U.S. SHIPPER COALITION SAYS IT HAS ‘REAL, LIVE MEMBERS’

   The attorney for a shipper coalition that’s seeking an investigation of
the Transpacific Stabilization Agreement in the U.S. says the coalition is not a
phantom organization.
   "We have real, live members," said Carlos Rodriguez, attorney for the
Coalition for Fair Play in Ocean Shipping. Rodriguez said, though, that he
wouldn’t identify the members because they fear retribution by TSA carriers.
   The coalition is asking the Federal Maritime Commission for increased
scrutiny of the TSA during this year’s peak shipping season. Shippers and
non-vessel-operating common carriers claim TSA members took advantage of a capacity squeeze last year to force customers to pay extra to obtain ship
space.
   The TSA has asked the FMC to reject the coalition’s request. The carrier
group says the coalition failed to identify its members, making it
impossible to determine whether the group has legal standing.