EC launches investigation into container lines to see if they colluded on GRIs

22/11/2013

The European Commission has begun formal proceedings into “several major container shipping lines” to investigate whether they broke antitrust regulations in the announcement of general rate increases.

The investigation follows a series of raids on the European headquarters of 14 carriers more than two years ago. They included Maersk, CMA CGM, Hapag-Lloyd, Hamburg Süd, NOL, Hanjin, Evergreen and Cosco among others.

The EC investigators were acting on shipper allegations that lines could be colluding on freight rates.

Maersk Line has released a statement ...

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Narasimhan Sundapalayam
November 23, 2013 at 8:12 am
Gavin,

Have you done follow-up on the P3 Regulators’ Summit? If I remember correct, 11th Nov. was the last date for comments to be submitted to the FMC.

Secondly, since Maersk is the leader of the P3 (by virtue of vessel slots, will this EC investigation have any relevance/impact on the P3? If so, will they initiate any suo moto action or wait for a complaint from the affected parties (shippers/forwarders..) as required broadly under the BER?

Nothing is still known from the Chinese Front?

Thanks and best of luck

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- Gavin van Marle
  November 25, 2013 at 10:23 am
  Narasimhan,
  
  No News on the regulators summit – certainly the call from the FMC went out, the EC regulators appeared to be disposed to the idea; I don’t think any public response has been received from the Chinese. What I heard though is that there doesn’t seem to be any real opposition to the alliance.
  
  In addition the FMC has extended the deadline for public submissions to November 29th, and if it doesn’t receive any objections the P3 could have approval by as early as December 8th.
  
  The EC investigation is entirely unconnected, and I expect Maersk (and MSC and CMA CGM, which are both also subject to it) would reiterate that that sto customers and regulators alike.
  
  Kind regards,
  Gavin
  
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