Philadelphia maritime interests protest land sale

Philadelphia maritime interests protest land sale Regional maritime businesses have filed a lawsuit against the Philadelphia Regional Port Authority as part an effort to preserve land along the Delaware River for maritime use.
   With the suit, the businesses said they are seeking to block a land swap the port authority approved last week that would give food services company Sysco a parcel of waterfront land in exchange for an site inland.
   The complaint was filed by the International Longshoremen’s Association District Council of Philadelphia and Wilmington, the Philadelphia Marine Trade Association and the Maritime Stakeholders Group. The groups say they collectively represent more than 300 maritime-related entities.
   The groups are also involved in an effort to develop the former Philadelphia Navy Yard and contiguous land into a large new containership terminal being called Southport. They successfully lobbied Pennsylvania Gov. Edward Rendell earlier this year to end plans to locate a produce market in the midst of the area proposed for Southport.
   The current dispute involves a 46-acre tract called the Pier 98 Annex, which the groups said is used for storage of containers, chassis and military equipment, and loading of military equipment on trains. ILA members work at the site.
   The port authority is “overstepping its jurisdiction by preparing to convey maritime land to a non-maritime related use,” the three groups claim.
   “The Maritime Stakeholders Group feels the PRPA’s action is in direct conflict with Gov. Edward Rendell’s recent announcement that the channel deepening project will commence and the expanded Southport complex will be developed,” said Uwe Schulz, PMTA president.
   The groups said a hearing is scheduled for Oct. 3 in Commonwealth Court of Pennsylvania on the group’s complaint against the port authority.