Transport (maritime)

Dominance

 The Russian Presidium of the Supreme Court considers a competition case for the first time, granting the appeal of Europe’s largest port operator concerning sanctions for abuse of dominance (Novorossiysk Commercial Sea Port)
ALRUD (Moscow)
Russia 1 contribution 271 visits
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ALRUD (Moscow)
Russia 2 contributions 407 visits
THE FIRST COMPETITION CASE IN THE PRESIDIUM OF THE SUPREME COURT OF THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION – RESOLUTION OF THE DISPUTE BETWEEN THE FAS AND THE LARGEST STEVEDORE* Background and main problems Novorossiysk Commercial Sea Port PJSC (“NCSP”) is one of the Europe’s largest port operator in terms of (...)

The Indian Competition Authority opens an investigation into the abuse of dominance by an oil and natural gas company in the market for charter hire of offshore support vehicles (Indian National Shipowners’ Association / Oil and Natural Gas Corporation)
Vaish Associates Advocates (New Delhi)
India 263 contributions 41122 visits
CCI directs investigation against Oil and Natural Gas Limited (‘ONGC’) for abuse of dominant position* The CCI by way of an order dated June 12, 2018 has directed investigation under Section 26(1) of the Act against ONGC for abusing its dominant position in the relevant market for “charter hire (...)

The Italian Competition Authority fines two major ferry operators for abuse of dominance in the maritime transport market (CIN-Moby)
Municipality of Cagliari
159 contributions 131149 visits
The Italian Competition Authority (ICA) has closed by an infringement decision an Article 102 TFEU investigation against two major ferry operators, Compagnia Italiana di Navigazione (CIN) and Moby Spa (Moby), in the Case A487, Compagnia Italiana di Navigazione-Trasporto marittimo delle merci (...)

The Russian Competition Authority finds that a State-run undertaking abused its dominant position on the market of offering mooring in Moscow (Gormost)
Russian Federal Antimonopoly Service (Moscow)
France 327 contributions 54451 visits
Moscow fas found that “gormost” violated the antimonopoly law* The “Gormost” Procedure for concluding contracts created discriminatory conditions and could have restricted competition Moscow OFAS found that “Gormost” violated the antimonopoly law in the part of abusing dominance of a natural (...)

The Lithuanian Competition Authority terminates the investigation of alleged abuse of dominance in the maritime industry (Vakarų Laivų Gamykla)
Max Planck Institute for Innovation and Competition (Munich)
Germany 19 contributions 4440 visits
On 19 April 2016 the Competition Council terminated the investigation against AB “Vakarų Laivų Gamykla“ (AB VLG) with regard to an alleged infringement of Article 102 TFEU and Article 7 of the Law on Competition of the Republic of Lithuania. During the investigation, which the Competition Council (...)

The Indian Competition Authority opens an investigation into possible abuse of dominance by a seaport and coal terminal (Tamil Nadu Power Producers Association / Chettinad International Coal Terminal)
Vaish Associates Advocates (New Delhi)
India 263 contributions 41122 visits
CCI to investigate the Chettinad International Coal Terminal Pvt. Ltd. and Kamarajar Port Ltd. for alleged abuse of dominance* CCI by its order dated January 4, 2016 has initiated an investigation against Kamarajar Port Ltd. (the erstwhile Ennore Port) and Chettinad International Coal Terminal (...)

Mergers

 The Dutch Competition Authority identifies anticompetitive risks in a port towage joint venture which the companies later decided to dissolve (Svitzer / Iskes)
Netherlands Authority for Consumers & Markets- ACM (The Hague)
Netherlands 201 contributions 33271 visits
JOINT VENTURE PORT TOWAGE AMSTERDAM TO BE DISSOLVED, FOLLOWING AN INVESTIGATION OF ACM* Joint ventures cannot be used for circumventing competition rules. The Netherlands Authority for Consumers and Markets (ACM) investigated the joint venture Port Towage Amsterdam (PTA). This joint venture (...)

The Dutch Competition Authority confirms the commitment to dissolve the joint venture by two port towing undertakings (Port Towage Amsterdam)
Bird & Bird (The Hague)
Netherlands 11 contributions 4884 visits
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Bird & Bird (The Hague)
Netherlands 4 contributions 1258 visits
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Invest International (The Hague)
Netherlands 2 contributions 666 visits
…
PORT TOWING JOINT VENTURE DISSOLVED AFTER INVESTIGATION BY THE DUTCH COMPETITION AUTHORITY: FULL-FUNCTIONALITY QUESTIONED* Background On 20 December 2019, the Dutch Authority for Consumers & Markets (ACM) published a decision in which the commitment to dissolve the joint venture Port (...)

