FMC rejects petition to pull Apparel Logistics’ OTI license
The U.S. Federal Maritime Commission has rejected a petition filed by Crowley Logistics and its subsidiary Apparel Transportation for the agency to pull the ocean transportation intermediary license of Apparel Logistics and to investigate the company’s “character” and intent in the market.
The petition alleged that Miami-based Apparel Logistics was “secretly incorporated” by former Apparel Transportation executive Manuel Lescano six days before Crowley Logistics bought Apparel Transportation on June 24, 2003.
Apparel Logistics rebuffed Crowley Logistics’ petition as an attempt to “thwart competition” in the marketplace, and asked the FMC to dismiss the case.
The FMC said Crowley Logistics and Apparel Transportation “failed to develop any evidence to show that the commission staff erred” in granting an OTI license to Apparel Logistics. “We find that an investigation is unwarranted, and therefore Crowley and Apparel Transportation’s petition is denied,” the agency said in a Dec. 23 order.