The Hellenic Competition Commission imposed fines of $4.4 million on six tugboat companies after a probe into alleged market collusion.
The companies admitted to carrying out an “objectively illegal partnership.” The statute does not allow companies to engage in price-fixing, limiting market supply, dividing up markets, or refusing to trade for the purpose of limiting competition.
The firms also admitted that there may also have been a possible violation of EU Article 101(1) TFEU, which prohibits “concerted practices affecting trade between EU countries which could prevent, restrict or distort competition.”
As for the commission, it said that the partnership’s goal was “the limitation of competition and specifically the allocation of the market and the determination of prices (discounts)” for the provision of towing services. The scope included dry cargo and oil tanker traffic at Thessaloniki and Kavala, as well as oil tanker traffic at Attica.”
After the administrative dispute settlement, the total fine came to about $4.4 million.
