Federal Maritime Commission

The Federal Maritime Commission is the independent agency that regulates the U.S. international ocean transportation system. It oversees ocean carriers, marine terminal operators, and freight intermediaries, polices unfair or anticompetitive practices and unreasonable fees, and helps protect American importers, exporters, and consumers who rely on goods moving by sea.

Created by Congress under the Reorganization Plan No. 7 of 1961 (establishing the Commission); ocean shipping regulatory authority codified by the Shipping Act of 1984, as amended (Reorg. Plan No. 7 of 1961 (eff. Aug. 12, 1961); organic provisions at 46 U.S.C. 46101; regulatory authority at 46 U.S.C. 40101 et seq. (chs. 401-413)), it acts within the authority that statute grants. Its actions are subject to judicial review and to congressional oversight and funding.