Federal Maritime Commission – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Federal Maritime Commission is correcting information contained in a table in a rule published in the Federal Register of Friday, July 31, 2009 (74 FR 38114). The rule adjusts for inflation the maximum amount of each statutory civil penalty subject to Federal Maritime Commission jurisdiction, in accordance with the requirements of the Federal Civil Penalties Inflation Adjustment Act of 1990, as amended by the Debt Collection Improvement Act of 1996.

The Federal Maritime Commission is issuing this Notice of Inquiry to solicit the public's views and information concerning factors that may cause or contribute to the shift of containerized cargo destined for U.S. inland points from U.S. to Canadian and Mexican seaports.

The Federal Maritime Commission proposes to amend its rules regarding the establishment of passenger vessel financial responsibility for nonperformance of transportation. Currently the amount of coverage required for performance shall not exceed $15 million. The amendments would modify the current cap on required performance coverage from $15 million to $30 million over a two year period; adjust the amount of coverage required for smaller passenger vessel operators by providing for consideration of alternative forms of protection; revise the application form; add an expiration date to the Certificate (Performance); and make some technical adjustments to the regulations. Comments and suggestions are particularly sought regarding consideration of duplicative forms of protection without creating gaps that could leave consumers vulnerable.