Hapag-Lloyd has been fined US$822,220 for wrongful detention and demurrage charges.
According to reports, The Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) found the German shipper had incorrectly applied the charges to 11 containers handled by California-based Golden State Logistics (GSL). The commission issued a $58,730 civil penalty for each one of 14 breaches of the US Shipping Act.
The FMC’s Bureau of Enforcement (BOE) said Hapag-Lloyd had ‘knowingly and wilfully’ applied the D&D charges, although GSL was unable to return the containers, despite its efforts to do so.
It originally claimed the punitive fines should amount to $16.5 because “a significant penalty is required to both deter Hapag-Lloyd’s violative behaviour and ensure future compliance”.