CLARIFICATION: Philadelphia-Sydney port support

CLARIFICATION: Philadelphia-Sydney port support    The Philadelphia Regional Port Authority issued a statement expressing support plans to build a deepwater container terminal in Sydney, Nova Scotia that could be a source of transshipped cargo for its terminals, but clarifying the ports have not signed any joint memorandum of agreement.
   In a letter dated Jan. 6 to the chairman of Sydney Maritime Group, PRPA Chairman John H. Estey said Philadelphia port looked forward to formalization of a 'sister port' relationship with Sydney.
   But he said this week that “we need to do our homework, and then present this unique opportunity to our board' for approval.
   The PRPA issued the statement to clarify that while International Longshoreman's Association District Council and Ports of Delaware River Marine Trade Association have signed memoranda with the Sydney Maritime Group, the PRPA has not signed any memoranda as was mistakenly said in a Sydport press release and reported in American Shipper.
   “Let there be no doubt: we support the Sydport project in concept,' Estey said. 'But, as is proper in matters like these, the PRPA must conduct our legal due diligence with regards to any memoranda or documents among the parties to make certain they are in accordance with federal maritime laws.”
   Last month the Pennsylvania House of Representatives passed a resolution to “urge continued development of a sister port relationship between those ports to grow the Port of Philadelphia.”