Brussels, 28/02/2003 (Agence Europe) - The European Commission has confirmed that on 25 February it made surprise inspections of various transporters of bulk liquids by barge on inland waterways, suspecting them of fixing prices and dividing up clients among themselves. The Commission says that the investigations cover several European countries, but has not indicated which ones or which companies are concerning, in order to guarantee confidentiality in the investigations which have only just been launched. Dutch company Vopak NV, however, has indicated that its subsidiarity Vopak Barging Europe is one of the companies searched.
Last week, the Commission launched another investigation into a cartel in the transport of chemicals by ship at sea, acting in "close cooperation" with the relevant authorities from the European Free Trade Association (covering the EU, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland). Surprise inspections were made in this connection of various companies, but the Commission has again refused to name names. Norway's Odfjell ASA and Stolt-Nielsen Transportation Group have said that they are the subject of parallel enquires by US and EU competition authorities in this connection, adding that they intended to collaborate but denying being involved in illicit practices with regard to competition rules.