Section 16 of the Shipping Act of
1984, 46 U.S.C. § 40103, authorizes the Federal Maritime Commission
(“Commission”) to exempt by order or regulation “any class of
agreements between persons subject to this [Act] or any specified
activity of those persons from any requirement of this [Act] if the
Commission finds that the exemption will not result in substantial
reduction in competition or be detrimental to commerce.” The
Commission may attach conditions to any exemption and may, by
order, revoke an exemption. On March 2, 2011, the Commission
published a final rule promulgating 46 CFR part 532, Docket No.
10-03, Non-Vessel-Operating Common Carrier Negotiated Rate
Arrangements, whereby licensed non-vessel-operating common carriers
(NVOCCs) that enter into negotiated rate arrangements (NRAs) were
exempted from the more stringent tariff rate publication
requirements of the Shipping Act of 1984 and related provisions of
the Commission’s regulations. 76 FR 11351 (Mar. 2, 2011). The
Commission subsequently extended the tariff rate publication
exemption contained in 46 CFR part 532 to foreign-based unlicensed
NVOCCs as well. 78 FR 42886 (July 19, 2013). The exemption was
conditioned upon the NVOCC including a prominent notice invoking
the exemption in its electronically published rules tariff and
indicating their intention to the Commission. In addition, NVOCCs
must maintain original NRAs and associated records for 5 years in a
format easily produced to the Commission and furnish those records
promptly upon request from the Commission.
US Code:
46
USC 40103 Name of Law: Shipping Act of 1984
US Code: 46
USC 41109(e) Name of Law: Shipping Act of 1984
On behalf of this Federal agency, I certify that
the collection of information encompassed by this request complies
with 5 CFR 1320.9 and the related provisions of 5 CFR
1320.8(b)(3).
The following is a summary of the topics, regarding
the proposed collection of information, that the certification
covers:
(i) Why the information is being collected;
(ii) Use of information;
(iii) Burden estimate;
(iv) Nature of response (voluntary, required for a
benefit, or mandatory);
(v) Nature and extent of confidentiality; and
(vi) Need to display currently valid OMB control
number;
If you are unable to certify compliance with any of
these provisions, identify the item by leaving the box unchecked
and explain the reason in the Supporting Statement.