Transporation
Public Meeting on Rotterdam Rules on International Transport Laws Announced
11/27/09 03:59 PM
On
November 27, 2009, the Department of State issued
a public notice
in
the Federal Register announcing a public meeting
of the Study Group on International Transport
Law regarding domestic implementation of the
U.N. Convention on Contracts for the
International Carriage of Goods Wholly or Partly
by Sea ("the Rotterdam Rules").
The Rotterdam Rules, which are currently signed by 21 countries, define the rights of obligation of parties engaged in maritime transportation of goods. Considering that 80% of world trade is conducted by sea, the Rotterdam Rules are intended to facilitate international trade by making the underlying contracts and documentation more efficient.
The U.S. signed the Rotterdam Rules on September 23, 2009. The meeting will be held on December 9, 2009 in Washington, DC. Further details can be found in the Federal Register notice.
The Rotterdam Rules, which are currently signed by 21 countries, define the rights of obligation of parties engaged in maritime transportation of goods. Considering that 80% of world trade is conducted by sea, the Rotterdam Rules are intended to facilitate international trade by making the underlying contracts and documentation more efficient.
The U.S. signed the Rotterdam Rules on September 23, 2009. The meeting will be held on December 9, 2009 in Washington, DC. Further details can be found in the Federal Register notice.
Freight Forwarder Documentation Requirements Amended
04/06/09 04:07 PM
On
April 6, 2009, the Department of Transportation
(DOT) Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration
(FMCSA) issued a final rule in the Federal
Register that amends its regulations to require
all surface freight forwarders to issue a bill
of lading or a receipt for each shipment for
which they arrange cargo transportation by
commercial motor vehicle in interstate commerce.
The current rule regarding receipts or bills of lading applies only to household goods freight forwarders, however, the new rule extends to both household and non-household goods freight forwarders.
The requirement for all freight forwarders to provide a receipt or a bill of lading for property has been in effect by statute since 1942 and by regulation until 1990, until the former Interstate Commerce Commission (ICC) limited the requirement to household goods freight forwarders.
The current rule regarding receipts or bills of lading applies only to household goods freight forwarders, however, the new rule extends to both household and non-household goods freight forwarders.
The requirement for all freight forwarders to provide a receipt or a bill of lading for property has been in effect by statute since 1942 and by regulation until 1990, until the former Interstate Commerce Commission (ICC) limited the requirement to household goods freight forwarders.
Passenger Screening at Airports to be Reviewed by Homeland Security
03/03/08 11:03 AM
In an
interview with Homeland Security Secretary Michael
Chertoff on March 3, 2008 stated that the
Department of Homeland Security will be undertaking
a review of passenger screening at airports to
explore ways to ease hassles and possibly paying
more attention to screening private jets from
overseas. Mr. Chertoff stated, "We are going to
take a look at the whole system of screening at the
airport in the next month and we're going to see if
we can maybe make a couple of significant changes
to remove some of the burden. We may be able to
make some significant changes to the system that
may actually be welcomed by the travelers."
USA Today reported that the review of passenger screening procedures will occur in the next 30 to 45 days. Chertoff has directed Transportation and Security Administration (TSA) chief Kip Hawley to "look at the system" of passenger screening and determine "are there things we can do to reduce hassle." USA Today reports that Chertoff stated that "some screening requirements may be unnecessary because of improvements in aviation security, such as hardened cockpit doors, a growing number of pilots carrying handguns and the deployment of hundreds of TSA screeners who scan airport crowds looking for people who are acting oddly and may pose a security threat."
To protect the U.S. from a private jet carrying a nuclear bomb, a dirty bomb, or biological weapons into the country, it was reported that DHS will issue new rules that will require crews and passengers to provide their names, birth dates, and other personal information one hour before taking off for the U.S. This time will allow authorities to check names against terrorist watch lists. Chertoff stated that the next step could be to require that private planes be scanned and passengers be screened and processed through Customs overseas.
USA Today reported that the review of passenger screening procedures will occur in the next 30 to 45 days. Chertoff has directed Transportation and Security Administration (TSA) chief Kip Hawley to "look at the system" of passenger screening and determine "are there things we can do to reduce hassle." USA Today reports that Chertoff stated that "some screening requirements may be unnecessary because of improvements in aviation security, such as hardened cockpit doors, a growing number of pilots carrying handguns and the deployment of hundreds of TSA screeners who scan airport crowds looking for people who are acting oddly and may pose a security threat."
To protect the U.S. from a private jet carrying a nuclear bomb, a dirty bomb, or biological weapons into the country, it was reported that DHS will issue new rules that will require crews and passengers to provide their names, birth dates, and other personal information one hour before taking off for the U.S. This time will allow authorities to check names against terrorist watch lists. Chertoff stated that the next step could be to require that private planes be scanned and passengers be screened and processed through Customs overseas.