please spare us this stuff about "DPW is the greatest ports company in the world". the same people who were once claiming that "nothing would change" at the ports if DPW got the contracts, are now the first to jump in and say "the new contractors are going to be a disaster". you told us before that "nothing would change" at the ports, that it was just a paper transaction, just a change in the holding company. now all of a sudden, everything is changing?
Yeah, the changes in arguments are breath taking. Makes you wonder.....
I think something will change. The next time Iran or North Korea comes up $1 Mil or two short on the price of a new nuclear reactor, there will be oodles of investment capital in the UAE just waiting to jump into the partnership. That much will definitely be a change as a result of this entire fiasco.
I have consistantly said that no security would change. However, when we saw all the deals DP World had offered as part of the process, it became clear that they were offering significant improvements in physical security of the terminal facilities.
The coast guard had issued physical terminal access rules (like fences) and P&O was unable to meet those rules, which is one of the reasons they were selling. DP World promised to meet and exceed those rules, so they would have made the ports more secure.
But you are correct, it could well be that whatever happens now, those things will be fixed up. I shouldn't be so negative. I feel better about this being voluntary, and being done over time as they can find the right buyers.