(DNA)
Competition Commission of India (CCI) has dismissed a complaint against Oil & Natural Gas Commission (ONGC) which alleged the state-owned oil explorer of abusing its dominant position in relation to certain contractual provisions while hiring of offshore support vessels.
An investigation was initiated by CCI against the company in June last year based on the complaint filed by Indian National Shipowners’ Association (INSA), a lobby group of shipowners. The complainant claimed that a clause in Charter Hire Agreement (CHA) of ONGC gives unilateral right to ONGC to terminate the agreement, according to them was one-sided and abusive in nature. ONGC requires offshore support vessels (OSV) for its offshore exploration and production activities. CCI in its August 2 order considered that ONGC is a dominant player and the market for charter hire of OSVs in the Indian Exclusive Economic Zone as the relevant one.
