JUSTICE DEPARTMENT PERMITS TOWING, BARGE COMPANIES TO TRADE INFORMATION

JUSTICE DEPARTMENT PERMITS TOWING, BARGE COMPANIES TO TRADE INFORMATION    The U.S. Justice Department said it will permit a proposed exchange of historical cost information among 10 towing and barge companies operating in the country’s waterways.
   The towing and barge companies plan to submit certain historical cost information to an independent third party, which will compile the data and distribute a statistical analysis to the firms in the form of a survey.
   The companies said the purpose of the survey would be to establish “benchmarks and best practices” so that each operator will be able to more efficiently identify those areas, which it could reduce costs, improve operations and improve customer service.
The 10 companies are Foss Maritime Co., Crescent Towing Co., Crowley Marine Services, Hawaii Tug and Barge, Intercoastal Towing Corp., Maritrans Operating Partners, McAllister Towing & Transportation, Moran Towing Corp., Penn Maritime, and Sause Bros. Ocean Towing.
   “The limited nature of the proposed cooperation — historic cost information on an aggregated basis with no discussion of pricing or other sales related conduct — should limit any risk that the data exchanged could lead to concerted pricing. The information exchanged should not have any anticompetitive effect,” said Charles A. James, assistant attorney general in charge of Justice’s antitrust division, in a business review letter.