Federal Maritime Commission

• Pages: 410-413

FEDERAL MARITIME COMMISSION

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

Phone, 202-523-5707. Internet, www.fmc.gov.

Chairman Steven R. Blust

Commissioners Joseph E. Brennan, Harold J. Creel, Jr., Rebecca F. Dye, Delmond J.H. Won

General Counsel David R. Miles, Acting

Secretary Bryant L. VanBrakle

Chief Administrative Law Judge Norman D. Kline

Director, Office of Equal Employment Opportunity Alice M. Blackmon

Inspector General Tony P. Kominoth

Executive Director Bruce A. Dombrowski

Deputy Executive Director Austin L. Schmitt

Director, Bureau of Consumer Sandra L. Kusumoto

Complaints and Licensing

Director, Bureau of Enforcement Vern W. Hill

Director, Bureau of Trade Analysis Florence A. Carr

------------------------------------------------------------------------

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 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 agreements, 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 adequate levels of financial responsibility are maintained for indemnification of passengers.

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 (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

T193760.040

common carriersand/or marine terminal operators, filed under section 5 of the Shipping Act of 1984, for statutory compliance as well as for likely impact on competition. It also monitors activities under all effective agreements...