Recently, Japanese bulk-shipping company Daiichi Chuo Kisen Kaisha sought bankruptcy protection in both Tokyo and New York. The company, which features a fleet of 185 vessels used primarily to transport cargo such as limestone, cement and coal overseas, commenced its United States bankruptcy proceedings by filing a Chapter 15 petition in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York.

As most readers are aware, Hanjin Shipping Co. Ltd. (“Hanjin”) commenced insolvency proceedings in South Korea on August 31, 2016. Shippers, motor carriers, transportation intermediaries, and others are scrambling to react to fluid circumstances surrounding these unfolding developments. For instance, container terminals in Virginia, Los Angeles/Long Beach, and Seattle are reportedly no longer accepting delivery of Hanjin import, export, or empty containers.

Freight brokers are well-accustomed to bankruptcy preference actions. Those actions, which are permitted under the Bankruptcy Code, allow a debtor, trustee or other bankruptcy estate representative to claw back payments made on account of antecedent debt in the 90 days prior to a bankruptcy filing. Trade creditors, especially those in the transportation industry, are often faced with significant preference claims because they provide service to debtors up until (and sometimes after) the debtor’s bankruptcy filing.