FEDERAL MARITIME COMMISSION

FMC OBTAINS INJUNCTION AGAINST WORLD LINE SHIPPING, INC.
AND SAEID B. MARALAN (AKA SAM BUSTANI)

NR 00-10

Washington, D.C. 20573

CONTACT: Thomas Panebianco, General Counsel, at (202) 523-5740

FOR RELEASE: June 14, 2000

On June 12, 2000, the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California granted the Federal Maritime Commission's request for a preliminary injunction against Defendants World Line Shipping, Inc., a Los Angeles-area company, and its owner Saeid B. Maralan (AKA Sam Bustani). The injunction prohibits the Defendants from acting as a non-vessel-operating common carrier without a license, bond, or public tariff. Violation of the injunction could lead to the Defendants being held in civil contempt by the court.

On May 3, the FMC filed a complaint in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California seeking a temporary restraining order and preliminary injunction against World Line Shipping, Inc. and Saeid B. Maralan (AKA Sam Bustani). The complaint cites an FMC Order, Docket No. 00-05, captioned World Line Shipping, Inc. and Saeid B. Maralan (AKA Sam Bustani) - Order to Show Cause. The FMC's preliminary investigation leading to the Order to Show Cause indicates that Defendants are acting as a non-vessel-operating common carrier without a bond, license, or public tariff. The complaint requested that the court enjoin Defendants from engaging in conduct violative of the Shipping Act pending the completion of Docket No. 00-05.

On May 11, U.S. District Court Judge Alicemarie H. Stotler granted the temporary restraining order, and immediately following a hearing held on June 12, Judge Stotler granted the preliminary injunction. The order granting the injunction provides that Defendants, their agents, servants, employees, and attorneys, and those in active concert or participation with them, are restrained and enjoined from accepting cargo for transportation and advertising for or soliciting cargo while operating as an ocean transportation intermediary in the United States without a valid license issued by the Federal Maritime Commission, and by accepting cargo for transportation and advertising for or soliciting cargo while operating as a non-vessel-operating common carrier without a valid bond on file with the Federal Maritime Commission and without a tariff available for inspection by the public. The injunction will remain in effect until ten days after the completion of FMC Docket No. 00-05, World Line Shipping, Inc. and Saeid B. Maralan (AKA Sam Bustani) - Order to Show Cause.

FMC Chairman Harold J. Creel was pleased by the court's ruling. "We are committed to ensuring that shippers can safely rely on companies providing ocean transportation services," he said. "Consumers have a right to expect such entities to be licensed and bonded in accordance with statutes passed by Congress. We will vigorously pursue unscrupulous operators and recidivists, in both FMC proceedings and, when necessary, in federal court."

Non-vessel-operating common carriers are required to hold a license issued by the FMC and to have a tariff publicly available for inspection. Non-vessel-operating common carriers operating in the United States must demonstrate their financial responsibility by providing a bond in the amount of $75,000.