ILA, Hanjin at odds on JAXPORT plan

ILA, Hanjin at odds on JAXPORT plan    Jacksonville's seaport director met with leaders of the South Atlantic and Gulf Coast District of the International Longshoremen’s Association on Thursday to try and overcome an impasse in Hanjin Shipping’s plans to build a new container terminal in the Florida port.
   A port spokesman described the talks as “constructive and positive.”
   Executive Director Rick Ferrin's trip came as a letter from the head of Hanjin’s terminal company to Ferrin was made public.
   “I must admit that I have been disheartened by the way things are progressing with our project. As you’re aware, our negotiations with the ILA have come to a standstill,” said the letter from G.S. Choi, executive vice president and chief executive of the terminal business unit of Hanjin Shipping.
   The letter, dated Nov. 16, concludes: “Despite our best attempts to make a Hanjin Terminal in Jacksonville a reality, I’m afraid that the Hanjin Shipping will no longer be able spend any more time or resources on this venture.”

Ferrin

   It’s unclear whether construction of the terminal will be delayed or is in serious trouble.
   The port’s board had been scheduled to authorize its staff to begin negotiations with a design firm for the new terminal at a meeting this week, but the item was dropped from the agenda.
   A landlord port, Jacksonville would own the new terminal and lease it to Hanjin for 30 years with an option for renewal. The port is responsible for design and construction of the facility, but “we need to know what they want us to design before we go ahead and negotiate with a design firm,” said Nancy Rubin, a spokesman for the port.
   Rubin said the port still thought the project could be completed by 2013 as planned because time had been built into the schedule to account for delays.
   The lease called for Hanjin to build a 90-acre container facility at the Dames Point Marine Terminal in North Jacksonville.
   Union officials have been quoted in local papers as saying the level of automation and effect on ILA members is one of the issues being discussed. The Hanjin letter was dated the day before ILA members approved a new contract that provides for Increased protection from the impact of new technology.