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PRESS RELEASES
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For Immediate Release
February 22, 2006
For Information, Contact
John B. Ficker
(703) 524-5011
TRANSFER OF PORT FACILITIES AT MAJOR SEAPORTS
Arlington, VA – The transfer of control over terminal facilities in the Ports of New York/New Jersey, Philadelphia, Baltimore, Miami and New Orleans to a United Arab Emirates (UAE) controlled company known as Dubai Ports World (DPW) has sparked national attention over the last several days about security concerns that may or may not have been created over this transfer.
The League has monitored these reports closely and will continue to do so as more information is released.
The facts are the facilities in question have been leased for some period by P&O (a subsidiary of Peninsular & Oriental Steamship Navigation Co.) a British based company. Since this subsidiary was sold to DPW, a UAE controlled company, and this sale included leases of terminals in major U.S. seaports, that portion of the transfer was subject to review and subsequent approval by the Administration.
The sensitivity of this transfer lies in the fact that while the UAE is a U.S. ally, several of its citizens and that country’s banking system was used in some of the terrorist events which manifested themselves on September 11, 2001.
Without taking a position in the current debate, the League has been in the forefront of numerous activities and programs to make our country’s freight supply chain as secure and safe as possible. Regardless of what nationally based company takes control of these terminals, they must be subject to safeguards which ensure the transportation system’s integrity and continued operations.
We will continue to watch these events closely and report on developments as warranted.
The League, founded in 1907 has approximately 600 separate company members representing freight transportation professionals that conduct industrial and or commercial enterprises throughout the United States and internationally. Its members include some of the largest commercial and industrial industries in the nation and throughout the world, as well as numerous smaller shippers. League members ship substantial volumes of commodities worldwide and are therefore supportive of policies which favor a safe and secure freight environment while facilitating the free flow of commerce.
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