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Maersk to Weigh ‘Next Steps’ After FMC Ups Penalty to $17.6 Million

Maersk, which owns German container shipper Hamburg Sud, is “disappointed” that the Federal Maritime Commission ordered Hamburg Sud to pay $17.6 million to Florida-based e-commerce business OJ Commerce for Shipping Act violations, a Maersk spokesperson said Aug. 29.

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Maersk “will be evaluating the decision and next steps,” the spokesperson said.

While the FMC affirmed an administrative law judge’s ruling last year that Hamburg Sud violated the Shipping Act’s anti-retaliation provision and refused to fulfill contact terms (see 2306080062), the FMC added $7.8 million to the $9.8 million penalty levied by the judge, saying it conducted its own assessment of damages and came up with a higher total amount (see 2408280039). Hamburg Sud has denied it retaliated or refused to deal or negotiate.