Federal Maritime Commission October 2020 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Federal Maritime Commission (``FMC'' or ``Commission'') is issuing this Notice of Inquiry (``NOI'') to solicit public comment on the practice of vessel-operating common carriers (VOCCs or carrier) defining ``Merchant'' in their bills of lading to apply to persons and entities with whom the VOCCs may not be in contractual privity. Generally, the Commission seeks public comment as to 1) how VOCCs apply the term ``Merchant'' in their bills of lading; 2) whether the definition, as applied, subjects third parties who are not in contractual privity with the carrier to joint or several liability; and 3) whether carriers have enforced the definition of merchant against third parties that have not consented to be bound by, or otherwise accept, the terms and conditions of the bill of lading.

As part of our continuing effort to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, and as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the Federal Maritime Commission (Commission) invites comments on the continuing information collections listed below in this notice.