FMC collects $840,000 in OTI penalties

The U.S. Federal Maritime Commission said it has collected $840,000 in civil penalties from compromise agreements with five freight forwarders and non-vessel-operating common carriers.    The U.S. Federal Maritime Commission on Thursday said it has collected $840,000 in civil penalties from compromise agreements with five freight forwarders and non-vessel-operating common carriers.
   The companies include:
     • Hong Kong-based Hecny Shipping Ltd. for $300,000 for allegedly misrepresenting cargo to obtain rates lower than those provided under service contract with United Arab Shipping Co. and provided ocean transportation intermediary services not in line with its NVO tariff.
     • American Global Logistics (AGL), based in Atlanta, for $350,000 for allegedly obtaining ocean transportation at less than the rates and charges otherwise applicable by “improperly obtaining access to numerous service contracts,” including carriers UASC, COSCO, Evergreen, ZIM and Yang Ming, to which AGL was not a contract signatory, and allegedly provided transportation to its customers at rates not in line with its NVO tariff.
     • Dallas-based Round The World Logistics (U.S.A.) Corp. for $80,000 for allegedly obtaining ocean transportation at less than the rates and charges otherwise applicable by unfairly using rates limited to certain “named accounts” under an Evergreen service contract.
     • Walker International Transportation, based in Valley Stream, N.Y., for $60,000 for allegedly obtaining ocean transportation at less than the rates and charges otherwise applicable by improperly obtaining access to Mediterranean Shipping Co. and ZIM service contracts to which it was not a party.
     • Jamaica, N.Y.-based Razor Enterprise (or Razor Cargo Services) for $50,000 for allegedly obtaining ocean transportation at less than the rates and charges otherwise applicable by improperly obtaining access to a Safmarine/Maersk service contract to which it was not a party, and for allegedly providing transportation to its customers at rates not in line with its NVO tariff.
   “The parties settled and agreed to penalties, but did not admit to violations of the Shipping Act or commission regulations,” the FMC said.