[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 244 (Wednesday, December 19, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Pages 65502-65503]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-31269]


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FEDERAL MARITIME COMMISSION

[Docket No. 01-12]


Commonwealth Shipping Ltd., Cargo Carriers Ltd., Martyn C. 
Merritt and Mary Anne Merritt--Submission of Materially False or 
Misleading Statements to the Federal Maritime Commission and False 
Representation of Common Carrier Vessel Operations; Notice of Show 
Cause Proceeding

    Notice is given that the Commission, on December 11, 2001, served 
an Order to Show Cause (``Order'') on Cargo Carriers Ltd., Commonwealth 
Shipping Ltd., Martyn C. Merritt and Mary Anne Merritt.
    Cargo Carriers Ltd. is a licensed ocean transportation intermediary 
(``OTI'') that operates as a non-vessel-operating common carrier and 
ocean freight forwarder (FMC Organization No. 13507). It appears that 
Cargo Carriers Ltd.'s 1999 OTI license application contains false 
information concerning its qualifying individual and the sharing of 
office space with a company controlled by Mary Anne Merritt.
    Commonwealth Shipping Ltd. holds itself out to the public as an 
ocean

[[Page 65503]]

common carrier in its tariff and FMC-1 form (FMC Organization No. 
9587). Martyn and Mary Anne Merritt have been identified as corporate 
directors of this company, which is located at the same address as 
Cargo Carriers Ltd. For a common carrier to be considered an ocean 
common carrier under the Shipping Act of 1984, it must operate a vessel 
on the high seas between a port in the United States and a foreign 
port. Commonwealth Shipping Ltd. does not appear to operate any vessels 
on the high seas between a port in the United States and a foreign 
port. Therefore, it appears that Commonwealth Shipping Ltd.'s tariff in 
which it is identified as a vessel-operating common carrier contains 
false information.
    The Order directs Cargo Carriers Ltd. to show cause why the 
Commission should not order the revocation of its ocean transportation 
intermediary license for providing materially false or misleading 
statements to the Commission; and to show cause why the Commission 
should not order the cancellation of its non-vessel-operating common 
carrier tariff if its license is revoked. The Order also directs 
Commonwealth Shipping Ltd. show cause why the Commission should not 
order the cancellation of its tariff holding itself out to the public 
as an ocean common carrier because it does not operate as an ocean 
common carrier. The Order further directs Cargo Carriers Ltd., 
Commonwealth Shipping Ltd., Martyn C. Merritt and Mary Anne Merritt 
show cause why the Commission should not order Cargo Carriers Ltd., 
Commonwealth Shipping Ltd., Martyn C. Merritt and Mary Anne Merritt to 
cease and desist from future violations of the Shipping Act of 1984.
    The full text of the Order may be viewed on the Commission's 
homepage at www.fmc.gov, or at the Office of the Secretary, Room 1046, 
800 N. Capitol Street, NW., Washington, DC.
    Any person having an interest and desiring to intervene in this 
proceeding shall file a petition for leave to intervene no later than 
December 31, 2001 in accordance with 46 CFR 502.72.

Bryant L. VanBrakle,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 01-31269 Filed 12-18-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6730-01-P