FMC compromise agreements reach $680,000
The U.S. Federal Maritime Commission announced 10 ocean freight-related compromise agreements totaling $680,000 for alleged Shipping Act violations.
The largest compromise agreement involved Hong Kong-based non-vessel-operating common carrier Rich Shipping Co. Ltd. and its subsidiary Cargo Management International in Gardena, Calif. In their compromise with the FMC, CMI ceased operations and Rich Shipping agreed to pay a $300,000 civil penalty.
Italian NVOCC Embassy Cargo S.p.A. and its U.S. Embassey Cargo companies agreed to pay $75,000 and Shanghai Pudong Int’l Transportation Co. and Pudong Trans U.S.A. agreed to pay $70,000.
Other compromise agreements were:
* Gramter International (USA) Co. Ltd. in Inglewood, Calif., $45,000.
* Orient Star Transport International Ltd. of Hong Kong, $45,000.
* Tropical Shipping & Construction Co. Ltd. of Riviera Beach, Fla., and Tropical Shipping International in Opa Locka, Fla., $40,000.
* Dynalink Systems of Inglewood, Calif., $40,000.
* Alspac Miami Corp. in Miami and Alspac Internationales & Agenciamento, Ltda of Sao Paulo, Brazil, $25,000.
* Famous Target Logistics of Jamaica, N.Y., $20,000.
* JIB Trucking Service Corp. in Elizabeth, N.J., $20,000.
Shipping Act violations ranged from alleged cargo misdescriptions and lack of published tariffs to unlawful service contract access and lack of proper licensing. None of companies that agreed to the compromise agreements admitted to these violations.