The EU Commission opens an in-depth investigation into a proposed merger in the maritime transport market (DSME / HHIH)
European Commission - DG COMP (Brussels)
Belgium 1296 contributions 2702769 visits
Mergers: Commission opens in-depth investigation into proposed acquisition of DSME by HHIH* The European Commission has opened an in-depth investigation to assess the proposed acquisition of Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering CO., Ltd (DSME) by another shipbuilding group, Hyundai (...)

The EU Commission opens in-depth investigation relating a merger in the global cruise shipbuilding market (Chantiers de l’Atlantique / Fincantieri)
European Commission - DG COMP (Brussels)
Belgium 1296 contributions 2702769 visits
Mergers: Commission opens in-depth investigation into proposed acquisition of Chantiers de l’Atlantique by Fincantieri* The European Commission has opened an in-depth investigation to assess the proposed acquisition of Chantiers de l’Atlantique by Fincantieri, under the EU Merger Regulation. The (...)

The US FTC challenges a merger due to the potential negative effects it caused in the market of marine water treatment for chemicals (Drew Marine Group / Wilhelmsen Maritime Services)
Secretariat Economists (Washington)
United States 2 contributions 485 visits
FTC ALLEGES "GLOBAL FLEETS" IN CHALLENGE TO WILHELMSEN’S ACQUISITION OF DREW MARINE* The Federal Trade Commission (“FTC”) recently issued an administrative complaint and amended complaint challenging the proposed acquisition of Drew Marine Group (“Drew”) by Wilhelmsen Maritime Services (...)

The US FTC issues an administrative complaint challenging a merger in the global fleet market which can increase the risk of price discrimination and reduce competition (Wilhelmsen Maritime / Drew Marine)
McDermott Will & Emery (Washington)
United States 2 contributions 198 visits
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McDermott Will & Emery (Washington)
United States 35 contributions 5702 visits
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) recently announced that it has challenged a merger between Wilhelmsen Maritime Services (Wilhelmsen) and Drew Marine Group (Drew) because of an overlap in service to “global fleet customers,” a narrow customer segment that purchases marine water treatment (...)

The EU Commission clears a merger subject to remedies in the container shipping services market (Hamburg Süd / Maersk Line)
European Commission - DG COMP (Brussels)
Belgium 1296 contributions 2702769 visits
MERGERS: COMMISSION APPROVES ACQUISITION OF HAMBURG SÜD BY MAERSK LINE, SUBJECT TO CONDITIONS* The European Commission has cleared under the EU Merger Regulation the proposed acquisition of container liner shipping company Hamburg Südamerikanische Dampfschifffahrts-Gesellschaft KG (HSDG) of (...)

The EU Commission clears a merger, subject to remedies, in the container liner shipping market (Hapag-Lloyd / UASC)
European Commission - DG COMP (Brussels)
Belgium 1296 contributions 2702769 visits
MERGERS: COMMISSION APPROVES CONTAINER LINER SHIPPING MERGER BETWEEN HAPAG-LLOYD AND UASC, SUBJECT TO CONDITIONS* The European Commission has cleared under the EU Merger Regulation the proposed acquisition of United Arab Shipping Company ("UASC") by Hapag-Lloyd of Germany, subject to (...)

The EU Commission clears, subject to remedies, a merger between two container liner shippers (CMA CGM / NOL)
European Commission - DG COMP (Brussels)
Belgium 1296 contributions 2702769 visits
MERGERS: COMMISSION APPROVES CONTAINER LINER SHIPPING MERGER BETWEEN CMA CGM AND NOL, SUBJECT TO CONDITIONS* The European Commission has cleared under the EU Merger Regulation the proposed acquisition of Neptune Oriental Lines ("NOL") of Singapore by rival CMA CGM, a French shipping company (...)

The UK Supreme Court confirms the Competition Authority’s decision to treat an acquisition of 3 ferries and related assets as a merger (Eurotunnel / SeaFrance / MyFerryLink)
UK Competition & Markets Authority - CMA (London)
United Kingdom 363 contributions 90595 visits
CMA welcomes Supreme Court judgment in Eurotunnel case* The CMA has welcomed the judgment by the Supreme Court to uphold its appeal in the Eurotunnel case. In the judgment handed down today, the Supreme Court has ruled that the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) took the correct approach (...)

