[United States Government Manual] [June 01, 1999] [Pages 545-548] [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov][[Page 545]] ------------------------------------------------------------------------ FEDERAL MARITIME COMMISSION 800 North Capitol Street NW., Washington, DC 20573-0001 Phone, 202-523-5707. Internet, http://www.fmc.gov/. Chairman Harold J. Creel, Jr. Commissioners Ming C. Hsu, John A. Moran, Delmond J.H. Won, (vacancy) General Counsel Thomas Panebianco Secretary Bryant L. VanBrakle Director, Office of Informal Joseph T. Farrell Inquiries, Complaints, and Informal Dockets Chief Administrative Law Judge Norman D. Kline Director, Office of Equal Employment Opportunity Alice M. Blackmon Inspector General Tony P. Kominoth Managing Director Edward Patrick Walsh Deputy Managing Director Bruce A. Dombrowski Director, Bureau of Economics and Florence A. Carr Agreements Analysis Director, Bureau of Tariffs, Austin L. Schmitt Certification, and Licensing Director, Bureau of Enforcement Vern W. Hill Director, Bureau of Administration Sandra L. Kusumoto ------------------------------------------------------------------------ The Federal Maritime Commission regulates the waterborne foreign commerce of the United States, ensures that U.S. international trade is open to all nations on fair and equitable terms, and protects against unauthorized, concerted activity in the waterborne commerce of the United States. This is accomplished through maintaining surveillance over steamship conferences and common carriers by water; reviewing agreements between persons subject to the Shipping Act of 1984; enforcing prohibitions against 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 for legal sufficiency agreements filed under section 5 of the Shipping Act of 1984, including conference, interconference, and cooperative working agreements among common carriers, terminal operators, and other persons subject to the shipping statutes. It also monitors activities under all effective agreements for compliance with the provisions of law and its rules, orders, and regulations. Tariffs The Commission monitors and prescribes requirements to ensure accessibity and accuracy of electronic [[Page 546]] [GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] T185193.042 [[Page 547]] tariff publications of common carriers engaged in the foreign commerce of the United States, or conferences of such carriers under section 8 of the Shipping Act of 1984. Special permission applications may be submitted for relief from statutory and/or Commission tariff requirements. The Commission monitors the activities of controlled carriers under section 9 of the Shipping Act of 1984. Service Contracts The Commission receives and reviews filings of confidential service contracts between shippers and ocean common carriers. The Commission also monitors publication of certain essential terms of those service contracts. Licenses The Commission issues licenses as ocean transportation intermediaries to those persons and entities who wish to carry out the business of providing freight forwarding services and non-vessel- operating common carrier services. Passenger Indemnity The Commission administers the passenger indemnity provisions of the act of November 6, 1966, which require shipowners and operators to obtain certificates of financial responsibility to pay judgments for personal injury or death or to refund fares in the event of nonperformance of voyages. Informal Complaints The Commission reviews alleged or suspected violations of the shipping statutes and rules and regulations of the Commission and may take administrative action to institute formal proceedings, to refer matters to other governmental agencies, or to bring about voluntary agreement between the parties. Formal Adjudicatory Procedure The Commission conducts formal investigations and hearings on its own motion and adjudicates formal complaints in accordance with the Administrative Procedure Act (5 U.S.C. note prec. 551). Rulemaking The Commission promulgates rules and regulations to interpret, enforce, and ensure compliance with shipping and related statutes by common carriers and other persons subject to the statutes. Investigation and Financial and Economic Analyses The Commission prescribes and administers programs to ensure compliance with the provisions of the shipping statutes. These programs include the submission of information; field investigations of activities and practices of common carriers, conferences, terminal operators, freight forwarders, and other persons subject to the shipping statutes; and rate analyses, studies, and economic reviews of current and prospective trade conditions, including the extent and nature of competition in various trade areas. International Affairs The Commission conducts investigations of foreign governmental and foreign carrier practices that adversely affect the U.S. shipping trade and, in conjunction with the Department of State, conducts activities to effect the elimination of discriminatory practices on the part of foreign governments against United States-flag shipping and to achieve comity between the United States and its trading partners. Area Representatives--Federal Maritime Commission ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Area Address/Phone Representative ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Los Angeles Rm. 1018, 300 S. Ferry St., San Pedro, CA 90731. Phone, 310-514-4905. Oliver E. Clark Fax, 310-514-3931. E- mail, oliverc@fmc.gov. Miami Rm. 736, 909 SE. First Ave., Miami, FL 33131. Phone, 305-536-4316. Andrew Margolis Fax, 305-536-4317. E- mail, andrewm@fmc.gov. New Orleans Rm. 303, 423 Canal St., New Orleans, LA 70130. Phone, 504-589-6662. Alvin N. Kellogg Fax, 504-589-6663. E- mail, alvink@fmc.gov. New York P.O. Box 3461, New York, NY 10008. Phone, 212-637-2929. Emanuel J. Mingione Fax, 212-637-2930. E- mail, emanuelm@fmc.gov. Seattle Suite 100, 7 S. Nevada St., Seattle, WA 98134. Phone, 206-553-0221. Michael A. Moneck Fax, 206-553-0222. E- mail, michaelm@fmc.gov. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ [[Page 548]] Sources of Information Electronic Access Information about the Federal Maritime Commission is available in electronic form through the Internet, at http:// www.fmc.gov/. Employment Employment inquiries may be directed to the Office of Personnel, Federal Maritime Commission, 800 North Capitol Street NW., Washington, DC 20573-0001. Phone, 202-523-5773. Informal Complaints Phone, 202-523-5807. E-mail, josephf@fmc.gov. Publications The Thirty-seventh Annual Report (1998) is a recent publication of the Federal Maritime Commission. For further information, contact the Office of the Secretary, Federal Maritime Commission, 800 North Capitol Street NW., Washington, DC 20573- 0001. Phone, 202-523-5725. Fax, 202-523-0014. Internet, http:// www.fmc.gov/. E-mail, secretary@fmc.gov. ------------------------------------------------------------------------