Shipping scrutiny will help hauliers
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• The dominance of the world's largest shipping lines will come under intense scrutiny in Brussels next week in a move which should please hardpressed container hauliers.
EU Commissioners are investigating whether the shipping lines, which carry around 6080% of the containers between the USA and Europe, have broken European law by abusing their dominant position through price fixing. The EC also argues that shipping lines have been wrong to extend their price fixing to the inland haulage legs of international journeys.
If the EC decides the shipping lines have been fixing prices they could be fined up to 10% of their annual turnover. EC insiders believe the Commissioners will take action.
The Court of First Instance, which forms part of the European Court of Justice, will rule on the issue around September. A ruling against the shipping lines would leave exporters and importers free to negotiate with individual shipping lines on the cost of their inland haulage.
It would also embarrass the 15 companies in question, which include P&O Nedlloyd, Maersk, Hapag-Lloyd, NYK, Sealand and Atlantic Container Lines. They all belong to the Trans Atlantic Conference Agreement (TACA), which allows them to charge fixed rates for sea journeys.
However, a shipping line spokesman insists: "There is no abuse of the dominant position. The record of meagre profits shows shipping lines aren't throwing money around like drunken sailors."