WEST COAST WATERFRONT COALITION CALLS FOR COOPERATION, TECHNOLOGY

WEST COAST WATERFRONT COALITION CALLS FOR COOPERATION, TECHNOLOGY    The West Coast Waterfront Coalition, a group representing shippers, transportation providers and transportation supply chain firms, told the House Subcommittee on coast Guard and Maritime Transportation that only cooperation can solve congestion at West Coast ports.
   The group, in testimony Wednesday, also told the committee that new technology was needed, in addition to cooperation among private and public players on the waterfront.
   The coalition outlines three actions that private business should strive to achieve:
   * Extending gate hours at terminals.
   * Creating appointment systems for truckers calling at terminals, which will require new coordinated electronic data interchange systems.
   * Reduction of free time often demanded by shippers.
   'To often, we see a lot of finger-pointing on the waterfront,' said Robin Lanier, executive director of the coalition. 'Carriers say the problem is with labor and shippers. Shippers say the problem is with carriers. Labor says the problem is with shippers and terminal operators. The fact is all of us have to work together to make the system work.'