FMC Suspends Operations Due to Federal Government Shutdown

Contact: Rachel E. Dickon, Assistant Secretary (202-523-5725)
John K. DeCrosta (For Congressional & Media Inquiries—202-523-0224)

The Federal Maritime Commission is closed effective Monday, January 22, 2018 as part of the federal government shutdown due to a lapse in appropriations. The Commission will resume normal operations when appropriations legislation is enacted and the federal government reopens.

With the exception of the Chairman and two Commissioners, who are Presidentially-appointed, Senate-confirmed officials, all Commission employees have been placed on furlough and are prohibited by law from performing any duties during the shutdown. As a result, all Commission functions have been suspended, including the following:

• The Commission will not respond to email or phone inquiries.
• The Commission’s website will be available during the shutdown, but it will not be updated with new information until operations resume.
• The Commission will not accept online filings or applications through its website for the following:
  • Service contracts through SERVCON;
  • Ocean Transportation Intermediary (OTI) automated applications or license updates (FMC-18);
  • Foreign Unlicensed Non-Vessel Operating Common Carrier (NVOCC) registrations or renewals (FMC-65);
  • Tariff Registration Forms (FMC-1);
  • eAgreements Filing System (Ocean carrier or marine terminal operator agreements or amendments; or,
  • eMonitoring System (Agreement monitoring reports, minutes, transcripts).
• The Commission will not accept filings during this period for:
  • Ocean carrier or marine terminal operator agreements or amendments;
  • Applications for certification of financial responsibility for cruise lines embarking from U.S. ports; or
  • Agreement monitoring reports, minutes, or transcripts.
• The Commission’s online databases: SERVCON, the VOCC and NVOCC Tariff List, List of FMC Licensed and Bonded OTIs, and the Agreement Notices & Library will not be accessible.
• The Commission will not accept or act on complaints, requests for dispute resolution services, nor ombudsman services.
• The Commission will not be available to address issues regarding cruise vessel operations or sailings.
• All filing deadlines in formal and informal adjudicatory and investigatory proceedings pending before the Commission or Administrative Law Judges are temporarily suspended as of 0001 HOURS January 20, 2018. No filings will be received during the shutdown. Upon reopening of the federal government and the Federal Maritime Commission, the public is welcome to contact the Office of the Secretary, 202-523-5725 or secretary@fmc.gov, with any questions about computation of time in proceedings or filing deadlines.

The Commission will resume normal operations upon enactment of appropriations legislation.

The Federal Maritime Commission is an independent regulatory and enforcement agency responsible for ensuring a competitive and reliable international ocean transportation supply system that supports the U.S. economy and protects the public from unfair and deceptive practices.