Internacional Marítima sentenced for ferryboat ticket irregularities

A court in São Luís has sentenced Internacional Marítima Ltda. for irregularities regarding its ‘Viagem Programada’ ferryboat ticket sales. The company operates the maritime crossing between the Ponta da Espera Terminal in São Luís and the Cujupe Terminal in Alcântara.

The ruling, resulting from a civil public action by the Maranhão Public Prosecutor's Office (MPMA), requires the company to refund customers the difference between the ‘Viagem Programada’ rate and the conventional fare. This applies to passengers and vehicles who purchased tickets between May 18 and September 4, 2023, via physical counters or the internet.

The ‘Viagem Programada’ modality allowed a surcharge of up to 20% in exchange for benefits such as priority boarding, guaranteed schedules, VIP lounge access, and extended rescheduling windows. However, investigations revealed service failures, including outdated information and unfulfilled benefits.

In addition to the refunds, the court ordered individual moral damages of R$ 500 for each passenger who can prove they purchased the specific ticket type during the defined period. The company was also found guilty of deceptive advertising via its MobCard virtual system, which falsely indicated the acceptance of credit and debit cards when payments were restricted to PIX. A collective moral damage fine of R$ 100,000 was also imposed, to be allocated to the State Fund for the Protection of Diffuse Rights (FEPDD).