FMC's Anderson said it was time to move on

Federal Maritime Commissioner A. Paul Anderson, who announced Wednesday that he would leave the agency effective May 30, said his decision has everything to do with moving forward to the next chapter of my career, and there is nothing negative about it other than it was time to move on.

President Bush appointed Anderson to the FMC in August 2003 to fill the remainder of Commissioner Delmond J.H. Won's term, which ended in June 2007. Bush nominated him last year for another five- year term, this time as FMC chairman, after Steven Blust announced his departure from the agency.

But despite holding hearings last year, the Senate has not confirmed Anderson nor Carl B. Kress as commissioner.

It is obvious the Senate is not moving on my nomination. That process has broken down and I made a self-imposed deadline over six months ago, Anderson said. I made a decision that my career, my family and my personal life are important and as any prudent businessman would, I made a plan and stuck with my plan.

He emphasized that there was nothing sudden about his plans to leave, saying that he informed the White House of his decision weeks ago.

He chalks up the delay in his confirmation to election year politics and notes it is happening elsewhere. On the same day that the White House withdrew Anderson's nomination, it also announced the withdrawals of appointees to the Federal Mine Safety and Health Review Commission and Federal Election Commission.

Lack of a chairman has complicated administration of the FMC, said Anderson and its other three commissioners. The House Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation was critical of the agency during a hearing last month. In response, the FMC has begun holding more regular public meetings in an attempt to improve administration.

Anderson said he found his time at the agency rewarding, and was pleased with the ability of both Democrats and Republicans on the commission to work cooperatively and in specific initiatives.

He pointed to the decision to allow non-vessel-operating common carriers to offer service agreements to customers, and increased cooperation by the FMC with other agencies such as the Coast Guard and Customs to, among other things, improve homeland security.

I'm not taking credit for these, but I am proud to have taken part in the process, he said.

Anderson, 48, said he hopes to remain active in the shipping industry and may return to Florida. Before being named to the FMC Anderson served with Hvide Marine, now known as Seacor Holdings Inc., a diversified maritime transportation company with domestic Jones Act and international operations. Immediately prior to his appointment he served with JM Family Enterprises Inc., a Florida-based automobile company.

He also noted that his time in Washington has been personally rewarding, meeting his wife at a black tie event on the eve of the president's second inaugural and having a second son who is now eight months old. His older son is 20 years old.

Anderson said he is also eager to resume work with non-profit organizations and charities that he worked prior to joining the administration. 

Source: American Shipper