National Shipper Advisory Committee 

1. Official Designation

The National Shipper Advisory Committee 

2. Authorities

This statutory committee is established pursuant to 46 U.S.C. Chapter 425, and in accordance 

with the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA) as amended, 5 U.S.C. Chapter 10.

3. Objectives, Scope of Activity, and Duties

a. As set out in 46 U.S.C. § 42502(b), the function of the National Shipper Advisory 

Committee (Committee) is to advise the Federal Maritime Commission (Commission) on 

policies relating to the competitiveness, reliability, integrity, and fairness of the 

international ocean freight delivery system.

b. The Committee provides the Commission with information, insight, and expertise 

pertaining to conditions in the ocean freight delivery system.

c. The Committee provides recommendations on existing or proposed Commission policies 

and regulations pertaining to competitiveness, reliability, integrity, and fairness of the 

international ocean freight delivery system.

d. The Committee may provide suggestions for new Commission policies or regulations

pertaining to competitiveness, reliability, integrity, and fairness of the international 

ocean freight delivery system.

e. The Commission will consult the Committee on significant agency actions relating to the 

Committee’s functions.

f. The duties of the Committee are solely advisory, and the Commission is not obligated to 

act upon recommendations of the Committee. 

4. Membership

a. The Committee will be comprised of 12 representatives of entities who export cargo

using ocean common carriers, and 12 representatives of entities who import cargo using 

ocean common carriers. Committee membership will reflect a balanced mix of 

commodities shipped, ports used, geographic areas served, and origins of cargo.

b. Status of Members – Committee members are not considered employees of the Federal 

Government except as permitted by law. Members of the Committee shall serve 

without compensation. Members serve on the Committee at the pleasure of the 

Commission.

c. Terms – A member’s term will expire on December 31 of the third full year after the 

effective date of the appointment. After a member’s term expires, the member may 

continue to serve for up to one year until a successor is appointed. The Commission may 

reappoint a member to a new term.
d. Vacancies - The Commission will publish notice in the Federal Register of any vacancies 

on the Committee and will receive and consider nominations.

e. Ethics Requirements – Except for members who qualify as special Government 

employees (SGEs), members appointed to represent the interests of a particular group 

or entity are not subject to Federal rules and requirements that would interfere with 

that representation. 46 U.S.C. § 42503(d)(1). Non-SGE members may be required to 

comply with Federal rules and laws governing employee conduct that will not impact 

their ability to represent the interests they were appointed to serve. Members who 

qualify as SGEs shall demonstrate that they are in compliance with applicable ethics 

laws and regulations and comply with any requests or measures necessary to allow the

designated agency ethics official (DAEO) to access and review financial disclosure 

reports and conduct a conflict-of-interest analysis.

5. Officers

a. A Chair and Vice Chair will be elected by the Committee from among the Committee’s 

members. The Vice Chair will act as Chair in the Chair’s absence or vacancy.

b. Subcommittees and working groups may be established by the Chair for any purpose 

consistent with the function of the Committee.

6. Agency Support and Estimated Annual Cost to Operate

a. The Commission is responsible for providing the services and support considered by the 

Commission to be necessary for the conduct of Committee functions.

b. The Committee shall report to the Commission, through the Commission’s Secretary in 

the capacity as Committee Management Official (CMO).

c. The Commission’s Chairman will appoint the Designated Federal Officer (DFO) and 

Alternate Designated Federal Officer(s) (ADFO) for the Committee. The DFO or ADFO 

will:

i. Approve or call the Committee meetings;

ii. Approve the Committee agendas;

iii. Attend the Committee meetings;

iv. Adjourn any meeting when the DFO determines adjournment to be in the public 

interest; and

v. Chair meetings when so directed by the Commission.

d. The estimated annual cost to the Government for operating the Committee is $65,000

and .34 of a full-time equivalent.

7. Meetings

a. The Committee will meet not less than once each year and as needed for consultation 

by the Commission.

b. Meetings will be held at Commission headquarters in Washington D.C., other locations, 

or virtually using video meeting technology, at the discretion of the Commission.

c. The Chair will submit all Committee agendas to the Designated Federal Officer for 

review and approval.
d. Meetings shall be open to the public, except that all or part of a meeting may be closed 

to the public as permitted by law.

e. At all meetings of the Committee, a majority of the membership shall be necessary and 

sufficient to constitute a quorum for the transaction of business.

8. Subcommittees

The Chair of the Committee may establish and disestablish subcommittees and working groups

for any purpose consistent with the function of the Committee. Subcommittees report back to 

the Committee and not to the Commission.

9. Records and Reports

a. All advice, reports, and recommendations will be submitted in writing to the 

Commission at a frequency determined by the Committee.

b. The Commission will respond to and publish each Committee recommendation within 

60 days.

c. Any advice, report, or recommendation of the Committee will also be sent by the 

Commission to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of 

Representatives, and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the 

Senate.

d. The records of the National Shipper Advisory Committee and its subcommittees shall be 

handled in accordance with General Records Schedule 6.2 or other approved agency 

records disposition schedule. These records shall be available for public inspection in an 

electronic format, in accordance with the Freedom of Information Act, 5 U.S.C. § 552.

10. Termination Date – Pursuant to 46 U.S.C. § 42503(k), the Committee shall terminate on 

September 30, 2029.

11. Charter Filing Date – June 6, 2023.

Daniel B. Maffei

Chairman, Federal Maritime Commission