Sudden! MSC accused of violating maritime law

Recently, the US Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) launched a fierce attack on Mediterranean Shipping Corporation (MSC), the world's largest liner company, accusing it of seriously violating the US Maritime Transport Act in its billing methods.

FMC claimed that MSC's billing method was to seize unfair benefits at the expense of customers' interests, so it asked the judge to impose a fine of up to 63,256,853 US dollars (equivalent to about 460 million yuan) on it.

The U.S. Federal Maritime Commission began in August 2023. After months of in-depth investigation, FMC investigators reached a conclusion on MSC's billing method in early February this year and submitted a detailed 87-page report.

In the report, FMC clearly pointed out that the core of this lawsuit is that MSC's billing method has serious violations, which lead MSC to seize unfair benefits at the expense of customers' interests. The most serious violation is the excessive charging of non-operating refrigerators.

FMC emphasized that for many years, MSC has failed to publish the lag and demurrage rates of non-operating reefers as required, and called the overcharged fees as billing errors. MSC has never voluntarily refunded these fees, and will only refund them when customers question them.

FMC stated that this investigation fully proves that the penalty of approximately US $63.3 million is reasonable and necessary. However, MSC has not yet responded positively to this allegation. It is widely expected that MSC may choose to appeal to protect its rights. How this legal battle will end remains to be seen. 

突发！MSC被指控违反海运法

       近日，美国联邦海事委员会（FMC）向全球最大班轮公司地中海航运（MSC）发起了猛烈的攻击，指责其在计费方式上严重违反了美国的《海运法》。

       FMC声称，MSC的这种计费方式是以牺牲客户利益为代价，攫取了不公平的利益，因此要求法官对其处以高达63,256,853美元（折合人民币约4.6亿元）的罚款。

       美国联邦海事委员会在2023年8月开始，经过长达数月的深入调查，FMC的调查人员于今年2月初得出了对MSC计费方式的调查结论，并提交了一份详尽的87页报告。

       在报告中，FMC明确指出，本次诉讼的核心在于MSC的计费方式存在严重的违规行为，这些行为导致MSC以牺牲客户利益为代价，攫取了不公平的利益。其中最严重的违规行为是对非营运冷箱过度收费。

       FMC强调，多年来，MSC一直未能按规定公布非营运冷箱的滞箱和滞期费率，并将因此产生的多收的费用称为计费错误。MSC从未主动退还这些费用，只有在客户质疑这些费用时，才会进行退款。

       FMC表示，这次调查充分证明了约6330万美元的处罚是合理且必要的。然而，对于这一指控，MSC尚未做出正面回应。外界普遍预期，MSC可能会选择上诉来维护其权益。这场法律战究竟会如何收场，仍有待观察。