The UK Supreme Court overturns the Competition Appeals Tribunal judgment on whether acquisition of assets upon liquidation is subject to merger control (Eurotunnel / SeaFrance / MyFerryLink)
Blackstone Chambers (London)
United Kingdom 23 contributions 5726 visits
Asset acquisitions and mergers: Eurotunnel in the Supreme Court*The Supreme Court’s recent decision in Eurotunnel II ([2015] UKHL 75) brings some much-needed clarity to what was becoming a rather opaque corner of the UK merger regime. It also contains statements of general principle which are (...)

The Italian Competition Authority conditionally clears a merger between two major ferry operators (Onorato Partcipazioni-Newco / Moby-Compagnia Italiana di Navigazione)
Municipality of Cagliari
159 contributions 131149 visits
Introduction By the decision made on 10 December 2015 in Onorato Partcipazioni-Newco/Moby-Compagnia Italiana di Navigazione (OP/Moby-CIN), the Italian Competition Authority (ICA) has conditionally cleared a concentration involving two major ferry operators active on maritime routes connecting (...)

The UK Competition and Markets Authority seeks permission to appeal to the Supreme Court on what constitutes an enterprise for the purposes of merger control (Eurotunnel / SeaFrance / MyFerryLink)
Simmons & Simmons (London)
United Kingdom 11 contributions 4140 visits
Unconvinced by the outcome of the Eurotunnel case, the CMA wants guidance from the Supreme Court on what constitutes an enterprise for the purposes of UK merger control. The CMA is seeking permission to appeal the Court of Appeal judgment of 15 May 2015 in the Eurotunnel case. That judgment (...)

The UK Competition Authority seeks permission to appeal in a case regarding trans-channel ferry transport services (Eurotunnel / SeaFrance / MyFerryLink)
UK Competition & Markets Authority - CMA (London)
United Kingdom 363 contributions 90595 visits
CMA SEEKS PERMISSION TO APPEAL IN EUROTUNNEL CASE * The CMA today announced that it will seek permission to appeal following last week’s Court of Appeal judgment in the Eurotunnel case. The judgment upheld a challenge to the Competition and Markets Authority’s (CMA) jurisdiction over (...)

The UK Court of Appeal rules on the concept of “enterprise” under UK merger control (Eurotunnel)
Herbert Smith Freehills (London)
United Kingdom 44 contributions 8566 visits
All views expressed are strictly personal views of the author. The present case note does not constitute legal advice and should not be relied on as such. On 15 May 2015, the Court of Appeal (by a 2:1 majority) upheld a challenge to the Competition Appeal Tribunal (the "CAT") ruling which (...)

The UK Court of Appeals brings some additional clarity on assets acquisition (Eurotunnel / SeaFrance)
Blackstone Chambers (London)
United Kingdom 23 contributions 5726 visits
Asset acquisitions revisited* Earlier this year, I suggested that the law on when an asset acquisition might amount to a merger was somewhat opaque. The Court of Appeal’s decision in Eurotunnel II [2015] EWCA Civ 487 has brought some additional clarity, although the messy procedural history of (...)

The UK Competition Appeal Tribunal upholds the merger decision of the Competition Authority in a maritime transport case (Eurotunnel / SeaFrance / MyFerryLink)
UK Competition & Markets Authority - CMA (London)
United Kingdom 363 contributions 90595 visits
The CMA has welcomed today’s judgment by the Competition Appeal Tribunal (CAT) to uphold the CMA’s decision to bar Eurotunnel from running its MyFerryLink service out of Dover, to safeguard competition.* The CAT’s judgment dismissed an appeal by Eurotunnel and Société Coopérative de Production de (...)

The UK Competition Appeal Tribunal upholds that when a company acquires assets that can potentially be turned into a business activity such an acquisition can be considered a merger (Eurotunnel / SeaFrance / MyFerryLink)
Blackstone Chambers (London)
United Kingdom 23 contributions 5726 visits
Eurotunnel: when buying assets is a merger* When is an asset acquisition a merger? As the Eurotunnel litigation shows, the answer is not clear-cut. The background is the 2011 liquidation of the cross-channel ferry company SeaFrance. It could not be sold as a going concern, so instead there (...)

State Aids

 The EU General Court provides further guidance concerning the concept of State aid in the context of fiscal measures favoring port authorities (Port autonome du Centre) (Port de Bruxelles) (Havenbedrijf Antwerpen)
Van Bael & Bellis (Brussels)
Belgium 152 contributions 32873 visits
On 20 September 2019, the General Court delivered three judgments (Cases T-673/17, Port autonome du Centre and de l’Ouest and Others v. Commission, T-674/17, Le Port de Bruxelles and Région de Bruxelles-Capitale v. Commission, T-696/17, Havenbedrijf Antwerpen and Maatschappij van de Brugse (...)

