FMC Clears Tariff Files to Prevent Fraud

The Federal Maritime Administration’s cleaning of its ocean carrier tariff files may help prevent shippers from being scammed by an illegal carrier.

Forty-six vessel operators have until Dec. 22 to show why the commission shouldn’t remove them from its database of ocean carrier tariff web links. Removing the links will prevent unwary shippers from vessel operators and non-vessels operating common carriers that misrepresent themselves by citing the tariffs.

While most ocean carriage takes place under service contracts, carriers still must maintain a tariff at a web site that can be accessed by the public.

The list includes such companies as the Venezuelan Container Line, African Atlantic Lines, and the Pan Ocean Shipping Co. According to FMC records, all of them do not appear to be engaging in foreign commerce with the U.S., putting them outside the agency’s jurisdiction.

Contact R.G. Edmonson at bedmonson@joc.com. Follow him on Twitter @BobinWash.