The Federal Maritime Commissioners and key Commission staff met on January 27, 2005 with select group of shipping
industry executives to help the Commission gain a greater awareness and understanding of current issues and concerns
of
the industry. This briefing was the second in a series of meetings with different sectors of the shipping industry.
The
Commission’s first panel discussion was held in September 2004 with members of the National Customs
Brokers
and Forwarders Association of America, Inc. (NCBFAA). For this recent panel discussion top executives and
CEOs of
vessel-operating common carriers met with the Commission to discuss the industry’s relationship with
government
agencies and the changing role of FMC oversight since the passage of the Ocean Shipping Reform Act of 1998. The
group
also discussed shipping industry’s future, expansion of cargo capacity, and current limitations of the freight
transportation infrastructure. Participants included CEOs and top executives from APL, MOL
(
America ), Inc., ZIM Integrated Shipping Services, Crowley
Maritime Corp., World Shipping Council , and the law firm Sher & Blackwell.

FMC Chairman Steven Blust has made increased communication between the shipping industry and the commission
a major goal. The Chairman, Commissioners and staff also received briefings on transportation infrastructure
issues, U.S. cargo security, and emerging industry trends. In a press release, Blust said “the briefing
with the vessel-operating carrier executives was vibrant and informative. I look forward to further briefings
with other industry segments – shippers, marine terminal operators and port authorities, passenger vessel
operators and other segments of the maritime community.”

The FMC’s Annual Program
Performance Report
Fiscal Year 2004 is now available at the Commission’s web site: www.fmc.gov
This report provides a summary of the Commissions goals and achievements for the fiscal year 2004, as well the
Commission’s
revised mission statement. The FMC’s goals for 2004 were focused on efficient regulatory process, compliance,
balanced
enforcement, technological efficiencies and management capabilities. According to the report, the Commission reached
most of its goals and objectives.

One of the goals pursued by the Commission in 2004 was to improve compliance, enforcement and regulation by
utilizing
databases to identify unlicensed and non-compliant OTIs, as well as vessel operating common carriers (VOCCs) doing
business with such OTIs. Over 200 such entities were identified and contacted during the year by the Commission,
during which time 360 new or amended licenses were issued. New investigative or audit reviews were opened with
respect
to 50 OTI entities, and investigations were concluded in 70 instances. The conclusions to 15 of these reviews
included
compromise or settlement agreements and penalties. VOCC activity with possible unlawful OTIs was also a focus of
investigative or audit activity by the Commission, and 18 cases were concluded, with 5 resulting in possible
penalties.
The report credits this activity for a decline in the number of unlicensed OTIs, and an increase in number of
licensed
and compliant OTIs. The FMC also worked toward creating greater public understanding, voluntary compliance and
responded
to industry concerns in 2004 by holding 20 public “Navigating the Regulations” seminars around the country.

The Westbound Transpacific Stabilization Agreement (WTSA) has recently announced General Rate Increases (GRI).
WTSA is a voluntary discussion and research forum of 13 major container shipping lines serving the trade from ports
and inland points in the U.S. to destinations throughout Asia. It is recognized by the FMC as a rate discussion
agreement – FMC Agreement No. 011325. General Rate Increases of US$200/40 foot and US$160/20 foot container for all
cargoes not covered under separate, commodity-specific rate programs will take effect March 1, 2005.

These increases are part of WTSA’s rate program which began in 2004 to address rising operating costs, equipment
imbalances and system-wide infrastructure congestion outside carriers’ control. Commodities under existing WTSA rate
programs or currently under separate review are not subject to the March 1st GRI; these commodities include
wastepaper,
forest products, metal scrap, hay, soybeans, peas, beans and lentils, dried fruit and nuts, hides, clay, cotton,
chemicals
and resins, onions in dry containers, refrigerated commodities and plastic scrap.

The 13 members of WTSA are: American President Lines, Ltd., China Shipping Container Lines Co., Ltd., COSCO
Container Lines Co., Ltd., Evergreen Marine Corporation, Hanjin Shipping Co., Ltd., Hapag-Lloyd Container Line GmbH,
Hyundai Merchant Marine Co., Ltd., ‘K’ Line, Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd., NYK Line, OOCL, P&O Nedlloyd B.V., and Yang
Ming
Marine Transport Corp. WTSA members publish individual FMC tariffs, and provide information about their joint plans
at
http://www.wtsacarriers.org

The International Shippers’ Association (ISA) and the American Institute for Shippers’ Association, Inc. (AISA)
have
filed petitions with the FMC for reconsideration and stay of the recent Final Rule on NVOCC Service Arrangements
(FMC
Docket 04-12). Both the
ISA petition, filed January 7, and the

AISA petition, filed January 12, 2005, call for
reconsideration and stay of the Final Rule on the grounds that the NSA Rules, which prohibit NVOCCs and shipper
associations from being a Shipping Party to an NSA, unfairly benefit larger shipping companies and will hurt
smaller
NVOCCs and shipping associations.

The ISA petition states that the Commission does not have the required authority to make such a change to
shipping
regulations, while the AISA petition claims that by not allowing shipping associations to be party to NSAs the FMC
is
unlawfully regulating the membership of shipping associations. Both associations had filed previous comments with
the
Commission before the Final Rulemaking was issued, but claim their comments were ignored. Both associations have
also
threatened judicial action if their concerns are not addressed satisfactorily. The FMC has not yet commented on
these
new petitions, however, the final rule took effect on January 19, 2005, and NSA registration and NSA filing has
begun.

Distribution-Publications, Inc. (DPI) has announced its monthly SIGNALS™ newsletter on the regulations and
activities
of the US Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) is now available in Chinese at
www.dpiusa.com. DPI has enjoyed strong support
from carriers, forwarders and NVOCCs based in Hong Kong, China and Taiwan for many years. This support dates back
to
the 1970s, when DPI helped China Ocean Shipping Company (COSCO) first enter the US trades and DPI published its
FMC
tariffs. As part of an expanded effort to serve its Chinese speaking customers DPI has arranged for skilled
translator
with extensive maritime experience to translate its SIGNALS newsletter, web pages and related materials. DPI’s
President,
James Devine, has recently returned from visits to Shanghai, Hong Kong and Tokyo where he made presentations on
recent
changes in FMC regulations, specifically the new regulations that permit NVOCC’s to enter into confidential
contracts
with their shipper clients.