OOCL Appeals $45 Million FMC Judgment in High-Stakes Pandemic Shipping Case

By Alexander Whiteman (The Loadstar) – Shippers will be watching with bated breath following OOCL’s decision to challenge the record $45m fine it was handed by the US Federal Maritime Commission (FMC).

The carrier is appealing not only against the amount of the reparation, but the FMC’s jurisdiction to hear the case.

Last month, the regulator hit the carrier with the fine after finding in favour of bankrupt US shipper Bed, Bath and Beyond’s administrator’ Butterfly-1, which claimed OOCL’s service during the pandemic was not in accord “with service contracts or refusal to deal”.

The Chinese box line has responded with