[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 142 (Thursday, July 24, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 43044-43045]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-17391]


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FEDERAL MARITIME COMMISSION

[Petition No. P1-14]


Petition of United Arab Shipping Company (S.A.G.) for an 
Exemption From 46 U.S.C. 40703; Notice of Filing and Request for 
Comments

    Notice is hereby given that United Arab Shipping Company (S.A.G.) 
(``Petitioner''), has petitioned the Commission pursuant to Section 16 
of the Shipping Act of 1984, 46 U.S.C. 40103, and 46 CFR 502.76 of the 
Commission's Rules of Practice and Procedure, for an exemption from 46 
U.S.C. 40703. Petitioner is an ocean common carrier currently providing 
container service to the U.S. trades. Petitioner was established in 
1976 by the governments of the United Arab Emirates, the Kingdom of 
Bahrain, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the Republic of Iraq, the State 
of Qatar, and the State of Kuwait. None of the government shareholders 
had a majority interest until recently when Petitioner alleges that 
Qatar attained a 51.27 percentage ownership control in the company. A 
controlled carrier is defined under 46 U.S.C. 40102(8):

    ``The term `controlled carrier' means an ocean common carrier 
that is, or whose operating assets are, directly or indirectly, 
owned or controlled by a government, with ownership or control by a 
government being deemed to exist for a carrier if--(A) a majority of 
the interest in the carrier is owned or controlled in any manner by 
that government, an agency of that government, or a public or 
private person controlled by that government; or (B) that government 
has the right to appoint or disapprove the appointment of a majority 
of the directors, the chief operating officer, or the chief 
executive officer of the carrier.'' 46 U.S.C. 40102(8).

Petitioner alleges that it is a controlled carrier as defined by the 
Shipping Act and subject to the requirements laid out in 46 U.S.C. 
40701--40706.
    Petitioner seeks an exemption from 46 U.S.C. 40703, so that it can 
lawfully reduce its tariff rates, charges, classifications, rules or 
regulations effective upon publication. Petitioner also notes that the 
requested relief, if granted, will permit it to operate in the U.S. 
trades on the same terms available to other ocean common carriers, 
including many controlled carriers that have previously been granted 
similar relief.
    In order for the Commission to make a thorough evaluation of the 
exemption requested in the Petition, interested parties are requested 
to submit views or arguments in reply to the Petition no later than 
August 8, 2014. Replies shall

[[Page 43045]]

be sent to the Secretary, Federal Maritime Commission, 800 North 
Capitol Street NW., Washington, DC 20573-0001, or emailed to 
[email protected], and be served on Petitioner's counsel, Wayne Rohde, 
Esq., and Jawaria Gilani, Esq., Cozen O'Connor, 1627 I Street NW., 
Washington, DC 20006.
    If the reply contains confidential information, the confidential 
filing should not be submitted by email. A confidential filing must be 
submitted to the Secretary in hard copy only, and be accompanied by a 
transmittal letter that identifies the filing as ``Confidential-
Restricted'' and describes the nature and extent of the confidential 
treatment requested. The material for which confidentiality is claimed 
should be clearly marked on each page. A public version must also be 
filed that excludes the confidential materials, and must indicate on 
the cover page and on each affected page ``Confidential materials 
excluded.'' The Commission will provide confidential treatment to the 
extent allowed by law for confidential submissions, or parts of 
submissions, for which confidentiality has been requested. The Petition 
will be posted on the Commission's Web site at http://www.fmc.gov/reading/Petitions.asp. Replies filed in response to the Petition will 
also be posted on the Commission's Web site at this location.

Karen V. Gregory,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2014-17391 Filed 7-23-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6730-01-P