Ro/Ro Operator Pleads Guilty to Price-Fixing

The U.S. Department of Justice Antitrust Division issued a press release on February 27, 2014, announcing that Compañía Sud Americana de Vapores S.A. (CSAV) has agreed to plead guilty and to pay an $8.9 million criminal fine for its involvement in a conspiracy to fix prices, allocate customers, and rig bids for roll-on/roll-off cargo in the U.S. international trades in violation of the Sherman Act. The announcement comes on the heels of settlements between the Federal Maritime Commission and three other roll-on/roll-off carriers in the last several months for failures to file with the Commission agreements with other carriers. The prosecution underscores the importance of examining all arrangements with other carriers to ensure compliance with the Shipping Act and the antitrust immunity it affords.