About FMC

Maritime Commission (Federal), the United States Federal Maritime Commission (FMC), the name of the liner companies have established an association mechanism and a household name. What is the role of this seemingly mysterious body?
In our country has not yet formulated the shipping law, one is because of the relevant shipping policy is not very stable, the short term may be due to the special situation of the construction of shipping center or FTA can be adjusted at any time. On the other hand, China’s legislative resources are limited, and more pressing than the “shipping law” need to introduce, modify the law is more, it is difficult to put the “shipping law” on the agenda in the short term.
But the United States is one of the world’s first countries to make shipping laws. The earliest shipping law of the United States was the 1916 shipping act. The agency responsible for the implementation of this law is called the States Shipping (Board United). In 1936, the United States set up the Maritime Commission (States Maritime Commission United) to replace the shipping board. In 1950, the United States Maritime Commission was revoked, its functions by the U.S. Department of commerce under the Maritime Board Federal (U.S. Department of maritime affairs). Until August 12, 1961, when President Kennedy was appointed, FMC was formally established and assumed full responsibility for the Department of Commerce of the federal maritime administration.
In 1984, the United States Congress in the “1916 Shipping Act” on the basis of the development of the “1984 shipping law”, specifically for the adjustment of ocean shipping, “1916 shipping law” in favour of the adjustment of the u.s.. In 1998, the United States adopted the “Shipping Reform Act of 1998”.
The shipping act of 1984 defines the power and status of the FMC, namely, the management of the ocean going public carrier and the liner conference, examining the agreement between the carriers and not accepting the offer of the agreement that does not conform to the requirements of the law. Today, according to the law of FMC in addition to the “1984 shipping law” and “1998 Shipping Reform Act”, but also includes the “1988 foreign shipping act act” and the “1920 shipping law” nineteenth.
The United States “Shipping Reform Act of 1998” strengthened the authority of FMC, which weakened the position of the traditional liner Association and raised the status of the agreement between the shipping companies. Plus the European Union since 2008 is also clear that the abolition of the liner conference, FMC is now a kind of agreement between the shipping company (that is, the so-called ship sharing agreement, alliance, etc.) is also greatly strengthened regulatory efforts.
FMC though with a word “federal” in name but independent from the federal government, directly under the Congress of the United States. Its headquarters is located in Washington, respectively in the whole nation Los Angeles, Miami, New York, Seattle and New Orleans five offices. FMC chairman and the office of the 5 members of the 5 members of the Senate proposal, approved by the president personally appointed. In these 5 people, from the same party can not be more than 3. FMC chairman of one of the members served as. The current chairman of the FMC is president Obama’s appointment of Mario Cordero (Cordero Mario) in April 2013.
FMC’s tentacles are very extensive, including P3, G6, O3, 2M, CKYHE and other alliances through its review to operate, such as 2M. Maersk and Mediterranean once said, “only through the United States 2M examination”. But in fact, FMC on the alliance through a very high rate, basically did not have a ban on the situation, but the United States is not the fancy of the regulatory review is the matter of management. Their principle is: whether the carrier has disclosed all the information, whether the words and actions (what you say Do). As long as you do this, the rest of the things to let the market to adjust.