NVOCCS pay the price
October 20, 2011
Ten non-vessel-operating common carriers (NVOCCs) have paid a total of $477,500 in penalties to settle cases brought against them by the US Federal Maritime Commission.
FMC investigators say violations of the Shipping Act included tariff undercharges, unlawful access to service contract rates, cargo misdescription and inflating the cubic measurements of certain cargo to obtain discounted rates from ocean carriers.
NVOCCs and carriers that settle with the FMC pay financial penalties but, as part of the settlement, admit no wrongdoing.
The operators cited included AE Eagle America ( paid $87,500), Ba-Shi Yuexin Development ($85,000), Ocean Marine Shipping ($70,000), SES International Express ($62,500), MB Logistics International ($50,000), Sinotrans Logistics ($50,000), Cargo Alliance ($40,000) and Orion Cargo Services($32,500).
