Federal Maritime Commission

Commission Releases Chairman Blust's Speech to 
The International Maritime Forum 2003.

Washington, D.C. 20573

NR 03-09

CONTACT: BRYANT L. VANBRAKLE, SECRETARY (202) 523-5725

FOR RELEASE: NOVEMBER 13, 2003

Chairman Blust was in China from October 25 through November 4, 2003. The purpose of the trip was to attend The International Maritime Forum 2003, which was held in Shanghai, China, from October 31 - November 1, 2003. Chairman Blust was invited to Shanghai by the Ministry of Communications of the People's Republic of China (MOC) to deliver a speech on the on the impact of the Ocean Shipping Reform Act (OSRA) on the international maritime industry since its passage in 1998. In his speech to the Forum, Chairman Blust expressed the view that "Unilateral efforts on the part of any segment in the ocean shipping industry or any maritime nation will not work as effectively as what can be achieved through collaboration and cooperation among the parties involved." To that end, the Chairman lauded the opportunity the Forum and the trip to China provided for the exchange of views with so many members of the international maritime community. The Chairman's address to the Forum can be found at www.fmc.gov.

Prior to traveling to Shanghai, the Chairman visited Hong Kong, the world's busiest container port, where he met with carriers, shippers, terminals, and OTIs, and visited the Bureau of Customs and Border Protection, Container Security Initiative operations. In Shanghai, the world's third busiest container port, as well as in Beijing, Chairman Blust met with members of the Ministry of Communications of the PRC, various carrier executives, and U.S. Embassy officials, including Ambassador Randt in Beijing.