News
China’s Ministry of Transport have imposed a total fine of 4.25 million yuan (approximately \75.65 million) on 21 compatriot, Hong Kong, Taiwanese, South Korea and Singapore shipping lines providing container services on the route between China and Japan. Beijing suspected the 21 carriers had violated the Regulations of People’s Republic of China on International Maritime Transportation, which prohibit ocean freight carriers from soliciting business by offering rates lower than the current market prices. The fines have been paid to Beijing’s national treasury.
The companies fined include Cheng Lie Navigation, Centrans International Shipping, China Shipping Container Lines (CSCL), C.K. Line, Dong Jin, Evergreen Line, Goto Shipping, HASCO, Interasia Lines Singapore, Sinotrans Container Lines, SITC, MCC Transport, OOCL, Qingdao Marine Noah's Ark Shipping, hanghai PANASIA, Shanghai Puhai, Sinokor, Sofast Shipping, T.S. Lines, Wan Hai Lines, and Yang Ming Marine Transport,
Over a period from July to December last year, the ministry investigated China-Japan container service operators in accordance with the regulations to find out whether or not they were offering zero or negative freights. As a consequence, it took an administrative measure against the 21 carriers for submitting false information, which led to imposing the fine on them.
To keep an eye more strictly on shipping lines doing business between China and Japan, the Ministry of Transport unveiled a list of those on which the administrative punishment had been imposed, and require oceangoing carriers to report appropriate freight rates and to charge the rates they report to promote the fair and sound development of the shipping market.