The EU Court of Justice holds that the EU rules do not impose time limitation rules when national courts deal with a claim for damages arising from non-notified aid (Fallimento Traghetti del Mediterraneo)
Maastricht University
Belgium 338 contributions 58545 visits
Article published on StateAidHub: http://stateaidhub.eu, republished in e-Competitions with the courtesy of the author. The original title of this article appears below the e-Competitions title. Authors are welcome to write an alternative article on this case/text, provided they have no (...)

The EU Court of Justice clarifies the concept of "existing aid" in a private enforcement case and holds that unlawful aid cannot be retroactively legalised under a limitation period that has lapsed (Fallimento Traghetti del Mediterraneo)
Willkie Farr & Gallagher (Paris)
France 14 contributions 22410 visits
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Shearman & Sterling (Brussels)
Belgium 2 contributions 935 visits
On January 23, 2019, the European Court of Justice (hereinafter the “Court” or the “ECJ”) handed down a preliminary ruling on the notion of “existing aid”. The Court held, in particular, that the circumstance where a new aid that becomes existing aid by virtue of the 10 years limitation period has (...)

The EU General Court annuls a Commission decision holding that public funding to an operator in a closed sector does not affect trade and therefore does not constitute State aid (Scandlines Danmark) (Stena Line)
Maastricht University
Belgium 338 contributions 58545 visits
Infrastructure Projects, State Guarantees and Distortion of Competition* State guarantees must be limited in duration and amount and the conditions for their mobilization must be defined in advance. Public funding to an operator in a closed sector does not affect trade and, therefore, does not (...)

The EU Commission finds no aid given to container terminal operators in Belgium’s Port of Antwerp (PSA Antwerp / Antwerp Gateway)
European Commission - DG COMP (Brussels)
Belgium 1296 contributions 2702769 visits
State aid: Commission finds no aid given to container terminal operators in Belgium’s Port of Antwerp* The European Commission has concluded that reductions in compensation payments granted by the state-owned Port of Antwerp to two container terminal operators were granted on market terms and (...)

The EU Commission approves under EU State aid rules the extension of the existing Danish tonnage tax scheme to additional types of vessels
European Commission - DG COMP (Brussels)
Belgium 1296 contributions 2702769 visits
State aid: Commission approves extension of Danish tonnage tax scheme to new types of vessels* The European Commission has approved under EU State aid rules the extension of the existing Danish tonnage tax scheme to additional types of vessels. This will encourage ship registration in Europe (...)

The EU General Court annuls an aid granted to an important project of common European interest as unconditional and unlimited guarantees are incompatible with the internal market (Øresund Link)
Maastricht University
Belgium 338 contributions 58545 visits
Article published on StateAidHub: http://stateaidhub.eu, republished in e-Competitions with the courtesy of the author. The original title of this article appears below the e-Competitions title. Authors are welcome to write an alternative article on this case/text, provided they have no (...)

The EU Commission confirms public funding for five ferry connections between Croatian islands and the mainland in line with EU State aid rules
European Commission - DG COMP (Brussels)
Belgium 1296 contributions 2702769 visits
State aid: Commission approves public funding for five ferry connections between Croatian islands and mainland* The European Commission has found Croatian plans to grant HRK 250 million (€34 million) to ensure regular ferry connections on five routes between Croatian islands and the mainland to (...)

The EU General Court confirms a Commission decision for the abolition of a sector specific tax exemption (Groningen Seaports)
Maastricht University
Belgium 338 contributions 58545 visits
Article published on StateAidHub: http://stateaidhub.eu, republished in e-Competitions with the courtesy of the author. The original title of this article appears below the e-Competitions title. Authors are welcome to write an alternative article on this case/text, provided they have no (...)

The EU General Court overturns the Commission’s decision that exclusive use of a port by a shipping company was not State aid, after finding the Commission failed to open a formal investigation and establish that the port owner acted as a private operator (Naviera Armas)
Maastricht University
Belgium 338 contributions 58545 visits
Article published on StateAidHub: http://stateaidhub.eu, republished in e-Competitions with the courtesy of the author. The original title of this article appears below the e-Competitions title. Authors are welcome to write an alternative article on this case/text, provided they have no (...)

The EU General Court affirms a Commission decision finding that Greek container terminal operators received incompatible State aid which must be recovered (Piraeus / Cosco)
Maastricht University
Belgium 338 contributions 58545 visits
* Article published on StateAidHub: http://stateaidhub.eu, republished in e-Competitions with the courtesy of the author. The original title of this article appears below the e-Competitions title. Authors are welcome to write an alternative article on this case/text, provided they have no (...)

