[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 106 (Friday, June 1, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Page 29804]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-13699]



[[Page 29804]]

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FEDERAL MARITIME COMMISSION

[Fact Finding Investigation No. 24]


Exclusive Tug Arrangements in Florida Ports; Order of 
Investigation

    Notice is given that on May 24, 2001, the Federal Maritime 
Commission (``Commission'') issued an Order instituting a 
nonadjudicatory investigation of exclusive tug arrangements in Port 
Canaveral, Florida and Port Everglades, Florida. The Order was issued 
pursuant to sections 10, 11, 12 and 15 of the Shipping Act of 1984, 46 
U.S.C. app. 1709, 1710, 1711 and 1714, and part 502, Subpart R of Title 
46 of the Code of Federal Regulations, 46 CFR 502.281, et seq. The 
purpose of the investigation is to gather facts relating to the 
practices of the Canaveral Port Authority and the Port Everglades 
Department/Broward County Board of County Commissioners concerning 
exclusive tug arrangements in their respective ports.
    Commissioner Antony M. Merck is the proceeding's Investigative 
Officer. The Commission's Order directs the development of a record on 
possible harm caused by tug monopolies at these ports and the factors 
which may be offered as justification for either or both of the 
respective port's actions in preventing competition for tug services. A 
report is to be submitted to the Commission no later than 180 days of 
the publication of this Notice in the Federal Register, and interim 
reports if it appears that more immediate Commission action is 
necessary. The report should include recommendations for any further 
Commission action, including any formal adjudicatory, injunctive or 
rulemaking proceedings, warranted by the factual record developed in 
the proceeding. The Investigative Officer's reports will remain 
confidential unless and until the Commission provides otherwise.
    The Investigative Officer has been authorized to hold public or 
non-public sessions, to resort to all compulsory process authorized by 
law (including the issuance of subpoenas ad testificandum and duces 
tecum), to administer oaths, to require reports, and to perform such 
other duties as may be necessary in accordance with the laws of the 
United States and the regulations of the Commission. Interested persons 
are invited and encouraged to contact the Investigative Officer at 
(202) 523-5712 (Phone), or (202) 523-0522 (Fax), should they wish to 
provide testimony or evidence, or to contribute in any other manner to 
the development of a complete factual record in this proceeding.
    The full text of the Order may be viewed on the Commission's home 
page at http://www.fmc.gov, or at the Office of the Secretary, Room 
1046, 800 N. Capitol Street, NW, Washington, DC.

Bryant L. VanBrakle,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 01-13699 Filed 5-31-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6730-01-P