TSA wants return to capacity limits. (Transpacific Stabilization Agreement)

Would keep half of surplus slots open and would suspend program within three years. FMC seeks shipper reactions.

The Transpacific Stabilization Agreement wants to restore a modified version of the capacity set-aside program that the carrier group had from 1989 to 1995.

If the Federal Maritime Commission approves, the capacity set-aside could come as early as Nov. 23, though Jan. 1 is a target date, said Robert A. Peavy, the Washington lawyer who is the group's administrator.

The idea behind the capacity set-aside is to limit the supply of ship capacity that carriers have to offer, and therefore encourage higher rates.

Weak transpacific rates were a hot topic at the recent New York meeting of the Box Club, comprising top executives of the world's major containership operators.

Transpacific carriers have not discussed how much space they …