The EU General Court clarifies the obligations of the Commission following a State aid annulment decision (SNCM)
European Commission - DG ENERGY (Luxembourg)
15 contributions 7149 visits
The judgments of the General Court of the EU of 6 July 2017, delivered in the cases France v Commission and Société nationale maritime Corse Méditerranée (SNCM) v Commission européenne, confirm the settled case-law of the Union judicature regarding the criterion of the private investor in a market (...)

The EU General Court affirms a Commission decision that compensation for public services and a capital increase granted by Sardinia to a maritime company is aid incompatible with the internal market (Regione autonoma della Sardegna)
Maastricht University
Belgium 338 contributions 58545 visits
* Article published on StateAidHub (click here). The original title of this article appears below the e-Competitions title. Authors are welcome to write an alternative article on this case/text, provided they have no relationships with a party or related third party. Article will need (...)

The EU General Court upholds a Commission decision that a French ferry company received incompatible aid which must be recovered, and clarifies the definition of a service of general economic interest (SNCM)
Maastricht University
Belgium 338 contributions 58545 visits
* Article published on StateAidHub: http://stateaidhub.eu, republished in e-Competitions with the courtesy of the author. The original title of this article appears below the e-Competitions title. Authors are welcome to write an alternative article on this case/text, provided they have no (...)

The EU General Court annuls the Commission’s decision finding Spain’s tax lease system constitutes illegal State aid (Spain / Lico Leasing / Pequeños y Medianos Astilleros Sociedad de Reconversión)
European Court of Justice (Luxembourg)
Luxembourg 4 contributions 1467 visits
The Spanish tax lease case: Identifying the beneficiary under the selectivity test in Fiscal aid schemes*In its judgment of 17 December 2015, Spain a.o./Commission the General Court once again annulled a Commission decision dealing with a fiscal State aid scheme on the grounds that the (...)

The EU General Court overturns a Commission finding that a Spanish tax lease system is illegal State aid (Spain / Lico Leasing / Pequeños y Medianos Astilleros Sociedad de Reconversión)
Maastricht University
Belgium 338 contributions 58545 visits
An Exception Is Not Necessarily Selective: The Case of the Spanish Tax Lease* An exception from a tax system is not selective if it is a priori open to any tax payer. Checks by tax authorities to ensure that a measure is applied correctly do not constitute exercise of administrative discretion (...)

The EU Commission finds that Hungarian investment in a port’s infrastructure is compatible State aid (Port of Baja)
Maastricht University
Belgium 338 contributions 58545 visits
*Article published on StateAidHub: http://stateaidhub.eu, republished in e-Competitions with the courtesy of the author. The original title of this article appears below the e-Competitions title. Authors are welcome to write an alternative article on this case/text, provided they have no (...)

The EU Commission finds that Greek tax measures that benefit a container terminal are incompatible with State aid rules (Piraeus / Cosco)
Maastricht University
Belgium 338 contributions 58545 visits
*Article published on StateAidHub: http://stateaidhub.eu, republished in e-Competitions with the courtesy of the author. The original title of this article appears below the e-Competitions title. Authors are welcome to write an alternative article on this case/text, provided they have no (...)

Regulations

 The Mexican Competition Authority issues the Ministry of Communications and Transports an opinion which recommends modifications to port law and other measures to promote competition in manoeuvre services
Mexican Competition Authority (Mexico City)
Mexico 130 contributions 25005 visits
COFECE RECOMMENDS MODIFICATIONS TO PORT LAW AND OTHER MEASURES TO PROMOTE COMPETITION IN MANOEUVRE SERVICES* The Federal Economic Competition Commission (COFECE or Commission) issued the Ministry of Communications and Transports (SCT for its initials in Spanish) and the respective commissions (...)

The Portuguese Competition Authority presents three recommendations to the Government and administrations to improve competition in the maritime ports sector
Portuguese Competition Authority (Lisbon)
Portugal 111 contributions 27460 visits
Ports: AdC presents three recommendations to the Government and administrations to improve competition in the sector * The Portuguese Competition Authority (Autoridade da Concorrência, AdC) recommends to the Government and port authorities the adoption of measures to promote competition in the (...)

The OECD holds a roundtable on competition issues in liner shipping
OECD - Competition Division (Paris)
France 311 contributions 1304277 visits
Executive summary, by the Secretariat * Considering the discussion at the roundtable, delegates’ written submissions, and the Secretariat’s background paper, several key points emerge: (1) Since its inception, the ocean liner shipping industry has been governed by the so-called “conferences” – (...)

