Class has been rocked by a co-ordinated series of cartel-busting ‘dawn raids’ by European competition authorities investigating allegations of restrictive business practices.
Leading class societies, including those in Oslo, London, Paris and Genoa, were visited by inspectors probing claims they have restricted competition by collaborating through the International Association of Classification Societies. European Commission competition spokesman Jonathan Todd said: “We are investigating alleged restrictive business practices. That means cartels”. The raids mark an escalation of the fraught relationship that has existed between class and Brussels for many years, with regulators suspicious that the 10-member IACS is a mask for anti-competitive practices. Although Brussels refused to revealthe names of the societies or the number or countries involved, Lloyd’s List can confirm that Det Norske Veritas, Bureau Veritas, Lloyd’s Register and Rina were among the societies raided, although ABS was not. IACS headquarters in London was also raided and documents seized. It is understood that Brussels is investigating allegations that competition has been reduced over a range of class activities including pricing, technical standards, information and quality. “Lloyd’s Register, both individually and as a member of IACS, has actively sought co-operation between all classification societies to increase standards of safety and reduce marine pollution.
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