DCL TO PAY FMC $800,000 TO SETTLE COMPLAINTS
Direct Container Line has agreed to pay the Federal Maritime Commission
$800,000, plus interest, to settle two complaints filed against the Carson,
Calif.-based non-vessel-operating common carrier earlier this year.
The FMC announced an investigation of DCL in January. The commission
suspected the NVOCC of misdeclaring cargo weights and measurements to get lower rates, and
whether the company charged rates above those listed in
its tariff. The investigation focused on shipments DCL booked on
transpacific ships of OOCL and Maersk.
A second investigation, announced in April, explored whether DCL and
company president Owen Glenn, arranged receipt of rebates and other freight
rate concessions in the South American Trade. Glenn was later dropped as a
party in the complaint.
Under the FMC-DCL deal, the commission agrees not to pursue future civil
penalty proceedings against DCL.