Mitsui O.S.K. Lines Ltd. (MOL) has agreed to pay $1,275,000 in penalties under a compromise agreement with the Federal Maritime Commission. The agreement between the FMC and MOL and its corporate affiliate Nissan Motor Car Carrier Co. (NMCC) resolves allegations that MOL and NMCC violated section 10(a) of the Shipping Act, 46 U.S.C. ยง 41102(b), by acting in concert with other ocean common carriers with respect to the shipment of automobiles and other motorized vehicles by RO/RO or specialized car carrier vessels, where such agreement(s) had not been filed with the FMC or become effective under the Shipping Act.
Commission staff alleged that these practices persisted over a period of several years and involved numerous U.S. trade lanes.