The Australian Competition Authority issues a draft decision to accept commitments regarding port terminal services access (CBH)
Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (Canberra)
Australia 370 contributions 78202 visits
ACCC issues draft decision to approve CBH long term arrangements* The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission has issued a draft decision to accept Co-Operative Bulk Handling Limited’s (CBH) proposed 2014 Port Terminal Services Access Undertaking, subject to drafting amendments. The (...)

Anticompetitive practices

 The Italian Competition Authority opens an investigation against several shipping companies to assess an alleged agreement restricting competition in the market for the transport of flammable material and waste to and from the islands in the Gulf of Naples (Mediterranea Marittima / Servizi Marittimi Liberi Giuffré & Lauro / Medmar Navi / Tra.Spe.Mar / GML Trasporti Marittimi and Consorzio COTRASIR)
Italian Competition Authority (Rome)
Italy 64 contributions 16267 visits
ICA: investigation opened into an alleged anticompetitive agreement in the transport of fuel and waste to and from the Campanian Archipelago* On 14 January 2020, the Authority opened an investigation against the companies Mediterranea Marittima S.p.a., Servizi Marittimi Liberi Giuffré & (...)

The Spanish Competition Authority opens investigation into potential anticompetitive practices in the maritime transport of passengers and vehicles in the South of Spain (Algeciras / Ceuta)
European Commission
Belgium 45 contributions 20356 visits
,
Gómez-Acebo & Pombo (Brussels)
United States 51 contributions 27474 visits
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Basic-Fit (Hoofddorp)
Netherlands 45 contributions 20331 visits
The Spanish Competition and Markets Authority, CNMC, is investigating whether a number of companies active in maritime transport between Algeciras and Ceuta may be in breach of article 1 of the Spanish Competition Act (‘LDC’) and article 101 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the EU (‘TFEU’). (...)

The French Competition Authority carries out unannounced inspections in the port service activities sector in the Mayotte island
French Competition Authority (Paris)
France 727 contributions 380382 visits
Dawn raids in Mayotte* The General Rapporteur of the Autorité de la concurrence indicates that unannounced inspections have been carried out in the port service activities sector in the Longoni port (Mayotte island). Following authorisation from the liberty and custody judge, the investigation (...)

The Spanish Competition Authority seeks a preliminary ruling on the framework agreement for the dock work sector
European Commission
Belgium 45 contributions 20356 visits
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Gómez-Acebo & Pombo (Brussels)
United States 51 contributions 27474 visits
,
Basic-Fit (Hoofddorp)
Netherlands 45 contributions 20331 visits
In Spain, the dock work sector has been traditionally regulated by Royal Decree 2/1986. This Decree provided special sectorial rules, including the obligation to hire workers from the port docker management limited companies (“Sociedades Anónimas de Gestión de Estibadores Portuarios” or “SAGEP”) (...)

The Spanish Competition Authority seeks a preliminary ruling from the CJEU in connection with the framework agreement for the cargo handling sector (Acuerdo Marco de la Estiba)
Callol, Coca & Asociados (Madrid)
Spain 169 contributions 45152 visits
The CNMC has requested a preliminary ruling from the CJEU on the legality of the proposed stevedoring framework agreement, within the context of the ongoing investigation launched by the said Authority in November 2017 (file S/DC/0619/17, Acuerdo Marco de la Estiba). The move is remarkable, (...)

The Belgian Competition Authority closes several inquiries concerning restrictive practices in the travel sector and the freight handlers in the Flemish ports
Belgian Competition Authority (Brussels)
Belgium 95 contributions 21349 visits
The Investigation and Prosecution Service of the Belgian Competition Authority has closed several inquiries concerning restrictive practices on the one hand the travel sector and on the other hand the freight handlers in the Flemish ports* In the course of 2006, the College of Competition (...)

The Ankara Seventh Administrative Court annuls the Turkish Competition Authority’s dismissal decision regarding the restriction of parallel imports allegations faced by a company in the market of energy systems (Arti Marin / Mastervolt / Eltesan)
ELIG Gürkaynak Attorneys-at-Law (Istanbul)
France 162 contributions 75376 visits
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ELIG Gürkaynak Attorneys-at-Law (Istanbul)
Turkey 22 contributions 5344 visits
The Ankara 7th Administrative Court (“Court”) annulled the dismissal decision of the Turkish Competition Board (“Board”) concerning the allegations that Mastervolt International Holding B.V. (“Mastervolt”) and its exclusive distributor in Turkey, Artı Marin Elektrik Dış Tic. Ltd. Şti. (“Artı Marin”), (...)

