Mediterranean Shipping Company said today it was shocked to learn of the accusations made by MCS Industries and the complaint filed by MCS Industries with the FMC, a notice of which was published by the FMC on August 3. (See MM August 4)

MSC received no formal complaint by MCS Industries in advance of the filing, or in relation to the subsequent accusations made in the media, many of which remain vague and unsubstantiated and are incorrectly targeted at MSC.

While MSC is still studying some of the contents of this particular complaint, the company does not recognise the alleged shortcomings in booking the cargo allocations provided for this shipper. Furthermore, MSC is not illegitimately selling space allotted to MCS Industries under its service contracts to other shippers.

 MSC also rejects the accusation of collusion between carriers put forward in the complaint. MSC and the shipping line COSCO are not in the same container-carrying alliance and as such have no operational cooperation by way of Vessel Sharing Agreement (VSA) or Slot Charter Agreement (SCA) anywhere in the world.

MSC continues to make great efforts to provide its customers with continued service during extraordinary market conditions and will engage through appropriate channels and official processes, as required, with a view to refuting baseless claims and providing accurate sets of facts.  MSC is also reviewing whether, when viewed against the true facts, any of the allegations amount to defamation. (Photo MSC)