FEDERAL MARITIME COMMISSION

800 North Capitol Street, N.W.

 Washington, DC 20573-0001

Phone: (202) 523-5725

Secretary@FMC.gov

February 9, 2023 

Mr. Michael Symonanis 

Acting Chair, National Shipper Advisory Committee 

Dear Acting Chair Symonanis: 

On behalf of the Federal Maritime Commission (Commission), this letter responds to 

three Recommendations of the National Shipper Advisory Committee (NSAC) submitted to the 

Commission within the statutorily mandated 60-day period for the Commission to respond in 

writing to NSAC recommendations. 

On December 12, 2022, you sent the below recommendations to the Commission on 

behalf of NSAC. 

NSAC Recommendations: 

1. Data Subcommittee – Shipment Level Data Alignment:

Recommendation: Require ocean carriers to align and make consistent Vessel Level Data. For a 

single vessel call one data set for all ocean carriers to align the following data with the operator 

of the vessel:

Minimum required U.S. Export Cargo data set: 

• Vessel Name as defined by IMO

• Vessel earliest container receiving date

• Vessel last container receiving date

• Estimated vessel port call departure date

• Actual vessel port call departure date

• Port & Terminal of Loading

• (If applicable)

• Port of transshipment

• Estimated arrival at port of transshipment date

• Actual arrival at port of transshipment date

• Port of arrival

• Estimated arrival at port of destination date

• Actual arrival at port of destination date

• Vessel discharge date

Minimum required U. S. Import Cargo data set: 

• Vessel Name as defined by IMO
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• Port & Terminal of arrival

• Estimated port of loading departure date

• Actual port of loading departure date

• Transshipment port of arrival

• Estimated arrival at port of transshipment date

• Actual arrival at port of transshipment date

• Estimated arrival at port of destination date

• Actual arrival at port of destination date

• Estimated vessel berthing date

• Actual vessel berthing date

• Vessel discharge date

2. Data Subcommittee – Container Level Data Alignment:

Require ocean carriers to publish these container level data elements maintaining historical time 

stamps of these milestones in a public format for 180 days and accessible for up to two years. 

Minimum required U.S. Export Cargo data set: 

• Empty pickup container yard location

• Empty pickup date

• Loaded container location and earliest return date

• Loaded container ingate return

• Last free port demurrage date

• Last free equipment detention date

• Actual origin departure date

• Port of transshipment, when applicable

• Estimated arrival at Port of transshipment

• Actual arrival at Port of transshipment

• Actual departure from Port of transshipment

• Additional unplanned transshipment information

• Estimated arrival at Port of destination

• Actual arrival at Port of destination

• Vessel berthing date at Port of destination

• Container unloaded at Port destination

• Container location on terminal

• Container pickup available date

Minimum required U. S. Import Cargo data set: 

• Loaded container origin terminal ingate date

• Estimated origin departure date

• Actual origin departure date

• Port of transshipment, when applicable

• Estimated arrival at Port of transshipment

• Actual arrival at Port of transshipment

• Actual departure from Port of transshipment

• Additional unplanned transshipment information

• Estimated arrival at Port of destination

• Actual arrival at Port of destination
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• Vessel berthing date at Port of destination

• Container unloaded at Port destination

• Container location on terminal Container Hold details (when applicable):

• Carrier holds

• Terminal holds

• Customs hold

• Partner Government Agencies hold other

• Container pickup available date

• Container last free port demurrage date

• Container last free equipment detention date

• Laden container out gate – include trucker SCAC & chassis number

• Empty ingate return date – include trucker SCAC & chassis number

3. Data Subcommittee – Intermodal Data Alignment:

Require ocean carriers make intermodal data accessible online, maintaining historical time 

stamps of these milestones in a public format for 180 days and accessible for up to two years, for 

all ocean containers moving on United States railways on a through bill of lading. 

To ensure real time transparency following minimum required data for ocean cargo moving 

through intermodal rail: 

• Estimated railcar loading date

• Actual railcar loading date

• Estimated train departure date

• Actual train departure date

• Estimated train arrival date

• Actual train arrival date

• Estimated rail connection

• Actual rail connection Real time status at destination specific to container

ground or on chassis

• Container available for pick up date and time

• Loaded container yard location

• Container last free container yard demurrage date

• Container last free equipment detention date

• Empty ingate return

NSAC further recommended that it should be considered an unreasonable practice if 

these data sets are not adopted and implemented.

Commission Response: 

Chairman Daniel B. Maffei requested Commissioner Carl W. Bentzel lead a Maritime 

Transportation Data Initiative (MTDI). Commissioner Bentzel held meetings open to the public 

with maritime and intermodal stakeholders starting in December 2021 and continuing through to 

a Data Summit in June 2022. Information regarding this process and recordings of the meetings 

are available at: https://www.fmc.gov/fmc-maritime-transportation-data-initiative/ . 
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At the Commission’s January 25, 2023, meeting, Commissioner Bentzel indicated that 

the initiative is ongoing, and he is actively working on a report to the Commission for its 

consideration. Insofar as this is still an ongoing process, the Commission thanks the NSAC for 

its recommendations. It will take them into consideration as it reviews the MTDI report. 

Per the requirements set forth in the legislation establishing the NSAC, these

recommendations will be published on the Commission website and will be submitted to the 

appropriate Congressional committees. Please direct any questions regarding this response to the 

NSAC Designated Federal Officer. 

Sincerely, 

 William Cody

Secretary