[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 142 (Thursday, July 24, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 43044-43045]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-17391]
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FEDERAL MARITIME COMMISSION
[Petition No. P1-14]
Petition of United Arab Shipping Company (S.A.G.) for an
Exemption From 46 U.S.C. 40703; Notice of Filing and Request for
Comments
Notice is hereby given that United Arab Shipping Company (S.A.G.)
(``Petitioner''), has petitioned the Commission pursuant to Section 16
of the Shipping Act of 1984, 46 U.S.C. 40103, and 46 CFR 502.76 of the
Commission's Rules of Practice and Procedure, for an exemption from 46
U.S.C. 40703. Petitioner is an ocean common carrier currently providing
container service to the U.S. trades. Petitioner was established in
1976 by the governments of the United Arab Emirates, the Kingdom of
Bahrain, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the Republic of Iraq, the State
of Qatar, and the State of Kuwait. None of the government shareholders
had a majority interest until recently when Petitioner alleges that
Qatar attained a 51.27 percentage ownership control in the company. A
controlled carrier is defined under 46 U.S.C. 40102(8):
``The term `controlled carrier' means an ocean common carrier
that is, or whose operating assets are, directly or indirectly,
owned or controlled by a government, with ownership or control by a
government being deemed to exist for a carrier if--(A) a majority of
the interest in the carrier is owned or controlled in any manner by
that government, an agency of that government, or a public or
private person controlled by that government; or (B) that government
has the right to appoint or disapprove the appointment of a majority
of the directors, the chief operating officer, or the chief
executive officer of the carrier.'' 46 U.S.C. 40102(8).
Petitioner alleges that it is a controlled carrier as defined by the
Shipping Act and subject to the requirements laid out in 46 U.S.C.
40701--40706.
Petitioner seeks an exemption from 46 U.S.C. 40703, so that it can
lawfully reduce its tariff rates, charges, classifications, rules or
regulations effective upon publication. Petitioner also notes that the
requested relief, if granted, will permit it to operate in the U.S.
trades on the same terms available to other ocean common carriers,
including many controlled carriers that have previously been granted
similar relief.
In order for the Commission to make a thorough evaluation of the
exemption requested in the Petition, interested parties are requested
to submit views or arguments in reply to the Petition no later than
August 8, 2014. Replies shall
[[Page 43045]]
be sent to the Secretary, Federal Maritime Commission, 800 North
Capitol Street NW., Washington, DC 20573-0001, or emailed to
[email protected], and be served on Petitioner's counsel, Wayne Rohde,
Esq., and Jawaria Gilani, Esq., Cozen O'Connor, 1627 I Street NW.,
Washington, DC 20006.
If the reply contains confidential information, the confidential
filing should not be submitted by email. A confidential filing must be
submitted to the Secretary in hard copy only, and be accompanied by a
transmittal letter that identifies the filing as ``Confidential-
Restricted'' and describes the nature and extent of the confidential
treatment requested. The material for which confidentiality is claimed
should be clearly marked on each page. A public version must also be
filed that excludes the confidential materials, and must indicate on
the cover page and on each affected page ``Confidential materials
excluded.'' The Commission will provide confidential treatment to the
extent allowed by law for confidential submissions, or parts of
submissions, for which confidentiality has been requested. The Petition
will be posted on the Commission's Web site at http://www.fmc.gov/reading/Petitions.asp. Replies filed in response to the Petition will
also be posted on the Commission's Web site at this location.
Karen V. Gregory,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2014-17391 Filed 7-23-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6730-01-P