[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 75 (Tuesday, April 20, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 19359-19360]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-9855]


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FEDERAL MARITIME COMMISSION


Fact Finding Investigation No. 23--Ocean Common Carrier Practices 
in the Transpacific Trades; Amended Order of Investigation

    On September 21, 1998, pursuant to the Shipping Act of 1984, 46 
U.S.C. app. 1701 et seq. (``Act''), the Federal Maritime Commission 
(``Commission'') commenced this nonadjudicatory fact finding proceeding 
to investigate allegations that ocean common carriers in the eastbound 
Transpacific trades were engaging in activities that may be in 
violation of certain provisions of the Act. Commissioner Delmond J.H. 
Won was appointed as Investigative Officer and was authorized to hold 
hearings and to utilize compulsory processes, including subpoenas, to 
obtain relevant testimony and documents. Commissioner Won conducted an

[[Page 19360]]

expedited investigation and submitted a confidential Report and 
Recommendations (``Report'') to the Commission on January 5, 1999.
    A summary of Commissioner Won's Report was released to the public 
on March 12, 1999. Generally, as indicated by the summary, evidence 
cited in the Report corroborates allegations that carriers in the 
eastbound Transpacific trades, faced with shortages of space during the 
peak 1998 holiday shipping season, refused to carry low rated cargo at 
applicable rates, targeted the cargo of non-vessel-operating common 
carriers (``NVOCCs'') for rate and space discrimination, and imposed 
significant and sudden increases in rates and charges. Among other 
things, the Report indicates that space was allocated in many instances 
on the basis of profit to the carrier; and that bookings were often 
rejected unless the shipper agreed to significantly increased rates or 
charges. Large, reliable contract shippers were said generally to have 
received preferential space allocations.
    The Commission has determined to pursue certain of the Report's 
findings through further investigation and enforcement action under 
sections 8, 10 and 11 of the Act, as appropriate. To facilitate such 
further investigation, the Commission is continuing this proceeding to 
assist in developing additional evidence concerning the activities of 
ocean common carriers listed in Appendix A hereto during the period 
July 1, 1998 to November 1, 1998 in the eastbound Transpacific trades, 
and related to the following issues:
    1. Refusing to provide vessel space or equipment to shippers under 
existing service contract rates;
    2. Demanding or charging rates higher than those set forth in 
applicable tariffs or service contracts;
    3. Subjecting any particular non-vessel-operating common carrier 
(``NVOCC'') or NVOCC traffic generally, to any unreasonable refusal to 
deal, to any undue or unreasonable prejudice or disadvantage, or to 
unjustly discriminatory rates or charges; and
    4. Transporting cargo for, or soliciting service contracts from, 
individual members of shippers' associations at rates higher than those 
found in existing contracts of the applicable associations.
    In addition, the Commission is designating Vern W. Hill, Director, 
Bureau of Enforcement, as the Investigative Officer for the continued 
phase of this proceeding. Mr. Hill will have all of the powers formerly 
delegated to Commissioner Delmond Won to pursue the issues set forth 
above.
    Interested persons are invited and encouraged to contact the 
Investigative Officer named herein, at (202) 523-5783 (Phone) or (202) 
523-5785 (Fax), should they wish to provide testimony or evidence, or 
to contribute in any other manner to the development of a complete 
factual record in this proceeding.
    Therefore, it is ordered, That pursuant to sections 8, 10, 11, 12 
and 15 of the Shipping Act of 1984, 46 U.S.C. app. 1707, 1709, 1710, 
1711 and 1714, and part 502, Subpart R of Title 46 of the Code of 
Federal Regulations, 46 CFR 502.281, et seq., this nonadjudicatory 
investigation into practices of ocean common carriers in the 
Transpacific trades is continued in order to develop the issues set 
forth above and to provide a basis for any subsequent regulatory, 
adjudicatory or injunctive action by the Commission.
    It is further ordered, That the Investigative Officer shall be Vern 
W. Hill, Esq., Director, Bureau of Enforcement, of the Commission. The 
Investigative Officer shall be assisted by staff members as may be 
assigned by the Commission's Managing Director and shall have full 
authority to hold public or non-public sessions, to resort to all 
compulsory process authorized by law (including the issuance of 
subpoenas ad testificandum and duces tecum), to administer oaths, to 
require reports, and to perform such other duties as may be necessary 
in accordance with the laws of the United States and the regulations of 
the Commission;
    It is further ordered, That the Investigative Officer shall issue a 
report of findings and recommendations no later than 180 days after 
publication of this Order in the Federal Register, and interim reports 
if it appears that more immediate Commission action is necessary, such 
reports to remain confidential unless and until the Commission provides 
otherwise;
    It is further ordered, That this proceeding shall be discontinued 
upon acceptance of the final report of findings and recommendations by 
the Commission, unless otherwise ordered by the Commission; and
    It is further ordered, That notice of this Order be published in 
the Federal Register.

    By the Commission.
Bryant L. VanBrakle,
Secretary.

Appendix A

Ocean Common Carriers

APL Co. PTE, Ltd. (``APL'')
American President Lines, Ltd. (``APL'')
A.P. Moller-Maersk Line (``Maersk'')
COSCO Container Lines, Ltd. (``COSCO'')
Evergreen Marine Corp. (Taiwan) Ltd. (``Evergreen'')
Hanjin Shipping Co., Ltd. (``Hanjin'')
Hapag-Lloyd Container Linie GmbH (``Hapag-Lloyd'')
Hyundai Merchant Marine Co., Ltd. (``Hyundai'')
Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha, Ltd. (``K-Line'')
Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd. (``MOL'')
Nippon Yusen Kaisha (``NYK'')
Orient Overseas Container Line, Inc. (``OOCL'')
P&O Nedlloyd B.V. (``P&O Nedlloyd'')
P&O Nedlloyd Ltd. (``P&O Nedlloyd'')
Sea-Land Service, Inc. (``Sea-Land'')
Yangming Marine Line (``Yangming'')

[FR Doc. 99-9855 Filed 4-19-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6730-01-M