan 977
	S. Korea 899	S. Korea 844	Taiwan 917	S. Korea 930

(1) Total TEUs include R.S. Exports and Imports

(2) As reported by the Journal of Commerce Port Import Export Reporting Service - www.piers.com

Year-to-Year Increase/Decrease in US Exports/Imports

Region	Exports 2003	Imports 2003	Exports 2004	Imports 2004
Australian/Oceania	N/A(1)	N/A(1)	+17%	+5%
Caribbean	-1.6%	+3.6%	+8%	+4%
Central America	+5,8%	+18%	+3%	+8%
Indian Subcontinent	N/A(1)	N/A(1)	+8%	+10%
Mediterranean	+11%	-1.23%	+9%	+3%
Middle East	+9%	+8%	+9%	+10%
Transatlantic	+3.3%	+.8%	+7%	+2%
S. America	Increase(1)	Unchanged(1)	+24%	+16%
Transpacific	+6.9%	+13%	+10%	+14%

(1) Percentages not available in FY2003 Annual Report

Volume 9  Number 5     May 4, 2005