U.S. Shipping Regulator Proposes $200,000 Fees on Spanish Ships Over Port Ban

Shipping containers are seen at the port of Barcelona, Spain, October 3, 2024. REUTERS/Nacho Doce

The U.S. Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) is proposing $200,000 fees on Spanish-flagged vessels entering American ports, along with restrictions on billions of dollars in Spanish imports, after concluding that Spain’s refusal to admit certain U.S.-flagged ships has created unfavorable conditions for American shipping.

The announcement Wednesday marks a significant escalation in a dispute dating back to 2024, when Spain began denying port access to vessels carrying military cargo bound for Israel.

Following a nearly two-year investigation, the FMC said it had found conclusive evidence that Spain’s restrictions had forced U.S.-flagged vessels to divert to other ports and largely abandon calls in Spain.

The proposed measures include a $200,000 fee each time a Spanish-flagged vessel enters a U.S. port from abroad, as well as potential restrictions on imports of Spanish cosmetics, oils and fats, ceramics, stone products, and sugar and confectionery.

According to the proposed rule , those five categories accounted for approximately $3.1 billion in U.S. imports from Spain in 2025. Olive oil alone represented nearly $837 million.

The measures are not yet final. The FMC is seeking public before deciding which restrictions to impose and has offered Spain an opportunity for a hearing.

U.S.-Flagged Ships Diverted to Morocco

The dispute began in November 2024, when Spanish authorities refused port access to the U.S.-flagged Maersk Denver and Maersk Seletar , both operated by Maersk Line, Limited, over cargo connected to Israel. A third vessel, the Maersk Hartford , was also prevented from docking later that month, according to the FMC’s latest findings.

All three vessels participate in the U.S. Maritime Administration’s Maritime Security Program, which provides financial support to commercially operated U.S.-flagged ships in exchange for their availability to support national defense requirements.

The FMC’s investigation found that the restrictions have had a lasting effect on U.S.-flagged shipping patterns.

Before November 2024, Maersk Line, Limited vessels made an average of more than seven port calls per month in Spain. That traffic has since largely shifted to Morocco, with calls at Tangier replacing much of the company’s activity at Algeciras.

The regulator said Maersk Line, Limited’s U.S.-flagged fleet made just six calls in Spain during 2026, compared with multiple calls each month before the restrictions took effect.

The FMC also cited confidential evidence indicating that nearly all vessels participating in the Maritime Security Program have stopped calling at Spanish ports because of the restrictions.

Spain has maintained that its measures comply with Spanish, European Union and international law and are applied without discrimination based on vessel flag. The FMC rejected that defense, saying its investigation established that Spain had denied docking privileges to U.S.-flagged vessels rather than simply restricting the discharge of specific cargo.

The regulator said the restrictions undermine the ability of U.S.-flagged ships to compete for cargo moving to and from Spain, while also affecting vessels that could be called upon to support U.S. military operations.

Proposed Trade Restrictions

The new proposal follows a December 2025 warning in which the FMC said it was considering fines of up to $2.3 million per voyage, cargo restrictions and possible denial of entry to Spanish-flagged vessels.

The Commission has now narrowed its proposed vessel fee to $200,000 per voyage while identifying specific categories of Spanish goods that could face import restrictions.

The proposed trade measures cover approximately $1.15 billion in oils and fats, $940 million in perfumery and cosmetics, $635 million in ceramics, $271 million in stone products and $139 million in sugar and confectionery, based on 2025 import values.

The FMC could restrict all five categories or adopt narrower measures following public consultation.

The proposal would also allow the regulator to seek assistance from the Department of Homeland Security to deny entry or detain vessels carrying restricted goods, regardless of their flag, or Spanish-flagged vessels that fail to pay the required fees.

The FMC acknowledged that relatively few Spanish-flagged vessels call at U.S. ports, meaning the proposed vessel fees alone would not fully address the conditions identified in its investigation.

The Commission is also proposing authority to increase fees or expand import restrictions if Spain takes retaliatory action against U.S. carriers or shippers.

Public will be accepted for 60 days following publication of the proposed rule in the Federal Register, scheduled for October 15.

The FMC said the proposed penalties are intended to address shipping conditions created by Spain’s port restrictions, rather than the broader political dispute over the transportation of military cargo to Israel.

— trusted by our 106,746 members