Federal Maritime Commission

• Pages: 410-413

FEDERAL MARITIME COMMISSION

800 North Capitol Street NW., Washington, DC 20573-0001

Phone, 202-523-5707. Internet, http://www.fmc.gov.

Chairman Steven R. Blust

Commissioners A. Paul Anderson, Joseph E. Brennan, Harold J. Creel, Jr., Rebecca F. Dye

General Counsel Amy W. Larson

Secretary Bryant L. VanBrakle

Director, Consumer Affairs and Ronald D. Murphy

Dispute Resolution Services

Administrative Law Judge Kenneth A. Krantz

Director, Office of Equal Employment Opportunity Carmen G. Cantor

Inspector General Bridgette S. Hicks, Acting

Director, Office of Administration Bruce A. Dombrowski

Director, Officer of Operations Austin L. Schmitt

Director, Bureau of Certification Sandra L. Kusumoto

and Licensing

Director, Bureau of Enforcement Vern W. Hill

Director, Bureau of Trade Analysis Florence A. Carr

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The Federal Maritime Commission is responsible for regulating the waterborne foreign commerce of the United States. It ensures that U.S. oceanborne trades are open to all on fair and equitable terms and protects against concerted activities and unlawful practices. This is accomplished by reviewing and monitoring agreements between persons subject to the Shipping Act of 1984, as amended by the Ocean Shipping Reform Act of 1998; licensing ocean transportation intermediaries; monitoring the activities of common carriers and ocean transportation intermediaries; enforcing prohibitions against unjustly discriminatory acts and other prohibited practices of shippers, carriers, and other persons subject to the shipping statutes; and ensuring that passenger vessel operators maintain adequate levels of financial responsibility for the indemnification of passengers for nonperformance or casualty.

The Federal Maritime Commission was established by Reorganization Plan No. 7 of 1961 (5 U.S.C. app.), effective August 12, 1961. It is an independent agency that regulates shipping under the following statutes: the Shipping Act of 1984, as amended (46 U.S.C. app. 1701-1720); the Merchant Marine Act, 1920 (46 U.S.C. app. 861 et seq.); the Foreign Shipping Practices Act of 1988 (46 U.S.C. app. 1710a); the Merchant Marine Act, 1936 (46 U.S.C. app. 1101 et seq.); and certain provisions of the Act of November 6, 1966 (46 U.S.C. app. 817(d) and 817(e)).

Activities

Agreements The Commission reviews agreements by and among ocean common carriers and/or marine terminal operators, filed under section 5 of...