The EU Commission invites stakeholders to comment on the legal framework exempting liner shipping consortia from EU antitrust rules
European Commission - DG COMP (Brussels)
Belgium 1296 contributions 2702769 visits
Antitrust: Commission invites comments on future regime for liner shipping consortia* The European Commission is inviting comments on the legal framework exempting liner shipping consortia from EU antitrust rules that prohibit anticompetitive agreements between companies, known as the (...)

The Spanish Competition Authority fines six cargo handling companies and five trade unions for entering into anticompetitive agreements (Port of Vigo)
European Commission
Belgium 45 contributions 20356 visits
,
Gómez-Acebo & Pombo (Brussels)
United States 51 contributions 27474 visits
,
Basic-Fit (Hoofddorp)
Netherlands 45 contributions 20331 visits
Six cargo handling companies and five trade unions have been fined by the Spanish Competition Authority (“CNMC”) for concluding agreements that restricted competition in the Port of Vigo (Spain), increased prices and decreased competitiveness. The fines amount to EUR 3 million for the cargo (...)

The EU Commission fines maritime car carriers and car parts suppliers in three separate cartel cases (MOL / NYK / K Line / Wwl-Eukor / Csav) (Denso / Bosch / NGK) (TRW / Continental)
European Commission - DG COMP (Brussels)
Belgium 1296 contributions 2702769 visits
Antitrust: Commission fines maritime car carriers and car parts suppliers a total of €546 million in three separate cartel settlements* In three separate decisions, the European Commission has fined four maritime car carriers €395 million, two suppliers of spark plugs €76 million, and two (...)

The EU Commission fines €546 million two maritime car carriers and four car parts suppliers in three separate cartel settlements (MOL / NYK / "K" Line / Wwl-Eukor / Csav / Denso / Bosch / NGK / TRW / Continental)
European Commission
Belgium 45 contributions 20356 visits
,
Gómez-Acebo & Pombo (Brussels)
United States 51 contributions 27474 visits
,
Basic-Fit (Hoofddorp)
Netherlands 45 contributions 20331 visits
Four maritime car carriers, two suppliers of spark plugs and two suppliers of braking systems have been fined EUR 395 million, EUR 76 million and EUR 75 million respectively, in the framework of three separate cartel settlement decisions adopted by the European Commission. With regard to the (...)

The Hong Kong Competition Authority issues a block exemption order for vessel sharing agreements in the liner shipping industry (Hong Kong Liner Shipping Association)
Hong Kong Competition Commission (Hong Kong)
Hong Kong 47 contributions 10019 visits
Competition Commission issues block exemption order for vessel sharing agreements in the liner shipping industry* The Competition Commission (Commission) today (8 August 2017) issued a block exemption order (BEO) under section 15 of the Competition Ordinance (Ordinance) for vessel sharing (...)

The US Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit affirms the dismissal of an antitrust counterclaim in a labor dispute (ICTSI Oregon / International Longshore and Warehouse Union / Pacific Maritime Association)
McDermott Will & Emery (Washington)
United States 35 contributions 5702 visits
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Milbank (London)
United Kingdom 21 contributions 11992 visits
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McDermott Will & Emery (Dusseldorf)
Germany 16 contributions 6385 visits
…
On July 24, 2017, the US Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit affirmed the dismissal of an antitrust counterclaim brought by ICTSI Oregon, Inc. (ICTSI), the operator of a marine shipping facility, against the International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) and the Pacific Maritime (...)

The Dutch Competition Authority sends a letter explaining the basic rules regarding fair competition to over 3,500 companies operating in the ports of Amsterdam and Rotterdam
Netherlands Authority for Consumers & Markets- ACM (The Hague)
Netherlands 201 contributions 33271 visits
ACM calls port industry’s attention to competition rules* The Netherlands Authority for Consumers and Markets (ACM) has sent a letter explaining the basic rules regarding fair competition to over 3,500 businesses based in Amsterdam and Rotterdam that are active in the ports of those cities. ACM (...)

The EFTA Surveillance Authority closes investigation into alleged abuse of dominant position by ferry operator and municipality (Color Line / Sandefjord Municipality)
European Commission - DG COMP (Brussels)
Belgium 715 contributions 216837 visits
ESA closes Color Line and Sandefjord investigation* On 20 December 2016, the EFTA Surveillance Authority (“ESA”) closed an investigation of the ferry company Color Line and the municipality of Sandefjord in Norway. The parties have ended practices alleged to be in breach of the EEA competition (...)

