US flag Great Lakes ship operators have briefed the Federal Maritime Commission on concerns over the proposed Canadian ballast water regulations. If the regulations go through, the US ship operators feel that the regulations could adversely and disproportionately impact the US fleet. Under the Foreign Shipping Practices Act and Section 19 of the Merchant Marine Act of 1920, the FMC has the Commission authority to investigate and sanction discriminatory conditions caused by rules, regulations, or laws of a foreign government.