The Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) has recovered a total of $430,000 in civil penalties after completing several separate compromise agreements with various ocean freight companies. The agreed penalties resulted from investigations conducted by the Commission’s Area Representatives from around the country. The parties, seven non-vessel-operating common carriers (NVOCCs) and freight forwarders, settled and agreed to penalties, but did not admit to violations of the Shipping Act or the Commission’s regulations. Chairman Cordero stated:
“Fraud and commercial deception in the international shipping marketplace must be found and vigorously dealt with. These settlement agreements and the penalties collected demonstrate that the Commission remains committed to the difficult task of detecting threats to cargo security and the shipping public, both in the US and in locations abroad.”
Among those fined is Unipac Shipping – a licensed and bonded NVOCC and freight forwarder based in Diamond Bar, California. Commission staff alleged that Unipac Shipping violated section 10(a)(1) by obtaining transportation at less than applicable rates by means of accessing service contracts to which Unipac Shipping was not a party; Unipac Shipping also violated section 10(b)(2) by providing transportation other than in accordance with the rates and charges in its published tariff. Unipac Shipping paid $75,000 in compromise of these allegations.