Federal Maritime Commissioner Carl Bentzel believes that the port and large cargo bottlenecks that occurred during the peak of the coronavirus pandemic during 2021 and 2022 must be avoided during future emergencies.
In a wide-ranging after-incident study, called the Maritime Transportation Data Initiative, Bentzel explains changes he believes are urgently needed, especially when it comes to sharing data among shipping companies and others moving freight.
“The intent of the recommendations contained in this report is not to require the change of individual business practices or to require new information services or systems,” Bentzel wrote. “The recommendations are aimed at harnessing existing information systems to maximize the value that can be provided by achieving real-time information and harmonizing content.”
