Arabs drop ports deal; S. Fla. firm in running [Eller]

Miami Herald ^ | 03/10/06 | JAMES KUHNHENN AND STEVE HARRISON

[RegulatorCountry]

What? But, but, but ... there are absolutely no American companies that can do this sort of thing. None whatsoever. I was repeatedly assured of this "fact" by supporters of the DP World deal, so this just can't be true.

[Wasanother]

There's always been American companies that could do the job, they just didn't want the headaches of dealing with the likes of the Longshoremen.

[RegulatorCountry]

"they just didn't want the headaches of dealing with the likes of the Longshoremen."

Oh, so the US companies that I was repeatedly assured did not exist, actually do exist, and they're somehow managing to avoid working with longshoremen in the terminal operations that they manage?

[Unkosified]

Actually, no American company made an offer to the British firm to buy the port contracts.

[Wasanother]

Of course. They were really trying to lay low on this one and I can understand why some would never thought they existed. Whatever American company takes it now has to first negotiate with the LSM and the LSM will rake them over the coals with health care, raises, management, vacation, etc...

[yellowdoghunter]

The Congress needs to pass a law about the unions that will not allow them to put these companies out of business. Just like they did with not letting people who work for Homeland Security unionize...remember that? It cost the Democrats heavily when it looked like they were on the side of the unions and not security. Congress just needs to do the same thing here.

[RegulatorCountry]

"They were really trying to lay low on this one and I can understand why some would never thought they existed."

No they weren't. Eller & Co. was pursuing legal action because the terms of their contract concerning a joint venture with P & O were breached due to the impending sale to DP World.

And I do wonder, just how Eller & Co. is supposedly avoiding the longshoremen's union in their existing, leased terminal operations. Intuition says that they are not.

[Wasanother]

Too late on this one. Whatever American company gets it now will be out of business in 3 years or sold to another foreign company.

[yellowdoghunter]

You may be correct, my only point is that it doesn't have to be that way if Congress would act.

[TomGuy]

What? But, but, but ... there are absolutely no American companies that can do this sort of thing.

That's what I kept hearing.
And that's why more outsourcing is going to India.
And that's why the border is open.

Another of those jobs American's won't do.

===

Ironic that Eller was slighted, initially, and turned out to be the ones instrumental in bringing the whole DPW/Ports issue to the forefront.

[FreedomNeocon]

Too late on this one. Whatever American company gets it now will be out of business in 3 years or sold to another foreign company.

You forgot the democrats favorite one... it will end up being a ANOTHER gov't subsadized industry/company.

[RegulatorCountry]

"Actually, no American company made an offer to the British firm to buy the port contracts."

I understand that the price offered by DP World, reportedly $6.8 billion, so far outstripped anything anybody else was willing to pay, or even though could be made profitable, that everyone else dropped out of the bidding.

[Republican Red]

Read the Congressional testimony from last week. NO American firms bid because of the tax burdens, union requirements and legal risks involved. This type of business has very low margins and only makes money from economies of scale. There are only a few big name players that have a major portion of the pie.

The smaller players can't compete without their friends in Congress. Chuckie Schumer was lobbied months ago by Eller to go after DP Ports. In fact, I think Schumer accepted mega bucks on Eller's behalf. It has nothing to do with security. It has everything to do with money. Now, what a surprise, Eller is in the running for the managing these ports.

Nice friends to align yourself with.

[syriacus]

Some said Maher Terminals, which already operates in the Port of New York/New Jersey, might buy P&O's interests there. Other candidates include Oakland-based Marine Terminals Corp. and Seattle-based Stevedoring Services of America.

Stevedoring Services of America runs 49% of a terminal at the Port of Long Beach.

A Red Chinese government company runs 51% of that terminal in the Port of Long Beach

The Red Chinese Company (COSCO) is considered to be an arm of the Chinese military.

COSCO is the second largest (container?) shipping company in the world and has been involved in smuggling arms into the US, shipping arms to Cuba, and transporting sophisticated weaponry components to Pakistan in 1998.

Clinton's special treatment of the Chinese government's shipping company, COSCO, didn't hurt him or Hillary, even though a COSCO ship was used to smuggle weapons into the US and there was enough of a Clinton-Beijing connection to be named "Chinagate."

* COSCO got guarantees for loans for ships built in Mobile Alabama
* The Clinton Administration allowed COSCO's ships access to our most sensitive ports with one day's notice rather than the usual four
* COSCO nearly got a Clinton-arranged lease on the Long Beach Navy Base
* COSCO currently runs at least one terminal, in the Port of Long Beach.

Aside from the perks Clinton arranged for COSCO, Clinton was able to convince folks that it was in "our national interest" for him to guarantee a loan for a Chinese nuclear plant that supplied power for building their war ships.

[RegulatorCountry]

"Nice friends to align yourself with."

You've got a few hum-dingers aligned with you, too.

[Wasanother]

If you've not noticed we use to operate 100% of the terminals but now it's 20%, somethings wrong? A lot of companies have joint ventures where both benefit but it was P&O with the liability so Eller & Co. may not have needed to avoid the business. If an American company was so interested in the business then they would have placed bids.

[Dane]

What? But, but, but ... there are absolutely no American companies that can do this sort of thing. None whatsoever. I was repeatedly assured of this "fact" by supporters of the DP World deal, so this just can't be true

I beleive this is the company that is in a corruption scandal with the DNC in the Miami port.

How convienent. I hope DPWorld gets top dollar from these shysters and if not mothballs the port.

[dfwgator]

Too late on this one. Whatever American company gets it now will be out of business in 3 years or sold to another foreign company.

Eventually a ChiCom company will get it, and when it does, not a peep from the MSM or Chuckie Schumer.

[RegulatorCountry]

"I hope DPWorld gets top dollar from these shysters and if not mothballs the port."

Need I remind you, as snarkily as possible, that DP World would not have control over any ports? Sounds like you've decided to run with disinformation when it suits your own purposes.