Commissioner William P. Doyle
Counsel: David Tubman
Contact
Phone: 202-523-5723
E-mail: DTubman@fmc.gov
On January 1, 2013, the United States Senate confirmed President Barack Obama’s nomination of William P. Doyle of York, Pennsylvania as a Commissioner of the Federal Maritime Commission. He was nominated to another term by President Obama on January 29, 2015, and unanimously confirmed by the U.S. Senate on March 23, 2015
Commissioner Doyle served over a decade as officer in the U.S. Merchant Marine as a marine engineer aboard numerous classes of vessels. Combined, Commissioner Doyle has over 20 years of experience in the transportation industry, including both the maritime and energy sectors. Throughout his career, he has held several senior executive positions in the industry.
Internationally, Commissioner Doyle participates on certain bilateral shipping matters with other countries. Commissioner Doyle represents the FMC at the annual U.S.-China Bilateral Maritime Consultations where he meets with officials from the People’s Republic of China regarding maritime shipping matters such as tax policies affecting U.S. interests in the U.S.-China trade. Further, he managed the most recent update to the 2012 FMC Study of U.S. Inland Containerized Cargo Moving Through Canadian and Mexican Seaports. This study examines the impacts and the extent to which the U.S. Harbor Maintenance Tax (HMT), and other U.S. policies may incentivize container cargo to shift from U.S. West Coast ports to Canadian and Mexican ports. Last year Commissioner Doyle surveyed construction sites for the Panama Canal’s third set of locks. The Canal is major transit point for FMC-regulated vessel operating common carriers and a critical component to international oceanborne commerce to and from the U.S.
At the FMC, Commissioner Doyle has worked with his fellow Commissioners to adjudicate a backlog of cases filed with the Commission; the Commission now resolves over 90% of its cases within two years. Commissioner Doyle has also voiced strong support for natural gas as a marine fuel, especially with regard to meeting international environmental standards (MARPOL Annex VI Emission Control Areas). Commissioner Doyle is a vocal proponent of the development of U.S. natural gas resources and its impact on the U.S. energy and transportation landscape in helping to improve U.S. energy security while spurring economic development and job creation around the country.
Prior to being sworn in as Commissioner, Commissioner Doyle was Chief-of-Staff of the Marine Engineers’ Beneficial Association. There, Commissioner Doyle managed the organization’s interests before federal, state, and local elected and administrative bodies. He was the Association’s leader in business development, legislative strategies, contract negotiations, and provided counsel and guidance to the executive board.
Previous to his role as Chief-of-Staff, Commissioner Doyle served in an executive management role as the Director of Permits, Scheduling, and Compliance with the Office of the Federal Coordinator for Alaska Natural Gas Transportation Projects. There, he managed and directed the permitting and regulatory coordination of 24 federal agencies, numerous State of Alaska agencies, and both federal and provincial agencies of Canada. Additionally, the Commissioner acted as lead negotiator for the U.S. Government in securing cost recovery agreements with private sector national and multinational companies.
Prior to his FMC appointment, Commissioner Doyle had been appointed to boards and committees under both the Obama and Bush Administrations, including:
- Representative on U.S. delegation for the United States on the bilateral trade delegation for the U.S. – Canada Energy Consultative Mechanism meetings, where bilateral energy trade issues were explored for strengthening the largest bilateral energy relationship in the world;
- Representative of the U.S. in the annual coordination meeting between the U.S. Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration and Canada’s National Energy Board;
- Selected by the U.S. Department of State to participate in an international shale gas workshop to assess international resources, supply options, and market conditions;
- Served a two-year term as a liaison on the Labor Advisory Committee to the U.S. Trade Representative, and in this capacity, the Commissioner assisted the Committee in soliciting and obtaining advice from various industries, agricultural concerns, environmental stakeholders, labor groups, and other non-governmental organizations throughout the trade policy process; and
- Appointed and served for four years as a Board Member on the United States Department of Labor’s Advisory Committee on Apprenticeship.
