FMC Law Judge Fines MSC $16M for Shipping Act Violations
A Federal Maritime Commission administrative law judge ordered Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) Feb. 25 to pay about $16 million in civil penalties for violating U.S. shipping laws.
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The FMC’s enforcement bureau had proposed a $63.2 million penalty for MSC, alleging the Switzerland-based ocean carrier used “overbroad” merchant clauses in its bills of lading, billed incorrect rates for certain containers and failed to publish certain container tariff rates, causing "obscurity" and "uncertainty" for shippers (see 2404100065).
MSC, which had no immediate comment on the judge's 51-page decision, has denied wrongdoing. It called the $63.2 million figure "excessive and unlawful" and suggested that a penalty of about $2 million to $3 million was more appropriate (see 2405060044).