About OSRA

The Ocean Shipping Reform Act of 1998, which took effect on May 1, 1999, will change the way U.S. ocean commerce is conducted by:

• Promoting competition
• Allowing the marketplace to dictate
• Creating freedoms and flexibilities for daily operations
• Enhancing shipper and carrier ability for one-on-one confidential contracting
• Facilitating long-term partnerships
• Strengthening the FMC’s ability to address unfair shipping practices of foreign governments
• Changing the manner in which pertinent information will be available
• Easing government filing requirements
• Reforming bonding and licensing requirements for intermediaries.

About the FMC

The FMC is an independent transportation/trade agency of the U.S. Government responsible for oversight of the nation’s international ocean commerce. Established in 1961, the FMC, among other activities, ensures fair treatment for exporters and importers, protects U.S. trade from the unfair or restrictive shipping practices of foreign governments, monitors the collective actions of ocean carriers and ports which operate with immunity from the U.S. antitrust laws, and licenses/bonds ocean transportation intermediaries. The FMC is directly responsible for implementation of the Ocean Shipping Act of 1998, which took effect on May 1, 1999.

About Bruce Dombrowski

Bruce Dombrowski is the Counsel to the Chairman of the Federal Maritime Commission, Harold J. Creel, Jr. He is responsible for advising the Chairman on the full range of ocean shipping issues which the agency faces, interacting with key industry and government officials, and serving as the FMC’s spokesperson on certain matters. Mr. Dombrowski has served as the Chairman’s Counsel since January 1997. He previously held numerous senior-level positions during his 26 year career with the FMC. Mr. Dombrowski was a key player in the FMC’s implementation of the Shipping Act of 1984, and similarly has played an integral role for the agency during the entire process that led to the passage of the Ocean Shipping Reform Act of 1998.

Sponsoring Organizations

American Ocean Freight Services Inc.

Gateway Terminal Services

The Jackson Kearney Group

Louisiana Department of Economic Development

M.G. Maher & Co., Inc.

Maersk, Inc.

Marine Logistics, Inc.

Mississippi River Maritime Association

Nord-Sud Shipping, Inc.

Port of New Orleans

Steamship Association of Louisiana

Weco Agencies Inc.

World Trade Center of New Orleans

In Cooperation With

Baton Rouge Center for World Affairs

City of New Orleans, Office of International Trade

Consular Corps of New Orleans

New Orleans U.S. Export Assistance Center

Europe/Louisiana Business Council

Louisiana International Trade Center/SBDC

Louisiana International Trade Commission

Traffic & Transportation Club of Greater New Orleans

 Registration Fee: $22 for members of the sponsoring organizations and $27 for non-members.