CSAV to Pay Another $625,000 to Settle Shipping Act Violations for Ro-Ro Cargo Price Fixing
The Federal Maritime Commission will tack on an additional $625,000 on top of the $9.8 million that shipping company Compañía Sud Americana de Vapores has agreed to pay to settle charges of price fixing on roll-on, roll-off (ro-ro) cargo shipping services. The FMC penalty will resolve allegations that CSAV violated the Shipping Act by acting in concert with other ocean common carriers under unfiled agreements.
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According to an earlier announcement from the Justice Department, CSAV allocated customers and routes, rigged bids and fixed prices for the sale of international ocean shipping services of inbound and outbound ro-ro cargo, such as cars and trucks, including at the Port of Baltimore (see 14022829). DOJ said CSAV participated in the conspiracy from at least January 2000 to September 2012. The $9.8 million plea deal with DOJ announced on Feb. 28, which DOJ says is the first in a wide-ranging investigation on price fixing of ocean shipping services, settles charges of Sherman Act anti-trust violations.
As part of its Shipping Act settlement with the FMC, CSAV agreed to provide ongoing cooperation with other FMC investigations or enforcement actions related to the price fixing conspiracy. CSAV did not admit to violations of the Shipping Act, said FMC.