One year after launching a probe into Spain’s alleged restrictive port practices, the Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) is now weighing potential remedies – including fines, cargo limitations and refusal of entry against Spanish-flagged vessels.
The Federal Maritime Commission continues its investigation into regulations or practices imposed by the government of Spain which directly or indirectly, as the authority claims, deny certain vessels access to its ports.
“Vessels denied access in the past include U.S.-flagged vessels operated under the U.S. Maritime Security Program,” the FMC said in its latest update on Friday.
According to FMC, information from multiple sources obtained during the initial stage of this investigation confirmed reports that Spain directly barred at least three U.S. flagged vessels in November 2024 and that the policy behind those refusals remains in place.
The FMC asserted that it now seeks additional information from common carriers, shippers, and other interested stakeholders about Spain’s current policy of denying or refusing port access to certain vessels carrying cargo bound for or coming from Israel, actions it has taken to enforce that policy, and the impact on conditions in shipping for U.S. foreign trade.
“Based on the information obtained up to this point, it appears that the laws or regulations adopted, followed, or enforced by Spain are likely creating general or special conditions unfavorable to shipping in U.S. foreign trade,” the Commission stated in its notice.
Accordingly, the Commission must also examine, and now seeks public input on, what remedial actions may be appropriate to meet or adjust those apparent conditions.
The FMC may weigh a range of potential remedies, the authority said, including limitations on cargo, refusing entry to vessels operating under Spain’s flag, or imposing fines up to the current inflation-adjusted limit of $2,304,629 per voyage on Spanish-flagged vessels.
The Commission stressed that no final determination has been made, and that it will carefully evaluate the evidence and all appropriate considerations.
It also said that any action will be guided by its statutory mandate and the factual record developed in the investigation.
