Pierce tells conference TSA will carry on without Maersk

Pierce tells conference TSA will carry on without Maersk    Albert A. Pierce, executive director of the Transpacific Stabilization Agreement, said Monday his voluntary coalition of ocean carriers would be just fine despite the departure of Maersk Line, the world's biggest shipping line.
   'I don't comment when a member leaves the TSA, or joins the TSA, but with their increased capacity (Maersk acquired P&O Nedlloyd in the fall), we'd love to have them back,' Pierce told the Trans-Pacific Maritime conference, held by the Journal of Commerce in Long Beach. 'TSA still controls 60 percent of the tonnage in the market, and in any other industry, that would be a controlling interest. They still need us, whether they're members or not, and we'd like to have them in.'
   TSA is a forum of 11 major carriers that carry cargo between Asia and ports and inland points in the United States.