EU Commission investigates container shipping lines

OOCL says it is in compliance with EU competition legislation and is cooperating fully with the Commission in the investigation.

This is an industry-wide investigation, and the Commission has confirmed it conducted unannounced inspections at the premises of companies active in the container liner shipping in several EU Member States.

The Commission has reason to believe that the companies concerned may have violated the antitrust rules that prohibit cartels and restrictive business practices and/or abuse of a dominant market position. The investigation covers the period from late-2008, when the ban on liner shipping conferences became effective.

While the Commission declined to name the companies under investigation, the New York Times reports that Commission officials were at AP Moller-Maersk’s HQ in Copenhagen, and had "raided" Geneva-based Mediterranean Shipping’s Antwerp offices.

According to Reuters, other companies being investigated include France’s CMA CGM, Germany’s Hapag-Lloyd and Asian shipping lines Neptune Orient Lines, Orient Overseas, Evergreen Marine and Hanjin Shipping.

The Commission points out that unannounced inspections are a preliminary step into suspected anticompetitive practices, and the fact that such inspections have taken place does not mean that the companies are guilty of anti-competitive behaviour, nor does it prejudge the outcome of the investigation itself. The Commission respects the rights of defence, in particular the right of companies to be heard in antitrust proceedings.