[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 73 (Friday, April 15, 1994)] [Unknown Section] [Page 0] From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] [FR Doc No: 94-9179] [[Page Unknown]] [Federal Register: April 15, 1994] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- FEDERAL MARITIME COMMISSION [Docket No. 94-09] Bill Sherwood; Corporate World International, Inc., and Corporate World Relocation International, Inc.; Order of Investigation and Hearing Bill Sherwood is President and sole owner of Corporate World International, Inc. and Corporate World Relocation International, Inc.\1\ It appears that subsequent to February, 1989, Bill Sherwood and Corporate World handled over 2000 shipments of household goods in the foreign commerce of the United States. It also appears that Mr. Sherwood and Corporate World booked or otherwise arranged space for the shipments with ocean common carriers and processed corresponding shipping documents, such as bills of lading and export declarations. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \1\Hereinafter both companies will be referred to collectively as ``Corporate World,'' except as otherwise stated. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Section 19(a) of the Shipping Act of 1984 (``1984 Act''), 46 U.S.C. app. 1718(a), prohibits any person from acting as an ocean freight forwarder unless that person holds a license issued by the Federal Maritime Commission (``Commission''). An ocean freight forwarder is defined in section 3(19) of the 1984 Act, 46 U.S.C. app. 1702(19), as a person in the United States that-- (A) Dispatches shipments from the United States via common carriers and books or otherwise arranges space for those shipments on behalf of shippers; and (B) Processes the documentation or performs related activities incident to those shipments. Neither Mr. Sherwood nor Corporate World was licensed by the Commission as an ocean freight forwarder. Therefore, Mr. Sherwood and Corporate World may have acted in the capacity of an unlicensed ocean freight forwarder in violation of section 19(a) of the 1984 Act. In addition, Corporate World charged and collected transportation charges for shipments, and appeared as shipper on bills of lading. Therefore, it appears that Mr. Sherwood and Corporate World may have acted in the capacity of a non-vessel-operating common carrier (``NVOCC'') with respect to the shipments. Section 8(a)(1) of the 1984 Act, 46 U.S.C. app. 1707(a)(1), requires each common carrier to file with the Commission tariffs showing all its rates, charges, classifications, rules, and practices between all transportation points or ports. In addition, section 23 of the 1984 Act, 46 U.S.C. app. 1720, requires each NVOCC to file evidence of a bond of not less than $50,000 with the Commission. Neither Mr. Sherwood nor Corporate World had filed a tariff or bond at the time of the shipments at issue. Therefore, it appears that Mr. Sherwood and Corporate World may have violated sections 8(a)(1) and 23(a) of the 1984 Act. These activities were continued despite warnings from the Commission that they might be unlawful. Now therefore, it is ordered, That pursuant to sections 8, 11, 13, 19 and 23 of the 1984 Act, 46 U.S.C. app. 1707, 1710, 1712, 1718 and 1721, an investigation is hereby instituted to determine: (1) Whether Bill Sherwood, Corporate World International, Inc., and Corporate World Relocation International, Inc., violated the following sections of the 1984 Act: (a) Section 19(a), for acting as an ocean freight forwarder without a license issued by the Commission; (b) section 8(a)(1), by operating as a NVOCC in the foreign commerce of the United States without having a tariff on file with the Commission; and (c) section 23(a), for operating as an NVOCC without furnishing the requisite bond to the Commission; (2) Whether, in the event violations of sections 19(a), 8(a)(1), and 23(a) of the 1984 Act are found, civil penalties should be assessed and, if so, the amount of such penalties; and (3) Whether, in the event violations are found, an appropriate cease and desist order should be issued. It is further ordered, That a public hearing be held in this proceeding and that this matter be assigned for hearing before an Administrative Law Judge of the Commission's Office of Administrative Law Judges at a date and place to be hereafter determined by the Administrative Law Judge in compliance with Rule 61 of the Commission's Rules of Practice and Procedure, 46 CFR 502.61. The hearing shall include oral testimony and cross-examination in the discretion of the Presiding Administrative Law Judge only after consideration has been given by the parties and the Presiding Administrative Law Judge to the use of alternative forms of dispute resolution, and upon a proper showing that there are genuine issues of material fact that cannot be resolved on the basis of sworn statements, affidavits, depositions, or other documents or that the nature of the matters in issue is such that an oral hearing and cross-examination are necessary for the development of an adequate record; It is further ordered, That Bill Sherwood, Corporate World International, Inc. and Corporate World Relocation International, Inc. are designated respondents in this proceeding; It is further ordered, That the Commission's Bureau of Hearing Counsel is designated a party to this proceeding; It is further ordered, That notice of this Order be published in the Federal Register, and a copy be served on parties of record; It is further ordered, That other persons having an interest in participating in this proceeding may file petitions for leave to intervene in accordance with Rule 72 of the Commission's Rules of Practice and Procedure, 46 CFR 502.72; It is further ordered, That all further notices, orders, and/or decisions issued by or on behalf of the Commission in this proceeding, including notice of the time and place of hearing or prehearing conference, shall be served on parties of record; It is further ordered, That all documents submitted by any party of record in this proceeding shall be directed to the Secretary, Federal Maritime Commission, Washington, DC 20573, in accordance with Rule 118 of the Commission's Rules of Practice and Procedure, 46 CFR 502.118, and shall be served on parties of record; It is further ordered, That in accordance with Rule 61 of the Commission's Rules of Practice and Procedure, the initial decision of the Administrative Law Judge shall be issued by April 12, 1995 and the final decision of the Commission shall be issued by August 10, 1995. Joseph C. Polking, Secretary. [FR Doc. 94-9179 Filed 4-14-94; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6730-01-M