“VANINO PORT” JSC ABOLISHED CHARGES FOR REGISTERING PASSES TO THE PORT AREA FOLLOWING AN INJUNCTION ISSUED BY AN ANTIMONOPOLY BODY

Khabarovsk OFAS issued an injunction to “Vanino Commercial Seaport” OJSC to stop imposing charges for registering passes for pedestrian and vehicular traffic in the restricted-access area of Vanino seaport for the persons that use port services and operate there.

The company executed the injunction of the antimonopoly body, having lost its case in the Court of First Instance and the Appeal Court.

Earlier Khabarovsk OFAS investigated a petition from “Russian Railways” OJSC in the person of its branch – “Far East Commercial Port” against actions of “Vanino Commercial Seaport” OJSC for fixing and maintaining changes for registering passes to the for pedestrian and vehicular traffic in restricted-access area of Vanino Seaport” OJSC.

Vanino Commercial Seaport also had infrastructure facilities owned by “Russian Railways” OJSC.“Vanino Commercial Seaport” OJSC did not charge “Russian Railways” OJSC and other companies for pedestrian and vehicular traffic in Vanino seaport area by concluding agreements annually for services and pass registering.

Head of Khabarovsk OFAS Elena Kloster emphasized: “Actions of “Vanino Commercial Seaport” OJSC being a holder of natural monopoly, could have increased the price on the goods of companies that use services and operated in Vanino seaport, including “Russian Railways” OJSC, in order to compensate the increased expenses, and also could have influences the conditions for turnover of the goods made by the above companies on the relevant market, which could have resulted in restriction of competition”.