Federal Maritime Commission Company Profile

The Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) is the independent federal agency responsible for regulating the U.S. international ocean transportation system for the benefit of U.S. exporters, importers, and the U.S. consumer.

Since its founding on August 12, 1961, the FMC has worked to ensure that neither the activities of liner shipping groups nor foreign government laws or regulations impose unfair costs on American exporters, or on American consumers of imported goods.

Over the past five decades, international ocean transportation has changed dramatically. From its inception, the FMC has worked to further its mission to foster a fair, efficient, and reliable international ocean transportation system for the benefit of U.S. exporters, importers, and the U.S. consumer. While the specifics of U.S. maritime policy and legislation have changed markedly during the last few decades, the FMC’s goal of protecting American exporters and consumers remains the cornerstone of today’s regulatory efforts.