Notice of Agreement(s) Filed

FEDERAL MARITIME COMMISSION

Notice of Agreement(s) Filed

The Commission hereby gives notice of the filing of the following

agreement(s) under the Shipping Act of 1984. Interested parties can

review or obtain copies of agreements at the Washington, DC offices of

the Commission, 800 North Capitol Street, NW., Room 962. Interested

parties may submit comments on an agreement to the Secretary, Federal

Maritime Commission, Washington, DC 20573, within 10 days of the date

this notice appears in the Federal Register.

Agreement No.: 202-010689-079.

Title: Transpacific Westbound Rate Agreement.

Parties:

American President Lines, Ltd. (``APL'')

Hapag-Lloyd Container Linie GmbH

Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha, Ltd.

A.P. Moller-Maersk Line

Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd.

Nippon Yusen Kaisha, Ltd.

Orient Overseas Container Line, Inc.

Sea-Land Service, Inc.

Synopsis: The proposed amendment provides that a Class B member of TWRA

can complete the performance of any group TWRA service contract if the

member, the shipper, and TWRA agree. APL is resigning from TWRA as of

January 1, 1999, and will become a Class B member at that time. The

amendment also provides that independent actions on tariff items will

become effective immediately upon notice and filing thereof and that

the right of individual service contracting is extended to refrigerated

cargo.

Agreement No.: 202-011375-044.

Title: Trans-Atlantic Conference Agreement.

Parties:

Atlantic Container Line AB

Sea-Land Service, Inc.

A.P. Moller-Maersk Line

Hapag-Lloyd Container Linie GmbH

Mediterranean Shipping Co., S.A.

DSR-Senator Lines

POL-Atlantic

Orient Overseas Container Line (UK) Ltd.

Mexican Line Limited

Hyundai Merchant Marine Co., Ltd.

P&O Nedlloyd Limited

P&O Nedlloyd B.V.

Nippon Yusen Kaisha

Tecomar Limited

Synopsis: The proposed modification restates the agreement and conforms

it to the requirements of the Ocean Shipping Reform Act of 1998

(``ORSA'') and the European Commission. Changes include deleting

authority to discuss or agree on prices for inland transportation

within the European Union, but authorizes adoption of a ``not below

cost'' rule with respect to inland transportation in Europe; adding

joint U.S. inland service procurement authority in accordance with

ORSA; replacing current service contract rules with those complying

with ORSA and EC requirements; limiting forwarder compensation/

brokerage to shipments from the United States; reducing the notice

period required for independent action from 10 to 5 days; and deleting

the names of four members resigning on January 1, 1999.

[[Page 65595]]

Agreement No.: 207-011441-002.

Title: The NOSAC/NYK Joint Service (East/West) Agreement.

Parties:

NOSAC ANS (``NOSAC'')

Nippon Yusen Kaisha

Synopsis: The proposed amendment replaces NOSAC as a member with its

wholly owned subsidiary Wilhelmsen Lines. It adds ports and points in

Mexico, Central America, South America, and the Caribbean Islands to

the Agreement's geographic scope; it adds other provisions related to

the administration of the joint service; and changes the name of the

Agreement to the ``NYK/NOS Joint Service Agreement.'' Upon the

effectiveness of this amendment, the parties intend to terminate the

NOSAC/NYK Joint Service (North/South) Agreement (FMC Agreement No. 207-

011438).

Agreement No.: 203-011512-001.

Title: Hyundai/MSC Agreement.

Parties:

Hyundai Merchant Marine Co., Ltd.

Mediterranean Shipping Co., S.A.

Synopsis: The proposed amendment sets the expiration date of the

agreement as December 31, 1999. It also removes the six-month notice

period for termination.

Agreement No.: 202-011587-003.

Title: United States South Europe Conference.

Parties:

A.P. Moller-Maersk Line

P&O Nedlloyd B.V.

P&O Nedlloyd Limited

Sea-Land Service, Inc.

Synopsis: The proposed modification expands the agreement's geographic

scope to include Eastern Mediterranean and Black Sea ports; deletes

authority to agree on inland rates in the European Union, but

authorizes adoption of a ``not below cost'' rule with respect to inland

transportation in Europe; authorizes the members to jointly negotiate

with providers of inland transportation within the U.S. effective May

1, 1999; limits the authority to agree on freight forwarder

compensation to U.S. exports; requires a unanimous vote to ``close''

any rate, rule, or regulation; eliminates mandatory service contract

guidelines, but provides for voluntary guidelines; and reduces the

obligations of members under the agreement.

Dated: November 20, 1998.

By order of the Federal Maritime Commission.

Joseph C. Polking,

Secretary.

[FR Doc. 98-31567 Filed 11-25-98; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 6730-01-M