Federal Maritime Commission

The Federal Maritime Commission is an independent regulatory agency responsible for the regulation of oceanborne transportation in the foreign commerce of the United States. The agency regulates many activities of international shipping lines, or ocean common carriers, marine terminals operators, and ocean transportation intermediaries.

We are thoroughly familiar with the highly-nuanced laws and regulations affecting ship owners, shippers, intermediaries and terminals. We counsel shippers, domestic and foreign container vessel operators, maritime trade associations, tanker and bulk cargo operators, marine terminals, passenger vessel operators, marine insurers, freight forwarders, port authorities and local government entities in understanding and complying with FMC rules. We assist FMC-regulated entities in obtaining necessary licenses and undertaking internal FMC-compliance audits.

The FMC also adjudicates claims against FMC-licensed entities. We represent clients before the FMC in adjudicatory proceedings such as defending OTI liability claims, penalty appeals and bond issues, and shippers with claims against FMC-regulated companies.