Shipping line suspends six employees amid Puerto Rico pricing probe

WASHINGTON, USA (Bloomberg): Horizon Lines Inc., an ocean-shipping company that sails between US ports, said it has placed six employees on administrative leave amid a federal antitrust probe of industry pricing.

The employees were involved with shipping in the Puerto Rico trade lane, Horizon said on Thursday in a statement. The US Justice Department is investigating pricing practices at Charlotte, North Carolina-based Horizon and other US-flagged shipping lines serving Puerto Rico.

Two of the employees subsequently resigned, Horizon said. The company said it "continues to fully cooperate with the Department of Justice in its investigation.''

Shippers that have said they received subpoenas in the Justice Department investigation announced in April include Alexander & Baldwin Inc., the parent of ocean-transport line Matson Navigation, and Crowley Maritime Corp. The Justice Department didn't release a full list of companies in its investigation.