FMC: MONITORING OTI APPLICATIONS REDUCES ?HAYSTACK? IN TERROR WAR

FMC: MONITORING OTI APPLICATIONS REDUCES ôHAYSTACKö IN TERROR WAR    While not included in the U.S. Homeland Security Department, the Federal Maritime Commission sees its mission as helping security agencies keep track of ocean transportation intermediary activities.
   “Our goal at the FMC is to help reduce the ‘haystack’ that is before all of us,” said Steven R. Blust, FMC chairman, at a recent National Industrial Transportation League meeting.
   The FMC retains licensing authority over about 3,500 OTIs, which includes both freight forwarders and non-vessel-operating common carriers.
   “The FMC does its part by helping to ensure the integrity of the business processes of the entities under our jurisdiction,” Blust said. “We continue to cooperate with Customs in identifying cases of cargo misdescription.”
   The FMC will amend its application form to get more information including the identity of all owners and officers.
   “Particularly relevant to the issue of transportation security is the FMC’s responsibility to ensure that ocean common carriers do not contract with nor accept cargo from intermediaries that have failed to comply with statutory licensing and financial responsibility requirements,” Blust said.