Another Ro/Ro Operator Reaches Compromise Agreement with FMC

Compañía Sud Americana de Vapores S.A. (CSAV) entered into a compromise agreement with the U.S. Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) and agreed to pay a $625,000 civil penalty to resolve allegations that they violated the Shipping Act by acting in concert with other roll-on / roll-off operators, according to an FMC press release issued March 5, 2014. The announcement comes on the heels of a flurry of investigations into roll-on /roll-off operators in recent months, including CSAV’s own agreement with the Department of Justice. Roll-on / roll-off operators in particular need to exercise vigilance to ensure compliance with the Shipping Act and the anti-trust immunity it affords, or risk multimillion dollar civil and criminal penalties.