OMB No. 3072-0018

Expires 11/30/2026

Form FMC-69

FEDERAL MARITIME COMMISSION

Ocean Transportation Intermediary (OTI) Group Bond Form

Ocean Transportation Intermediary (OTI) Group Supplemental Coverage Bond Form 

(Shipping Act of 1984 (46 U.S.C. 40101-41309)) (Shipping Act)

_______________________[indicate whether NVOCC or Freight Forwarder], as Principal 

(hereinafter “Principal”), and _______________________ as Surety (hereinafter “Surety”) are 

held and firmly bound unto the United States of America in the sum of $_____________ for the 

payment of which sum we bind ourselves, our heirs, executors, administrators, successors and 

assigns, jointly and severally.

Whereas, (Principal) __________ operates as a group or association of OTIs in the waterborne 

foreign commerce of the United States and pursuant to section 19 of the Shipping Act of 1984 (46 

U.S.C. 40901-40904), files this bond with the Federal Maritime Commission;

Whereas, this group bond is written to ensure compliance by the OTIs, enumerated in Appendix 

A of this bond, with section 19 of the Shipping Act (46 U.S.C. 40901-40904), and the rules and 

regulations of the Federal Maritime Commission relating to evidence of financial responsibility 

for OTIs (46 CFR part 515), this group bond shall be available to pay any judgment obtained or 

any settlement made pursuant to a claim under 46 CFR 515.23 for damages against such OTIs

arising from OTI transportation-related activities under the Shipping Act, or order for reparations 

issued pursuant to section 11 of the Shipping Act (46 U.S.C. 41301-41302, 41305-41307(a)), or 

any penalty assessed against one or more OTI members pursuant to section 13 of the Shipping Act 

(46 U.S.C. 41107-41109); provided, however, that the Surety's obligation for a group or 

association of OTIs shall extend only to such damages, reparations or penalties described herein 

as are not covered by another surety bond, insurance policy or guaranty held by the OTI(s) against 

which a claim or final judgment has been brought and that Surety's total obligation hereunder shall 

not exceed the amount per OTI provided for in 46 CFR 515.21 or the amount per group or 

association of OTIs provided for in 46 CFR 515.21 in aggregate.

Now, therefore, the conditions of this obligation are that the penalty amount of this bond shall be 

available to pay any judgment obtained or any settlement made pursuant to a claim under 46 CFR 

515.23 against the OTIs enumerated in Appendix A of this bond for damages arising from any or 

all of the identified OTIs' transportation-related activities under the Shipping Act (46 U.S.C. 

40101-41309), or order for reparations issued pursuant to section 11 of the Shipping Act (46 U.S.C. 

41301-41302, 41305-41307(a)), or any penalty assessed pursuant to section 13 of the Shipping

Act (46 U.S.C. 41107-41109), that are not covered by the identified OTIs' individual insurance 

policy(ies), guaranty(ies) or surety bond(s).
This group bond shall inure to the benefit of any and all persons who have obtained a judgment or 

made a settlement pursuant to a claim under 46 CFR 515.23 for damages against any or all of the 

OTIs identified in Appendix A not covered by said OTIs' insurance policy(ies), guaranty(ies) or 

surety bond(s) arising from said OTIs' transportation-related activities under the Shipping Act, or 

order for reparation issued pursuant to section 11 of the Shipping Act, and to the benefit of the 

Federal Maritime Commission for any penalty assessed against said OTIs pursuant to section 13 

of the Shipping Act (46 U.S.C. 41107-41109). However, the bond shall not apply to shipments of 

used household goods and personal effects for the account of the Department of Defense or the 

account of federal civilian executive agencies shipping under the International Household Goods 

Program administered by the General Services Administration.

