About the Federal Maritime Commission

The Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) is the independent federal agency responsible for regulating the U.S. international ocean transportation system for the benefit of U.S. exporters, importers, and the U.S. consumer.

Mission Statement

The FMC’s Mission Statement is:

Ensure a competitive and reliable international ocean transportation supply system that supports the U.S. economy and protects the public from unfair and deceptive practices.

View the FMC’s Strategic Plans to learn how goals and objectives for the agency are to be achieved.

The FMC ensures competitive and efficient ocean transportation services for the shipping public by:

Reviewing and monitoring agreements among ocean common carriers and marine terminal operators (MTOs) serving the U.S. foreign oceanborne trades to ensure that they do not cause substantial increases in transportation costs or decreases in transportation services
Maintaining and reviewing confidentially filed service contracts to guard against detrimental effects to shipping
Providing a forum for exporters, importers, and other members of the shipping public to obtain relief from ocean shipping practices or disputes that impede the flow of commerce
Ensuring common carriers’ tariff rates and charges are published in automated tariff systems and electronically available to the public
Monitoring rates, charges, and rules of government-owned or controlled carriers to ensure they are just and reasonable
Taking action to address unfavorable conditions caused by foreign governments or business practices in U.S.-foreign shipping trades

The FMC protects the public from financial harm and contributes to the integrity and security of the U.S. supply chain and transportation system by:

Helping resolve disputes involving the shipment of cargo, personal or household goods, or disputes between cruise vessel operators and passengers
Investigating and ruling on complaints regarding rates, charges, classifications, and practices of common carriers, MTOs, and Ocean Transportation Intermediaries (OTIs), that violate the Shipping Act of 1984
Licensing OTIs with appropriate character and adequate financial responsibility
Identifying and holding regulated entities accountable for mislabeling cargo shipped to or from the United States
Ensuring that cruise lines maintain financial responsibility to pay claims for personal injury or death, and to reimburse passengers for failure to perform the cruise

The principal statutes administered by the Commission, now codified in Title 46 of the U.S. Code at sections 40101 through 44106, are:

The Shipping Act of 1984, as amended by the Ocean Shipping Reform Act of 1998
The Foreign Shipping Practices Act of 1988
Section 19 of the Merchant Marine Act, 1920
Sections 2 and 3 of Pub. L. No. 89-777, 80 stat.1350