FMC POSTPONES REPORT ON PROBE OF FLORIDA TUG ARRANGEMENTS

FMC POSTPONES REPORT ON PROBE OF FLORIDA TUG ARRANGEMENTS    The U.S. Federal Maritime Commission has postponed until Dec. 28 the issuance of its report of findings and recommendations into exclusive tug arrangements at the Florida ports of Canaveral and Port Everglades.
   The report was originally due this month, following the opening in May of the FMC’s probe into the exclusive tug arrangements at the two ports.
   The FMC said that both ports turned down applications from new tug operators, although both the 1984 Shipping Act and the Ocean Shipping Reform Act of 1998 prohibit marine terminal operators from unreasonably refusing to deal or to negotiate.
   The current incumbent franchise holder in both ports is apparently a subsidiary or trade name of the same tug operator, Seabulk International Inc., the FMC said in May.