The Surety consents to be sued directly in respect of any bona fide claim owed by any or all of the 

OTIs identified in Appendix A for damages, reparations or penalties arising from the 

transportation-related activities under the Shipping Act of the OTIs in the event that such legal 

liability has not been discharged by the OTIs or Surety after a claimant has obtained a final 

judgment (after appeal, if any) against the OTIs from a United States Federal or State Court of 

competent jurisdiction and has complied with the procedures for collecting on such a judgment 

pursuant to 46 CFR 515.23, the Federal Maritime Commission, or where all parties and claimants 

otherwise mutually consent, from a foreign court, or where such claimant has become entitled to 

payment of a specified sum by virtue of a compromise settlement agreement made with the OTI(s)

and/or Surety pursuant to 46 CFR 515.23, whereby, upon payment of the agreed sum, the Surety 

is to be fully, irrevocably and unconditionally discharged from all further liability to such 

claimant(s).

The liability of the Surety shall not be discharged by any payment or succession of payments 

hereunder, unless and until such payment or payments shall aggregate the penalty of this bond, 

and in no event shall the Surety's total obligation hereunder exceed the amount per member OTI 

set forth in 46 CFR 515.21, identified in Appendix A, or the amount per group or association of 

OTIs set forth in 46 CFR 515.21, regardless of the number of OTIs, claims or claimants.

This bond is effective the ___ day of __________, _____, and shall continue in effect until 

discharged or terminated as herein provided. The Principal or the Surety may at any time terminate 

this bond by mail or email (bcl@fmc.gov) written notice to the Director, Bureau of Certification 

and Licensing, Federal Maritime Commission, Washington, DC. 20573. Such termination shall 

become effective thirty (30) days after receipt of said notice by the Commission. The Surety shall 

not be liable for any transportation-related activities of the OTIs identified in Appendix A as 

covered by the Principal after the expiration of the 30-day period, but such termination shall not 

affect the liability of the Principal and Surety for any transportation-related activities occurring 

prior to the date when said termination becomes effective.

The Principal or financial responsibility provider will promptly notify the underwriting Surety in 

writing and the Director, Bureau of Certification and Licensing, Federal Maritime Commission,

Washington, DC. 20573, by mail or email (bcl@fmc.gov), of any additions, deletions or changes 

to the OTIs enumerated in Appendix A. In the event of additions to Appendix A, coverage will be 

effective upon receipt of such notice, in writing, by the Commission at its office in Washington, 
DC. In the event of deletions to Appendix A, termination of coverage for such OTI(s) shall become 

effective 30 days after receipt of written notice by the Commission. Neither the Principal nor the 

Surety shall be liable for any transportation-related activities of the OTI(s) deleted from Appendix 

A that occur after the expiration of the 30-day period, but such termination shall not affect the 

liability of the Principal and Surety for any transportation-related activities of said OTI(s) 

occurring prior to the date when said termination becomes effective.

The underwriting Surety will promptly notify the Director, Bureau of Certification and Licensing,

Federal Maritime Commission, Washington, DC. 20573, in writing by mail or email 

(bcl@fmc.gov), of all claims made, lawsuits filed, judgments rendered, and payments made 

against this group bond.

Signed and sealed this ___ day of __________, _____,

(Please type name of signer under each signature).

________________________________________________

Individual Principal or Partner

________________________________________________

Business Address

________________________________________________

Individual Principal or Partner

________________________________________________

Business Address

________________________________________________

Individual Principal or Partner

________________________________________________

Business Address

________________________________________________
Trade Name, if Any 

________________________________________________

Corporate Principal

_______________________________________________

Place of Incorporation

_______________________________________________

Trade Name, if Any

_______________________________________________ 

Business Address (Affix Corporate Seal)

_______________________________________________

By

_______________________________________________

Title

_______________________________________________

Principal's Agent for Service of Process (Required if Principal is not a U.S. Corporation)

_______________________________________________

Agent's Address

_______________________________________________

Corporate Surety

_______________________________________________

Business Address (Affix Corporate Seal)

_______________________________________________
By

_______________________________________________

Title

_______________________________________________

Form FMC-69

(Rev. 12/2015)