FMC at Full Power: Bob Harvey sworn in, Budget Hearings, and Why Cargo Is Still the Whole Game

The FMC is back at full power, and if that sounds like inside baseball, it is actually a real operational shift for global ocean shipping. With Bob Harvey sworn in, all five Federal Maritime Commission seats are filled again, which restores the agency’s full voting strength for rulemakings, adjudicatory decisions, and enforcement direction under the Shipping Act. We walk through how the FMC is structured, why staggered terms and bipartisan limits matter, and what changes when the commission is no longer stuck at four members. We also introduce Commissioner Harvey in plain English: a sharp legal mind with deep experience in economic development, finance tools, public private partnerships, and emerging technology, plus a US Navy JAG background. That mix pairs well with Chairman Laura DiBella’s business first framing of competition, customer choice, and practical outcomes for the shipping public. The bigger takeaway is simple: the FMC sits where law meets markets, and the people in those five chairs shape how the ocean transportation marketplace gets regulated. Then we turn to a surprisingly revealing budget hearing with MARAD and the FMC. MARAD is focused on ships, shipyards, mariners, ports, and the industrial base, but the thread that ties it together is cargo. You cannot build maritime capacity without consistent cargo to support the business case, and that is where the FMC’s mandate becomes part of a national maritime strategy. We unpack the Maritime Security Trust Fund proposal tied to the SHIPS Act, what it could fund, and what happens if the funding “bucket” never becomes real. Finally, we hit practical guidance: the FMC’s $40 million budget request, why staffing and IT modernization matter for a small agency, and why CADRS (the FMC’s free mediation and dispute resolution service) can help shippers and carriers avoid expensive, slow complaints. Subscribe, share the episode with a maritime colleague, and leave a review so more people can find clear, usable ocean shipping regulation analysis. Send us Fan Mail C-Suite Perspectives Elevate how you lead with insight from today’s most influential executives. Listen on: Apple Podcasts   Spotify Support the show 🎙️ Thanks for tuning in to *By Land and By Sea* powered by The Maritime Professor®! If you enjoyed today’s episode, be sure to **subscribe ⭐ and leave a review 📝 -** it really helps others find the show. 📚 Want to go deeper? Check out our **live webinars**, **on-demand e-courses**, and our **Just-in-Time Learning™** sessions -- short, plain-language lessons (30 minutes or less) built for supply chain pros who need quick clarity. 🚢 Looking for something tailored? We also provide **custom corporate trainings** designed to meet your team’s needs. ⚓ Learn more and explore past episodes at: www.TheMaritimeProfessor.com/podcast