Our company, Distribution-Publications, Inc. (DPI), was established in 1975 as a publisher of ocean and intermodal freight tariffs. During our early years in business, we concentrated our expertise in filing joint ICC/FMC intermodal tariffs. Since 1984, we have focused our efforts on helping clients comply with US Federal Maritime Commision (FMC) regulations. The Ocean Shipping Reform Act of 1998 has given DPI new opportunities to publish tariffs on its web site. As a consultant, we provide expert assistance on FMC tariffs, service contract regulations, and licensing requirements for Ocean Transportation Intermediaries (OTIs).

DPI is an affiliate of General Steamship Agencies (GENSTEAM) of Mill Valley, California. GENSTEAM was established in San Francisco in 1920. It is the parent company of several maritime services organizations. Its best known affiliate, General Steamship Corporation, Ltd., is an independant shipping agency company with offices at major US ports. They provide husbanding and full cargo operations management to tramp and tanker vessel owners and operators. Other affiliated General Steamship Companies include Alaska Maritime Agencies and Empire Shipping Company Ltd., of Vancouver BC, Canada

DPI serves a wide range of ocean carriers, forwarders, ports, NVOCCs, shippers and maritime attorneys. Superior communications skills enable DPI to provide its service clients around the world. Well known clients include:

• American Independent Shipping Company
• Baltrans Logistics
• Freight Systems (UAE)
• Hecny Shipping Limited
• JIT Corporation
• Kerry Logistics
• Kintetsu World Express
• Maruba Line
• Marubeni Logistics Corp
• NYKLauritzenCool AB
• Ports of Long Beach and Oakland, California
• Rich Shipping Co., Ltd.
• Vantec World Transport

These organizations rely on us to maintain and update their FMC tariffs, and for consultation on FMC regulations. See our Client List for general information, including contact information, for each of the ocean carriers, NVOCCs and marine terminal operators whose FMC tariffs are maintained for public acccess at this web site.

During our quarter of a century of operation, we have continually upgraded our systems to take advantage of new technologies. In 1999, we implemented new tariff database and web server applications based on technology licensed from OracleŽ, the world's second largest software company, and the leading supplier of software for enterprise information management. All tariffs published by DPI on behalf of its clients are maintained on secure systems at DPI's offices in Oakland, CA. Internet accessibility for DPI's e-mail servers, tariff databases and web server is provided by UUNet, the Internet Services Division of Verizon Business Wholesale Services. This service provides unsurpassed expertise and global reach on one of the world's largest and most reliable IP backbone networks. PC Professional provides DPI with personalized IT support and proactive monitoring of our network system. PC Professional, a Microsoft certified partner, is a computer networking and information technology consulting company based in Oakland, CA.

The firm is managed by James E. Devine, Jr., President, and John W. Sullivan, Vice President, Publishing. John Sullivan was a licensed ICC Practitioner. John has over 30 years of experience in the ocean transportation industry, all of it concentrated in the areas of pricing and tariff regulation. Jim Devine joined DPI in 1993, after a 12 year career with the information services division of the New York Journal of Commerce. Our staff includes licensed FMC Practitioners, a Systems Manager, and other experienced personnel.