2 shipping companies reach settlement in Puerto Rico price fixing case

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico – The U.S. Justice Department says two shipping companies have agreed to civil settlements following accusations that they fixed prices of government cargo transportation contracts between the U.S. and Puerto Rico.

Officials said Sea Star Line LLC agreed to pay $1.9 million and Horizon Lines LLC $1.5 million to settle the cases.

The U.S. government had accused them of sharing confidential bidding information with each other to set predetermined rates for specific routes.

Officials said Friday the agreement affected contracts with the U.S. Postal Service and the Department of Agriculture, among others.

Both companies had previously pleaded guilty to anticompetitive conduct.