Long Beach port delegation visits European customers

The group seeks to reassure European container lines recent congestion issues are temporary and new initiatives are underway to improve efficiency.    Long beach Mayor Robert Garcia is leading a Port of Long Beach delegation in a weeklong trip to reassure European container line customers that recent congestion issues are temporary and new initiatives are underway to improve efficiency.
   The group is visiting A.P. Moller-Maersk’s headquarters in Copenhagen, Denmark; Mediterranean Shipping Co. in Geneva; and CMA CGM in Marseilles, France. Briefings will update customers about the impact of the recent labor dispute that slowed down port operations on the West Coast, congestion mitigation steps being taken for the long term, the Federal Maritime Commission’s decision to allow closer cooperation with the Port of Los Angeles to relieve congestion, and a restructuring of the chassis fleet market in Southern California.
   “It’s incredibly important that we let our customers know that despite the labor negotiation process and congestion, the Port of Long Beach is still the best place to do business on the West Coast,” Mayor Garcia said in a statement.
   Delegation members include Harbor Commission President Doug Drummond, Commission Vice President Rich Dines, Commissioner Lou Anne Bynum, Chief Executive Officer Jon Slangerup and Chief Commercial Officer Noel Hacegaba.
   “Long Beach has so much to offer. Our goal is to reach out to these customers and industry leaders, to listen to their concerns and to share the news of our bright future,” Drummond said. “We have turned the corner on congestion and we are committed to making even more improvements to the supply chain.”
   In addition to the shipping lines, the delegation is meeting with representatives of the Port of Marseilles. In Copenhagen, the group will meet with the Baltic and International Maritime Council, the world’s largest international shipping association. In Geneva, the Long Beach group is scheduled to meet with the World Trade Organization.
   The Long Beach group will exchange information on trade and maritime issues with these agencies.