Agreements echo the Northwest Seaport Alliance of Seattle and Tacoma
According to American Shipper, The Georgia Ports Authority (GPA) and the Virginia Port Authority (VPA) said Monday they filed a cooperation agreement with the Federal Maritime Commission (FMC). The “East Coast Gateway Terminal Agreement” planned between the two port authorities “encourages voluntary cooperation in the areas of operational and supply chain efficiencies, safety, communications and customer service,” the port authorities said.
As ocean carriers continue the march towards consolidation, we are likely to see increased levels of collaboration among port authorities, as well as among terminal operators, serving these lines. The consolidation of the marine terminal assets of the Ports of Seattle and Tacoma into the Northwest Seaport Alliance joint venture in 2015 is an earlier example. Mercator International served as the chief strategic advisor to both the Port of Seattle and the Port of Tacoma in helping these ports design and navigate the complex consolidation process.
In Miami, POMTOC and South Florida Container Terminal are pursuing a similar path, by recently filing a discussion agreement with the FMC to cooperate in certain commercial and operational areas.
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