FMC Puts Oakland Saturday Gates Proposal on Ice

The U.S. Federal Maritime Commission voted unanimously this Wednesday to issue a request for additional information (RFAI) regarding the recent proposal to add full Saturday container terminal operations at the Port of Oakland.

RFAI means that the parties of the Oakland MTO Agreement (OAKMTOA), an agreement among five container terminals at the port, will have to delay the proposed amendment that would authorize an off-peak hours program.

FMC said it had concerns about the program being proposed based on an initial review and comments received from various stakeholders who would be impacted by the program.

Stakeholders have expressed their concern that insufficient details about how the system will work have been made available to them. After the agreement parties have fully responded to the information request, a new 45-day review period will begin.

FMC said it will continue its economic review to determine whether the proposed amendment is likely, by a reduction in competition, to produce an unreasonable reduction in transportation service or an unreasonable increase in transportation cost.

Notice of the RFAI will be published in the Federal Register next week and will announce a 15-day public comment period for interested parties to comment on the proposed agreement.