| Case Number | BE/0004 |
| Case Commencement Date | 17 December 2015 |
| Relevant Documents |
Application for a block exemption order by Hong Kong Liner Shipping Association (HKLSA) Summary provided by the HKLSA of their application Notice of application for a block exemption order Notice of Commission preliminary consultation Proposed block exemption order Press release: Competition Commission publishes proposed block exemption order for certain liner shipping agreements Notice issued under section 16 of the Competition Ordinance of a proposed block exemption order Statement of Preliminary Views and annexed proposed block exemption order Presentation by industry expert retained by the Commission, held at Commission Member meeting of 12 August 2016 Issue of block exemption order Press release: Competition Commission issues block exemption order for vessel sharing agreements in the liner shipping industry Competition (Block Exemption For Vessel Sharing Agreements) Order 2017 Guidance Note accompanying the Order Statement of Reasons Review of block exemption order Notice of Commission initial consultation regarding review of the block exemption order Press release: Competition Commission consults on its proposed renewal of the block exemption order for vessel sharing agreements in the liner shipping industry Notice of proposal to vary (renew) the block exemption order for vessel sharing agreements Variation (renewal) of the block exemption order Press release: Competition Commission renews block exemption order for vessel sharing agreements in the liner shipping industry Competition (Block Exemption For Vessel Sharing Agreements) (Variation) Order 2022 Notice of Variation Competition (Block Exemption For Vessel Sharing Agreements) Order 2017 – as varied Guidance Note accompanying the Order – as varied |
| Key Milestones |
17 December 2015 - Application for a block exemption order The HKLSA applied to the Commission for a block exemption order under section 15 of the Ordinance concerning certain liner shipping agreements, namely vessel sharing agreements (VSAs) and voluntary discussion agreements (VDAs). 14 September 2016 - Proposed block exemption order and consultation The Commission published a proposed block exemption order for VSAs (but not VDAs) and invited representations from interested parties, in accordance with the procedure established in section 16 of the Competition Ordinance. For further details on the consultation on the proposed block exemption order and to view the representations received, please click here. 1 March 2017 - Publication of the supplementary submission on revised VDA scope The Commission published a supplementary submission from the HKLSA, which proposed a revised scope of VDAs, and invited interested parties to submit comments. For further details on the supplementary submission and to view the comments received, please click here. 8 August 2017 - Issue of the block exemption order for VSAs The Commission issued a block exemption order for VSAs, along with a Statement of Reasons setting out the reasons for the Commission's decision regarding the HKLSA's application. 5 August 2021 - Initial consultation on the review of the block exemption order The Commission commenced a review of the block exemption order and invited interested parties to provide information, views and evidence in an initial consultation. The initial consultation was closed on 4 November 2021. 5 May 2022 - Consultation on the Commission's proposal to vary (renew) the block exemption order The Commission published a notice of its proposal to vary (renew) the block exemption order, and invited interested parties to make representations about the proposal. The consultation closed on 6 June 2022. 7 July 2022 – Variation (renewal) of the block exemption order for VSAs The Commission issued the Competition (Block Exemption for Vessel Sharing Agreements) (Variation) Order 2022 to vary (renew) the Competition (Block Exemption For Vessel Sharing Agreements) Order 2017, along with a Notice of Variation setting out the reasons for the variation (renewal). |
| Representations received in consultations |
2016 - Consultation under section 16 of the Competition Ordinance regarding proposed block exemption order for certain liner shipping agreements To view the representations received, please click here. 2017 - Commission invitation to submit comments on the HKLSA's supplementary representation To view the comments received, please click here. 2022 - Consultation under section 20 of the Competition Ordinance regarding proposal to vary (renew) the block exemption order To view the representations received, please click here. |