FMC LEVIES $822,500 IN FINES FOR SHIPPING-ACT VIOLATIONS
The Federal Maritime Commission has recovered $822,500 in civil
penalties from seven non-vessel-operating common carriers and two ocean transportation
intermediaries for a number of alleged violations of the 1984 Shipping Act.
The companies were fined for allegedly obtaining lower rates by
misdescribing or misdeclaring measurements of cargo, by obtaining rebates or other rate
concessions, and/or charging rates other than those set forth in applicable tariffs.
The companies and fines paid are: Henry Transportation Inc., Los
Angeles, $230,000; AMR Shipping, a New York, $140,000; Amerilines-USA Inc.and Amerilines
Inc. – N.Y. and Latin America Forwarding Co., Miami, $100,000; Air Tiger Express (USA)
Inc., Jamaica, N.Y., $95,000; Scanwell Container Line Ltd., Hong Kong, $95,000;
International Ocean Consolidators Corp., Ayma Cargo Corp. and IOCC Corp., Miami, $50,000;
Pacific Trans Inc., Miami, $45,000; Giorgio Gori, Livorno, Italy, $37,500; and Charter
Container Line, RCL Agencies Inc. and Container Transport Inc., Clifton, N.J., $30,000.
Air Tiger Express also allegedly co-loaded shipments in violation of
conference service contracts. The company operates in the transpacific
trade.
RCL also allegedly violated the shipping act by holding itself out as an
NVO without a tariff and bond, and that the company operated as a freight forwarder
without a license.
A Henry Transportation affiliate, Henry South America, Ltd., operated in
certain trades without a tariff on file.