1. Choose the OTI license type: NVOCC or OFF or both.

• Ocean Transportation Intermediaries (OTIs) means Ocean Freight Forwarder (OFF) or Non-Vessel-Operating Common Carrier (NVOCC).

• An Ocean Freight Forwarder (OFF) is an individual or company located in the U.S. which:
  •  dispatches shipments from the United States via common carrier and books or otherwise arranges space for those shipments on behalf of shippers; and
  • processes the documentation and performs related activities incident to those shipments.

• A Non-Vessel-Operating Common Carrier (NVOCC) is:
  • a common carrier that holds itself out to the public to provide ocean transportation, issues its own house bill of lading or equivalent document, and does not operate the vessels by which ocean transportation is provided; and
  • a shipper in its relationship with the vessel-operating common carrier involved in the movement of cargo.

2. Appoint a Qualifying Individual (QI).

The proposed QI must:

• be legal resident or citizen of United States.
• hold qualifying position depending on the business structure.
  • » an active corporate officer for a corporation
  • » the sole proprietor of a sole proprietorship
  • » the manager in a manager-managed LLC
  • » the member in member-managed LLC
  • » a partner in a partnership.
• possess the necessary character to render OTI services.
  • » background check will be performed.
• have at least three years of demonstrable OTI experience.
  • » the experience must have been gained in the United States.
  • » any OTI experience gained outside the U.S. will not count.
  • » the experience will be verified by 3 references.

3. Complete and submit Form FMC-18 application electronically.

4. After the application has been submitted, signed Certifications (Application Part G), and required license application fee must be submitted.

  We will assist you in preparing & drafting the application and guide you through the entire application process.

  We will also communicate with FMC Industry Analysts on your behalf, streamlining the review process.

Licensed, U.S.-based NVOCCs and OFFs are required to submit proof of financial responsibility – that is in the form of a surety bond.

For NVOCC license, the required bond coverage amount is $75,000 and

for OFF license, the required bond coverage amount for is $50,000.

  We will shop around with multiple sureties and quote you for the most competitive rate(s).

  Once our quote is confirmed, we will provide you with the bond documents for your completion.

  We will process filing of required surety bond(s) to FMC.

All NVOCCs operating in the U.S. trades are required to publish a tariff (46 CFR § 520.3).

Tariffs must be open for public inspection and show all rates, charges, classifications, rules, and practices between all points or ports on their service routes.

Tariffs must be published prior to a license being issued, and prior to commencement of services, a NVOCC must file Form FMC-1. (46 CFR § 520.3(d))

  We will set you up with automated tariff system that will meet FMC’s tariff requirements as set forth in 46 CFR § 520. Your automated tariff system will be accessible online to the public and FMC via acetariff.com.

  As your tariff publisher, we will file Form FMC-1: Carrier Tariff Registration to FMC reporting your organization information and the location of your tariff.

1.  A non-U.S.-based NVOCC must establish a presence in the United States by opening an unincorporated office that is resident in the United States and is qualified to do business where it is located.

2. Appoint a Qualifying Individual (QI).

The proposed QI must:

• hold qualifying position depending on the business structure.
  • » an active corporate officer for a corporation
• possess the necessary character to render OTI services.
• have at least three years of demonstrable OTI experience in the U.S. trades that can be confirmed by the FMC.
  • » the experience may have been gained in the United States or outside the United States.
  • » the experience in the U.S. trades will be verified by 3 references who are in the United States.

3. Complete and submit Form FMC-18 application electronically.

4. After the application has been submitted, signed Certifications (Application Part G) and required license application fee must be submitted.

  We will assist you in preparing & drafting the application and guide you through the entire application process.

  We will also communicate with FMC Industry Analysts on your behalf, streamlining the review process. 

Licensed, non-U.S.-based NVOCCs are required to submit proof of financial responsibility – that is in the form of a surety bond.

The required bond coverage amount is $75,000. A rider to the bond should list the qualifying branch address in the United States.

  We will shop around with multiple sureties and quote you for the most competitive rate.

  Once our quote is confirmed, we’ll provide you with the bond documents for your completion.

  We will process filing of required surety bond to FMC.

All NVOCCs operating in the U.S. trades are required to publish a tariff (46 CFR § 520.3).

Tariffs must be open for public inspection and show all rates, charges, classifications, rules, and practices between all points or ports on their service routes.

Tariffs must be published prior to a license being issued, and prior to commencement of services, a NVOCC must file Form FMC-1. (46 CFR § 520.3(d))

  We’ll set you up with automated tariff system that will meet FMC’s tariff requirements as set forth in 46 CFR § 520. Your automated tariff system will be accessible online to the public and FMC via acetariff.com.

  As your tariff publisher, we’ll file Form FMC-1: Carrier Tariff Registration to FMC reporting your organization information and the location of your tariff.