The Federal Maritime Commission has classified the Chinese-Polish Joint Stock Shipping Company (Chipolbrok) as a controlled carrier of the People’s Republic of China (PRC) and is adding it to the Commission’s Controlled Carrier List.

The company is jointly owned by the governments of the PRC and the Republic of Poland.  Chipolbrok is headquartered in Shanghai.

A comprehensive review of the company’s ownership structure by the Commission determined that the government of the PRC exerts more control over the corporate structure and commercial activities of Chipolbrok than the Polish partner.  The determining factors leading to today’s decision are summarized in the Notice of Determination the Commission issued in this matter.

Controlled carriers are ocean common carriers operating in the U.S.-foreign trades that are, or whose operating assets are, directly or indirectly owned or controlled by a foreign government. Controlled carriers are subject to enhanced regulatory oversight by the Commission.

The Controlled Carrier List is not a comprehensive list of all foreign-owned, foreign-controlled, or government linked companies and assets. It is a list of companies meeting statutory requirements found at 46 U.S.C. Chapter 407. Commission regulations related to Controlled Carriers are found at 46 C.F.R. 565.  The list only includes government owned or controlled carriers that call at United States ports.  The list does not include government controlled or linked non-vessel-operating common carriers, freight forwarders, or marine terminal operators irrespective of where they do business.