National Agencies

• The United States Coast Guard regulates the maritime industry in the United States. The homepage for the part of the Coast Guard concerned with marine safety is here. The United States is unique in our use of an armed service as a regulatory agency.

• Financial regulation of shipping in the US is the province of the Federal Maritime Commission. The FMC is an independent agency -- meaning it doesn't belong to a cabinet department -- headed by five commissioners appointed by the President.

• The maritime policy of the United Kingdom is set through the Department for Transport (DfT). For decades, the foreign trade of the UK was under the cognizance of the Ministry of Trade. "Department for Transport" sounds like it belongs on the western side of the pond. The shipping agency of the DfT is here.

• I am acutely aware that I've merely scratched the surface of this area. Anyone with English language references for the -- for example -- Norwegian or Japanese maritime agencies, please feel free to forward!

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