Marine Construction and Transportation
Marine Construction and Transportation | ||
Overall Cartel Period | 1990-1997 | |
Participants | HeereMac v.o.f.; Dockwise NV; Dockwise U.S.A. | |
Total Fines (DOJ) | $65 million | |
Total Fines (EC) | No fines imposed |
In 1997, the U.S. Department of Justice (“DOJ”) imposed $65 million in fines on three companies for their participation in a conspiracy to rig bids for heavy-lift marine construction services and semisubmersible heavy-lift transport services. At the time, this was the second largest criminal competition fine ever imposed by the DOJ. Heavy-life marine construction services facilitate the construction of offshore oil and gas production and drilling platforms. Semisubmersible heavy-lift transport vessels move large cargo. In 1996, worldwide revenues in this industry exceeded $200 million. Although these industries are related, the charges arose from two separate investigations into the construction services industry.
Enforcement Highlights:
- One of the companies charged in the conspiracy, Dockwise N.V., also agreed to pay $4 million in civil damages to the U.S. Navy arising from contracts in connection with cartel activity.
- Three executives were fined for their participation in the conspiracy. None served any prison time.
Company | Conspiracy Period | Fine (USD) | Plea Date | No. of Excluded Individuals | Plea Agreement |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
HeereMac v.o.f. | 1/93-1/97 | $49 million | 12/22/1997 | N/A | |
Dockwise NV | 1/90-1/95 | $15 million | 12/22/1997 | N/A | |
Dockwise U.S.A. | 1/90-12/95 | $1 million | 12/22/1997 | N/A |
Individual | Company | Prison Sentence | Fine (USD) | Plea Date | Plea Agreement |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Jan Meek, Commercial Director | HeereMac v.o.f. | None | $100,000 | 12/22/1997 | |
Christiaan Bernardus van der Zwan, President | Dockwise NV | None | $150,000 | 12/22/1997 | |
Bastiaan Albertus de Jong, General Manager Commercial Department | Dockwise NV | None | $75,000 | 12/22/1997 |