TRANSPACIFIC CARRIERS MAY FACE FMC FINES

   A newly released Federal Maritime Commission report could lead to fines
against transpacific carriers accused of discriminating against small
shippers and non-vessel-operating common carriers.
   The FMC released an edited version of a report which found that
transpacific carriers used an eastbound capacity crunch last year to
squeeze illegal premiums from customers.
   The commission gave the report to the FMC’s Bureau of Enforcement, which
will proceed against individual members of the Transpacific Stabilization
Agreement, a group of conference and non-conference lines.
   If the FMC acts against the carriers, they could be fined up to $5,000
per day of unwillful or unknowing violations, and up to $25,000 for each
day of willful violation.
   FMC member Del Won, who conducted the investigation that produced the
report, failed on a 2-2 vote to get the commission to expand the
investigation to include the TSA itself.
   Won said he was "disappointed" and "would have preferred that the FMC
take a much more aggressive position against the carriers as a group."