Hede (HONGKONG) International Shipping Limited has been classified by the US Federal Maritime Commission, an independent expert agency charged with regulating liner shipping in U.S. trades, as a controlled carrier of the Government of the People’s Republic of China and added to the agency’s Controlled Carrier List.
The Washington-based Federal Maritime Commission has recently updated its Controlled Carrier List, marking a significant development in the international shipping sector.
This update includes the addition of Hede (HONGKONG) International Shipping Limited, and the removal of COSCO Shipping Lines (Europe) GmbH.
Specifically, the Controlled Carrier List was revised by removing COSCO Shipping Lines (Europe) GmbH, which has ceased serving the U.S. trades and has cancelled its tariff. However, other COSCO entities remain on the list.
Controlled Carriers are ocean common carriers operating in the U.S.-foreign trades that are, or whose operating assets are, directly or indirectly owned or controlled by a foreign government. Controlled Carriers are subject to enhanced regulatory oversight by the Commission.
It’s important to note that these controlled carriers “are subject to rate review standards to ensure that they do not unfairly use their government-supported positions against their competitors.”
Hede (HONGKONG) International Shipping Limited began offering service to the US in late 2023. Prior to that time, its operations had been limited to the intra-Asia trades.
The Controlled Carrier List is not a comprehensive list of all foreign-owned, foreign-controlled, or government linked companies and assets.
It is a list of companies meeting statutory requirements found at 46 U.S.C. Chapter 407. Commission regulations related to Controlled Carriers are found at 46 C.F.R. 565.
