Miami Terminal Conference Agreement Gets Green Light

Miami Marine Terminal Conference Agreement, an agreement between two marine terminal companies located at the Port of Miami, entered into force on December 31, 2016, permitting the firms to seek cooperation in both business and operating matters, the US Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) informed.

On December 29, 2016, the FMC voted not to prevent the Miami Marine Terminal Conference Agreement from taking effect.

The South Florida Container Terminal and the Port of Miami Terminal Operating Company filed their agreement on November 16, 2016. Under the terms of their contract, the companies may establish a variety of common rates, rules, and practices as well as to meet to discuss these matters.

“These two facilities are located in very close proximity to one another and allowing the entities that operate them the ability to communicate on a number of different topics creates an opportunity to achieve efficiencies that potentially can benefit both the Port of Miami and the shipping public more broadly,” Mario Cordero, Federal Maritime Commission Chairman, said.

While discussion agreements among ocean carriers are commonly filed at the FMC, agreements between terminal operating companies have been less common to date, the commission said.

The FMC is the independent federal agency responsible for regulating the US international ocean transportation system.