Slight cost hikes account for inflation as required

The U.S. Federal Maritime Commission has adjusted its civil penalty amounts to account for inflation, as required annually by the 2015 Federal Civil Penalties Inflation Adjustment Act Improvements Act.    The U.S. Federal Maritime Commission has adjusted its civil penalties slightly upward to account for inflation, as required by the 2015 Federal Civil Penalties Inflation Adjustment Act Improvements Act.
   The 2015 Act requires that agencies adjust and publish their civil penalties by Jan. 15 each year. The civil penalty increases are effective on Feb. 7 and are applicable to violations starting Jan. 15, 2019.
   The FMC’s civil penalties, which cover per violation, include:
   • Adverse impact on U.S. carriers by foreign shipping practices, from $2,052,107 to $2,103,861;
   • Knowing and willful violation of the 1984 Shipping Act or commission regulation or order, from $58,562 to $60,039;
   • Violation of 1984 Shipping Act, commission regulation or order not knowing or willful, from $11,712 to $12,007;
   • Operating in foreign commerce after tariff suspension, from $117,125 to $120,079;
   • Failure to provide required reports (1920 Merchant Marine Act), from $9,239 to $9,472;
   • Adverse shipping conditions (1920 Merchant Marine Act), from $1,847,663 to $1,894,261;
   • Operating after tariff or service contract suspension (1920 Merchant Marine Act), from $92,383 to $94,713;
   • Failure to establish financial responsibility for non-performance of transportation, from $23,335,778 to $23,924,798;
   • Failure to establish financial responsibility for death or injury, from $23,335,778 to $23,924,798;
   • Making false claim (Program Fraud Civil Act), from $11,181 to $11,463;
   • And giving false statement (Program Fraud Civil Act), from $11,181 to $11,463.