FMC WINS INJUNCTION AGAINST LOS ANGELES NVO
'The Federal Maritime Commission has won an injunction which will stop World Line Shipping Inc., a Los Angeles area company, from acting as a non-vessel-operating common carrier, pending the completion of an FMC investigation.
The injunction bars World Line Shipping from advertising or performing NVO services without a license, bond or public tariff.
NVOs are required by law to posses an FMC-issued license and to have a tariff publicly available for inspection. NVOs operating in the United States must also show financial responsibility by providing a $75,000 bond.
The injunction , handed down by the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California, will remain in effect until 10 days after the FMC ends its investigation. The FMC’s deadline for completing the case is
Dec. 20.
FMC chairman Hal Creel welcomed the court’s action. “We are committed to ensuring that shippers can safely rely on companies providing ocean transportation services,” he said. “Consumers have a right to expect such entities to be licensed and bonded in accordance with statutes passed by Congress. We will vigorously pursue unscrupulous operators and recidivists, in both FMC proceedings and, when necessary, in federal court.”