U.S. Shipping Board Law and Legal Definition
The U.S. Shipping Board was as an emergency agency that was created in 1916 to regulate certain maritime activities. The Shipping Act of 1916 created the U.S. Shipping Board, with broad powers to investigate and supervise carriers by water in foreign and interstate commerce as defined therein. [Inter-Island Steam Navigation Co. v. Hawaii, 305 U.S. 306, 311 (U.S. 1938)]. It was formally organized January 30, 1917. It was sometimes referred to as the War Shipping Board.
The Borad was responsible for regulating commercial maritime carriers and trade practices, marine insurance, transfers of ship registry, and the rates charged in interstate waterborne commerce; investigating adequacy of port and water transportation facilities; determining the necessity for steamship lines and the characteristics of vessels on those lines; developing a naval auxiliary and merchant marine.
The Board no longer exists. It was abolished, effective March 2, 1934.
