Chairman Steven R. Blust announced today that the Federal Maritime Commission is initiating a series of informational seminars to be conducted by the Commission’s Area Representatives and other Commission personnel at various locations around the country. The seminars will provide information to the industry and the shipping public with respect to the Commission’s functions and services as well as instruction regarding the regulatory obligations of providers and users of ocean liner shipping services in the U.S. foreign trades which are administered by the Commission. The seminars will be conducted at a different location on approximately a monthly basis. The first is to take place on Tuesday, February 25, 2003 in Miami, Fla., and the second will be in New Orleans, La., on March 19.