Commissioner William P. Doyle was born in Boston, Massachusetts and raised in Weymouth. He is a 1992 graduate of the Massachusetts Maritime Academy, where he earned a Bachelor of Science in Marine Engineering. As a cadet, he worked in the Quincy, Massachusetts shipyard breaking out vessels for Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm. Upon graduation from Mass Maritime, he began sailing as an officer in the U.S. Merchant Marine. As a U.S. Merchant Marine Officer from 1992 to 2002, Commissioner Doyle’s shipboard experience included serving aboard ammunition ships in and around Diego Garcia, car carriers servicing Europe and the Pacific Rim, tanker vessels, and in the U.S. Maritime Administration’s U.S. Ready Reserve Force Fleet. While still serving in the U.S. Merchant Marine, Commissioner Doyle entered law school at Widener University School of Law in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. Throughout law school, Commissioner Doyle worked his summer and winter breaks serving aboard Pre-positioning ships in South Carolina, delivering jet fuel to Haifa, Israel, and transporting liquid-sulfur between ports along the Gulf Coast of the United States.
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Jan 17, 2017
Commissioner William P. Doyle’s Prepared Remarks to the National Retail Federation
On January 16, 2017, Commissioner Doyle delivered remarks to the National Retail Federation International Trade Advisory Committee and Strategic Supply Chain Council in New York City. He provided an update on matters affecting the ocean shipping community including ocean carrier alliances, developments post-Hanjin bankruptcy, the proposed new ocean carrier company SM Line, digital ocean shipping concepts, and a recent petition filed with the FMC by the Coalition for Fair Port Practices.
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Dec 16, 2016
Commissioner William P. Doyle’s statement on THE Alliance vote
FMC Commissioner Doyle issued the following statement after he voted to take no further action and allow THE Alliance to take effect on December 19th. The authorities in THE Alliance are on par with other second generation alliances and balance the ocean carriers’ economic needs to gain operational efficiencies while the FMC exercises its duty to foster a vibrant domestic maritime sector for the American businesses, families, and workers that rely upon it.
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Dec 07, 2016
Commissioner William P. Doyle’s Prepared Remarks to the North Atlantic Ports Association
FMC Commissioner Doyle delivered remarks to the members of the North Atlantic Ports Association at their annual meeting in Alexandria, Virginia, on December 1, 2016. He reviewed the progress made over the past year and future investments being made by ports between Virginia and Maine. He also discussed new developments in ocean carrier alliances, antitrust concerns of U.S. suppliers and small businesses and the potential for more port and terminal alliances in the United States.
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Aug 25, 2016
Commissioner William P. Doyle’s statement on the proposed Ocean Alliance Agreement
The proposed Ocean Alliance agreement consists of COSCO Container Lines Company, CMA-CGM (with APL), Evergreen Marine Corporation, and Orient Overseas Container Line (OOCL). “We’ve been down this road before with language proposed but not implemented by the P3 Alliance and the language in the existing 2M Alliance (Maersk and MSC). I’d like to see fair dealing and transparency in how the parties handle negotiations with third parties, suppliers, small businesses, and other service providers.”
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Feb 26, 2016
Commissioner Doyle's Remarks before World Trade Association Members
I am so pleased to be here today talking about the reemergence of SeaLand and its all water Atlántico service. And great to be talking about the North – South trade which includes all of the Americas. This folks, is a perfect example of a government-labor-private sector partnership of interests all pulling in the same direction. Congrats!
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May 04, 2015
Commissioner William P. Doyle Report from Athens, Greece
In mid-April 2015, I participated in the European Maritime Law Organization (EMLO) spring seminar in Athens, Greece. I also had the opportunity to meet several public and private international maritime stakeholders while in Athens. Below is a summary of the groups with whom I met:
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Dec 31, 2014
Commissioner William P. Doyle’ votes on Hanjin/UASC/CMA CGM/CSCL Agreement
I am voting to take no further action on the Hanjin/UASC/CMA CGM/CSL Vessel Sharing and Slot Charter Agreement.The Agreement contains no limitations on the parties' ability to introduce additional capacity or provide transportation on other vessels in the trade. At this time it appears that the Agreement is not likely, through a reduction in competition, to result in an unreasonable decrease in transportation service or an unreasonable increase in transportation costs.
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Dec 08, 2014
Commissioner William P. Doyle Votes on CKYHE
I am in favor of not taking any further action to delay the implementation of the agreement popularly known as CKYHE. While the CKYHE Parties will be collaborating operationally, these carriers will continue to compete with each other on pricing and cost. That is, shippers will continue to negotiate with each carrier individually. With regard to transportation service, each carrier will have available more service offerings and overall capacity will increase.
