Category Archives: Maritime + Transport Law
Admiralty, Maritime, and Transport Law news selected by Toronto Transportation Lawyer Gavin Magrath
Blockchain Comes to Town
Last week CargoX launched its CargoX Smart B/L™ blockchain product to the international transportation industry, marking the first practical commercial application of the technology in the industry. Blockchain is the name for a group of technologies which permit the tracking … Continue reading
Forwarders Face Increased Risk from Switch Bills
Several organizations, including WCA and iContainers, have warned forwarders about the increased risks associated with issuing “switch” bills of lading. Switch bills are obtained from the carrier on request of the shipper holding the original bills of lading, replacing the … Continue reading
1st Train Reaches Churchill MB
Readers will recall that Omnitrax LLC, the owners of the Hudson Bay Railway that serves the deepwater port at Churchill, failed to make repairs or to formally discontinue service under the Transportation Act following significant damage to the line caused by spring flooding … Continue reading
FIATA Proposes Best Practices in Demurrage and Detention
The Working Group – Sea Transport of the Fédération Internationale des Associations de Transitaires et Assimilés (FIATA) announced the publication of a Best Practices guide for Demurrage and Detention charges in Container Shipping. The absence of regulatory action has resulted in detention and … Continue reading
FMC Interim Report on Detention + Demurrage
On 5 March 2018 the FMC announced a fact-finding investigation number 28 entitled “Conditions and Practices relating to Detention, Demurrage, and Free Time in International Oceanborne Commerce” pursuant to 46 CFR 502.281. The investigation stems from a petition made to … Continue reading
AMPs Penalties? Call your lawyer!
Administrative Monetary Penalties (AMPs) feature prominently in the enforcement of Customs Act regulations. One feature of the AMPs scheme is progressive penalties; a first offence almost always receives a small penalty, while a third or fourth offence even if minor … Continue reading
Unions Serve Canadian Pacific with Strike Notice
18 April 2o18 – Two unions representing Canadian Pacific Railway workers – the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers and Teamsters Canada Rail Conference – served the railway with a 72-hour strike notice today, meaning workers will go on strike starting 21 April if … Continue reading
Gavin Magrath quoted re Churchill MB and Omnitrax
Gavin Magrath has recently been quoted several times in articles discussing the ongoing commercial disputes between Omnitrax LLC, owner of the Hudson’s Bay Rail line to Churchill, MB, and the Federal Government as well as at least to consortia of … Continue reading
CBSA Delays e-Manifest Implementation
The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) published Customs Notice 17-15 yesterday, which delays the mandatory implementation date for the e-Manifest program indefinitely. This expected announcement replaces Notice 16-23, under which e-Manifest would have been mandatory for all filings beginning 1 … Continue reading
Canada lifts Sanctions vs Côte d’Ivoire and Liberia
The Honourable Chrystia Freeland, Minister of Foreign Affairs, announced that Canada is repealing its sanctions against Côte d’Ivoire and Liberia under the United Nations Act. Pursuant to United Nations Security Council resolutions 2283 (Côte d’Ivoire) and 2288 (Liberia), and based on … Continue reading
