4 vie for Philadelphia container terminal

4 vie for Philadelphia container terminal Four pre-qualified bidders to develop a new container terminal in Philadelphia are still in the running.
   Pennsylvania Gov. Edward G. Rendell's office said Friday that all four have been deemed qualified to submit proposals to design, build and operate the new 'Southport' container terminal on the Delaware River south of the Walt Whitman Bridge.
   The four firms are:
   ' Hamburg S'd North America and Holt Southport Development Corp. Holt is a local stevedoring company.
   ' Delaware River Stevedores, another local stevedore, and its 50-50 owners, Ports America and Carrix, parent of Stevedoring Services of America.
   ' MOL and its TraPac terminal affiliate.
   ' Philippine-based International Container Terminal Services and DBM Fonds, a subsidiary of ABN AMRO.
   Initial technical proposals will be due in three months, with final technical and financial proposals due in the third quarter. Selection of a winning proposal is expected by the end of 2009.
   The successful team will receive a 30- to 50-year concession to develop and operate the Southport facility in exchange for the right to collect revenue from shipping lines and other users.
   'I fully support the expansion of Southport as a critical investment in our infrastructure,' said Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter. 'This project will continue to position Philadelphia as a premiere port while providing good paying jobs and valuable economic opportunities for the region. I look forward to a healthy partnership between the city, the state, and those who will oversee the construction and operation of this new facility.'