Dive Brief:
- The Federal Maritime Commission introduced an online filing system to enable foreign-based, unlicensed Non-Vessel-Operating Common Carriers (NVOCCs), which act as freight forwarders, to renew their registrations.
- Previously, foreign-based carriers had to submit or renew their registration via fax, paper forms or email. Registrations are effective for three years.
- Those currently registered will now receive email notifications within 30 days of their renewal date, with instructions on how to renew online. There's no fee for renewal.
Dive Insight:
In July 2013 the Federal Maritime Commission extended exemptions from the Shipping Act of 1984 to include unlicensed, foreign-based NVOCCs provided they registered with the commission and had entered into negotiated rate agreements.
The commission had previously excluded unlicensed carriers from exemptions due to their lack of information about the NVOCCs, but the regulator concluded the necessary information could be gleaned through registration by Form FMC-65.
To date, the FMC has registered 5,188 NVOCCs, of which 1,399 are foreign-based and unlicensed. Licensing can be gained according to Title 46 of the Federal Code of Regulations, chapters §515.11 and §515.21.
