Samsung Electronics America has filed a new complaint with the US Federal Maritime Commission against Wan Hai Lines, challenging more than $1.2 million in detention, demurrage and related charges assessed during the pandemic-era supply chain disruption.
The complaint, which has been formally accepted by the FMC, concerns “store door” shipments handled by the Taiwanese container carrier between 2020 and 2022. Samsung argues that Wan Hai improperly billed the company for delays tied to inland cargo movement, even though that portion of the transport was under the carrier’s control.
In store door arrangements, the ocean carrier is responsible for moving goods from the port to the inland delivery location. Samsung claims Wan Hai continued to impose penalty charges despite congestion, equipment delays and other operational problems that occurred within the carrier-managed leg of the shipment.
The filing alleges that Wan Hai violated provisions of the US Shipping Act and did not take part in a sufficient dispute resolution process over the contested invoices.
The case adds to a series of FMC actions brought by Samsung against container lines over detention and demurrage fees levied during the covid-era logistics crisis. At the height of the disruption, severe congestion at US ports and inland hubs left containers stuck for extended periods, while importers said they often had no practical way to collect cargo because of terminal backlogs, limited appointment availability or inland transport constraints.
The FMC proceeding will now move forward before an administrative law judge. An initial decision is expected by May 2027, with a final commission ruling due later that year.
Samsung has previously pursued similar claims against several major carriers, including ZIM Integrated Shipping Services, HMM, SM Line, COSCO Shipping Lines and Orient Overseas Container Line.
In 2024, Samsung won an FMC award of about $3.68 million in a case against ZIM after regulators found the carrier had assessed charges when cargo interests lacked a realistic opportunity to retrieve their containers.
The broader regulatory environment has changed sharply since the pandemic. The FMC’s 2020 interpretive rule stated that detention and demurrage should mainly serve to encourage cargo movement, rather than operate as a punitive revenue source. The Ocean Shipping Reform Act of 2022 later strengthened oversight by placing the burden on carriers to show that such charges are reasonable.
The Samsung-Wan Hai case comes as carrier billing practices remain under close scrutiny in the US container market. Earlier this year, the FMC issued a record $45.6 million reparations ruling against OOCL in another detention and demurrage dispute linked to the supply chain crisis.
Wan Hai has not publicly commented on Samsung’s complaint. Under FMC procedures, the carrier must file its response within 25 days of being served.