24 August (Lloyd's List) - COMMISSIONER Carl Bentzel of the Federal Maritime Commission is soliciting further input from the public on his initiative to harmonise data flows across US supply chains.

Bentzel released details of his proposed Maritime Data Transportation Initiative in April following 18 public meetings and input from dozens of experts. He is seeking more feedback from the public via a request for information published on the Federal Register, ahead of a potential proposed rule making.

“The purpose of this RFI is to solicit further public review and comment on the proposed processes and definitions identified in the MTDI Report,” Bentzel said in a statement.

“My intention, after receiving additional feedback from the public, is to identify the key requirements for a reliable maritime transportation system of information. This includes harmonised information sharing; clear standards for understanding container availability, earliest return dates, and other key metrics that arise when cargo is transferred between nodes; and information on fees and charges.”

The pandemic related supply chain congestion cost the US trillions of dollars in “lost economic opportunity” and cost inflation, Bentzel said, highlighting an ongoing, systematic problem.

“The recommendations proposed in the MTDI seek to ameliorate what is a system inadequate for providing supply chain transportation. Further public input will help refine what was issued earlier this year.”

The MTDI report recommended creating a maritime transportation data system requiring that certain information be shared by participants while implementing a “common language” that would enable all stakeholders to be on the same page.

“The information we’re asking for is information that everyone has right now; there’s no new requirements,” Bentzel said at a recent Flexport webinar. “But making it available in a common format and lexicon will go a long way in terms of performance.”

The MTDI report endorsed the lexicon developed by the Digital Container Shipping Association, whose members include nine of the top 10 ocean carriers. However, one problem that arose within the DCSA membership was ensuring that all member companies comply with new requirements. This, in Bentzel’s view, supports the case for regulatory requirements.

“It’s a very competitive market, and essentially not all of them would take the same step at the same time to encompass a more comprehensive approach for data availability,” Bentzel said.

“In my view, we’ve reached a point where they have data, they’ve endorsed the process of providing information, and they’ve set up processes that work from their perspective. How to make that available is the major question.

“I believe that certain elements of data should be provided to the public to overcome some of these challenges we have with congestion. Mandating that data would ensure that each of these companies takes steps to provide that information and that we can rely on it. That’s going to save us trillion of dollars in economic losses.”

Bentzel will be collecting comments through October 15, with more hearings and public outreach likely to follow.

“I want this to be considered as a proposal, and I want the public to review it and tell me if its right or wrong. “If it looks like this is the answer to some of the challenges that we have in getting better data for this industry, then I will pursue whatever is necessary that the quality and reliability of this information is used.”