FMC Assesses $4M Civil Penalty

An Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) at the Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) has assessed a civil penalty in the amount of $4,082,500 against Sea-Land Service, Inc. The fines were assessed after the carrier was found to have violated the Shipping Act of 1984 on 149 shipments by charging shippers the inapplicable rates on cargo in 20-foot containers when it moved the cargo in 40-foot containers. The assessment is an initial decision, to which exceptions may be filed. Docket No. 98-0