Port Approves New Terminal Operator

By Ted Jackovics, Tampa Tribune, Fla.

May 17–TAMPA — How quickly the politics of port operations can change. Yet the issue of port security continues to simmer, even if it no longer is at the forefront of public attention.

Without discussion, the Tampa Port Authority on Tuesday approved P&O Ports Florida Inc.’s application for a license to perform local terminal and stevedore operations by a 6-0 vote.

Port commissioner Ronda Storms, also a Hillsborough County commissioner, was absent for the vote, although she arrived later during the monthly port authority meeting to raise a point regarding overall port security.

Storms was the only port commissioner in February to vote against pursuing P&O as the port’s new terminal operator based on its pending acquisition by a United Emirates company, Dubai Ports World.

A national uproar erupted over the prospects of a Middle Eastern company controlling certain U.S. terminal operations. That led to Dubai Ports agreeing to sell its U.S. business to an American owner.

A deal is in the works, but in the meantime P&O Florida functions independent of its owner, Tampa port Director Richard Wainio said.

“We are still working on it, but hope P&O can take over our terminal in June and be prepared to handle the first Zim [container cargo] shipment from the Far East in July,” Wainio said.

In a separate issue, Wainio said the port continued to review details of a bill the Florida Legislature approved that would revise state guidelines for seaport security. Gov. Jeb Bush is expected to sign the bill into law.

The new law would give ports more responsibility for formulating their security plans, which means the port would gain a new task in completing quarterly threat assessments.

Storms asked for a review once the bill is signed of how the law could affect performance of port security operations .

“The Port of Tampa is a model for ports statewide,” Wainio said, reiterating that Florida’s strict security laws placed the state’s seaports ahead of others.

He said the new law would not change local port security much, although new discretion given the port would provide more flexibility, albeit more assessment work.

Wainio also announced that Andrew W. Fobes, who served as chief of protocol for the Port of New Orleans and worked in public relations for the Mississippi State Port Authority, would become director of public relations for the Tampa Port Authority effective May 30.

Fobes has a bachelor’s degree in journalism and a master’s degree in public relations from the University of Southern Mississippi.

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