The Romanian Competition Authority fines seven companies in the maritime pilotage and towage services market for prohibited agreements and abuse of dominance by incumbent national company (Canal Sea Services / CNAPM)
European Commission - DG COMP (Brussels)
Belgium 715 contributions 216837 visits
Competition Council applies fines on seven companies active in the Romanian maritime harbours* The Competition Council finalised the investigation on the markets for pilotage and towage services and found an infringement of Article 101 TFEU and Article 5(1) of the Competition Law by Canal Sea (...)

The EU Commission accepts commitments by 14 shipping liner companies to change their practices concerning announcements of intended price increases for containerised shipping services (Liner Shipping case)
McDermott Will & Emery (Brussels)
Belgium 42 contributions 7200 visits
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McDermott Will & Emery (Paris)
France 122 contributions 63520 visits
EUROPEAN COMMISSION CHALLENGES PUBLIC PRICE ANNOUNCEMENTS BY SHIPPING LINER COMPANIES* On 7 July 2016, the European Commission adopted a decision accepting commitments by 14 shipping liner companies to change their practices concerning announcements of intended price increases for (...)

The EU Commission accepts remedies proposed by container liner shipping companies on price transparency (CMA CGM)
European Commission - DG COMP (Brussels)
Belgium 1296 contributions 2702769 visits
Antitrust: Commission accepts commitments by container liner shipping companies on price transparency* The European Commission has adopted a decision that renders legally binding the commitments offered by fourteen container liner shipping companies. The commitments aim to increase price (...)

The EFTA Surveillance Authority invites comments on commitments offered by Norwegian undertakings to address the authority’s competition concerns on the Sandefjord-Strömstad ferry route (Color Line / Sandefjord Municipality)
European Commission - DG COMP (Brussels)
Belgium 715 contributions 216837 visits
EFTA Surveillance Authority invites comments on commitments offered on Sandefjord - Strömstad ferry route* Following the opening of antitrust proceedings by the EFTA Surveillance Authority in March 2015 against the ferry company Color Line AS and the Municipality of Sandefjord in Norway, the (...)

The EU Commission launches a market test on commitments offered by container liner shipping companies (CMA CGM)
European Commission - DG COMP (Brussels)
Belgium 1296 contributions 2702769 visits
Antitrust: Commission seeks feedback on commitments offered by container liner shipping companies* The European Commission is inviting comments from interested parties on commitments offered by fifteen container liner shipping companies to address concerns relating to concerted practices. The (...)

The Chinese NDRC fines shipping companies for price-fixing (EUKOR / Wallenius Wilhelmsen Logistics / Eastern Car Liner / Mitsui)
Robert Connolly Law (Philadelphia)
United States 22 contributions 4860 visits
China Fines 7 Shipping Companies $65 Million* Shipping cartels have been a frequent target of prosecution by the Antitrust Division of the United States Department of Justice. The rules around shipping cartels can be confusing because certain joint pricing activity can be legal and there are (...)

The Lithuanian Supreme Administrative Court reduces fine in the shipbrokers cartel case (Lithuanian Shipbrokers Association)
ESG Legal (Vilnius)
Lithuania 13 contributions 8170 visits
On 4 March 2015, Lithuanian Supreme administrative Court issued the second decision in the Lithuanian Shipbrokers and Agents Association cartel case. In 2011, the Competition Council of the Republic of Lithuania fined the Lithuanian Shipbrokers and Agents Association (the Association) and 32 (...)

The Italian Competition Authority fines several firms for breaching a previous commitment decision and cartelizing the maritime links across the Gulfs of Naples and Salerno (Organizzazione Servizi Marittimi nel Golfo di Napoli)
Municipality of Cagliari
159 contributions 131149 visits
By a decision made on 28 January 2015 in the case Organizzazione Servizi Marittimi nel Golfo di Napoli (Gulf of Naples) the Italian Competition Authority (ICA) has imposed fines in excess of € 14 million on seven ferry operators (Alilauro, Alilauro Gruson, SLMGL, NLG, SNAV and Medmar Navi), two (...)

The US DoJ secures a second plea deal with a member of the international shipping cartel for roll-on, roll-off cargo (Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha)
McDermott Will & Emery (Washington)
United States 16 contributions 2993 visits
On September 26, 2014 Japanese transportation company Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha Ltd. (K-Line) agreed to plead guilty to price fixing, bid rigging and allocating customers for international ocean shipping services for “roll-on, roll-off” cargo. K-Line will be fined $67.7 million. Roll-on, roll-off (...)

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