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Nov 13, 2014
Commissioner Doyle briefs Commission on Mid-Atlantic and Northeast Port Congestion Forum
Commissioner William P. Doyle briefed the Federal Maritime Commission regarding the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast Port Congestion Forum held in Baltimore in October. As identified at this forum, the key issues related to port congestion include, but are not limited to, chassis shortage and dislocation, long truck turn times, larger vessels discharging cargo and vessel bunching. The Commission has held four forums on the topic of port congestion.
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Oct 09, 2014
Commissioner Doyle Votes on Maersk/MSC (2M) Vessel Sharing Agreement
I am in favor of not taking any further action to delay the implementation of this vessel sharing agreement, popularly known as 2M. Maersk Line and Mediterranean Shipping Company answered all my questions over the past forty-five days. The Commission will implement its typical monitoring program. The Commission’s monitoring program should be reevaluated to fully ensure that all Alliances play by the rules. I am committed to ensuring that this happens.
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Jul 21, 2014
Commissioner Doyle Applauds Commissioner Lidinsky's Update of Important Report
This is the second anniversary of the Federal Maritime Commission’s (FMC) 2012 "Study of U.S. Inland Containerized Cargo Moving through Canadian and Mexican Seaports" (FMC Ports Study). Over the past year there have been some significant developments which will make U.S. ports more competitive with their Canadian and Mexican counterparts on issues identified in the FMC Ports Study.
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Apr 14, 2014
William P. Doyle Surveys Construction Sites of Expanded Panama Canal; Provides Latest Updates
U.S. Federal Maritime Commissioner William P. Doyle meets with senior executives of the Panama Canal Authority the week of April 6, 2014. Doyle viewed construction sites on the Pacific side and received extensive updates on several of the projects-- including Third Set of Locks—Water Saving Basins; Rolling Gates; Excavation of the Navigation Channels; Dredging; Gatun Lake and Culebra Cut; and Raising Gatun Lake's Maximum Operating Level.
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Mar 10, 2014
Commissioner Doyle’s Prepared Remarks to the Global Shippers’ Forum Annual Meeting
U.S. Federal Maritime Commissioner Doyle addressed the Global Shippers Forum in Los Angeles today and discussed Ro/Ro price fixing matters, the newly approved cooperation agreement between the ports of Seattle and Tacoma, the first PVO company to take advantage of the alternative bonding mechanisms, China VAT, Commission's 6 (g) Analysis and the Suez/Panama Canal routes.
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Nov 21, 2013
Commissioner Doyle's remarks to the National Lieutenant Governors Association Executive Committee
FMC Commissioner William P. Doyle, addressed the Executive Committee of the National Lieutenant Governors Association (NGLA) in Little Rock, Arkansas. Commissioner Doyle highlighted the Obama Administration's progress on preparing for the expansion of the Panama Canal. He spoke of new U.S. export opportunities for liquefied natural gas (LNG) and natural gas liquids (NGLs), energy and economic security and jobs.
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Sep 18, 2013
Concern Expressed Over Impact of China’s New VAT
During its closed meeting today, the Commission discussed the People’s Republic of China’s new regulations on implementation of a nationwide value added tax (VAT) on international transportation services. This new tax was implemented by China on August 1, 2013.
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Mar 12, 2013
Statement of Commissioner Doyle Concerning The G6 Alliance Agreement
On February 1, 2013, the G6 Alliance filed with the Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) an agreement setting forth two principal agreement goals. First, the G6 Alliance authorizes the parties to charter and exchange space on the parties’ vessels. Second, the G6 Alliance seeks to coordinate and cooperate with respect to the parties’ transportation services and operations in specific trade lanes. This week, the FMC Commissioners voted to allow the new Agreement to go into effect. Notably, this agree
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Jan 30, 2013
Commissioner William P. Doyle Joins the Commission
On Tuesday, January 1, 2013, the United States Senate confirmed President Obama’s nomination of William P. Doyle, of Pennsylvania, to be a Federal Maritime Commissioner. Commissioner Doyle was sworn in on January 10, 2013.
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May 10, 2012
Statement of William P. Doyle, Nominee for Federal Maritime Commissioner Before the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, United States Senate
Good morning Chairman Rockefeller, Ranking Member Hutchison, and members of the Committee.
I am honored to have the opportunity to appear before you this morning as President Barack Obama’s nominee to serve as Commissioner on the Federal Maritime Commission, and I thank Chairman Lidinsky for his support. If confirmed by the Senate, I look forward to supporting the mission of the Federal Maritime Commission to promote a fair, efficient, and reliable international ocean transportation system,
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