FMC reaches settlements with six companies

FMC reaches settlements with six companies    The Federal Maritime Commission said it has executed compromise agreements with six companies, recovering $218,750 in civil penalties.
   The agreements were reached with a vessel-operating common carrier and five ocean transportation intermediaries and range from $100,000 to $15,000.
   Compromise agreements and amounts are:
   ' Network Shipping Ltd., Coral Gables, Fla. FMC staff allege the vessel-operator common carrier violated section 10(a)(2) of the Shipping Act by transporting empty refrigerated containers to Ecuador under an unfilled agreement. FMC staff further allege Network Shipping provided liner transportation that was not in accordance with the rates and charges set forth in its published tariff in the northbound trades from Ecuador. Network Shipping paid the FMC $100,000.
   ' JAK Holding Inc. a non-vessel-operating common carrier and freight forwarder doing business as Speedier Logistics. FMC staff alleged JAK Holding misdescribed commodities and improperly accessed service contracts to which it is not a signatory or affiliate in order to obtain transportation services at less than applicable rates and charges. JAK also allegedly violated section 10(b)(2)(A) of the Shipping Act by providing ocean transportation services other than at the rates or charges provided in its NVO's tariff. JAK Holding paid $33,750.
   ' Perfect Logistics, Torrance, Calif. FMC staff alleged the NVO violated section 10(a)(1) of the Shipping Act by misdescribing commodities it shipped, and by unlawfully accessing service contracts. Perfect Logistics paid $30,000.
   ' J & S Universal Services Inc., doing business as Patrick & Rosenfeld Shipping, and Ocean Cargo Logistics Group, both based in Miami. FMC staff allege they violated sections 8, 19(a) and 19(b) of the Shipping Act by acting as a NVO without obtaining a license as an ocean transportation intermediary (OTI) from the FMC. In addition, staff alleged J & S Universal and Ocean Cargo violated section 10(a)(1) of the Shipping Act. Ocean Cargo agreed to seek an FMC license to operate as an OTI at the earliest possible time. J & S Universal and Ocean Cargo paid $25,000.
   ' Awilda Shipping Inc., Corona, New York, allegedly acted as a NVO without obtaining a license as an OTI. It agreed to seek licensed OTI status at the earliest possible time and paid the FMC $15,000.
   ' Sifax Shipping, Houston, also allegedly acted as an OTI without obtaining a license and providing the FMC evidence of a freight forwarder bond, in violation of Sections 19(a) and (b) of the Shipping Act. Sifax Shipping paid the FMC $15,000.