FMC, port officials discuss capacity constraints

FMC, port officials discuss capacity constraints    The U.S. Federal Maritime Commission and representatives of the port industry have discussed port capacity constraints during the agency’s third briefing with representatives of the shipping industry and maritime community, held April 6.
   During the meeting, representatives of the American Association of Port Authorities and member ports briefed FMC commissioners and staff from all FMC offices and bureaus on port issues.
   The port officials pointed out that ports face increasing costs, environmental limitations, new security concerns, and increasing demands from their customers for improved and lower cost service. The FMC said that it and port representatives discussed “the impact of increasing cargo volumes on constrained port facilities and rail and road infrastructure,” and the changed regulatory regime resulting from the enactment of the Ocean Shipping Reform Act of 1998.
   Port representatives present at the meeting included: Gary LaGrange, president, port of New Orleans and chairman of the AAPA board, representing the AAPA Gulf caucus region; Richard Larrabee, director, port commerce department, port of New York-New Jersey and board member representing the AAPA North Atlantic region; Warren McCrimmon, seaport director, Toledo-Lucas County Port Authority and board member of the AAPA Great Lakes region; John Mohr Executive, director, port of Everett and board member of the AAPA North Pacific caucus; Kurt Nagle, president and chief executive officer of AAPA; and Jean Godwin, executive vice president and general counsel of AAPA.
   “The briefings are intended to foster a greater awareness and understanding of the current issues and concerns affecting the various interests involved with the United States waterborne foreign commerce,” the FMC said.