[160910.EN.SEA] Hanjin-docker Deal Opens Door To Labour-lite Jaxport Box Shop

KOREA's Hanjin Shipping and the dockers' union, the International Longshoremen's Association (ILA), have agreed on creating a labour-lite container terminal in Jacksonville, Florida.


ILA officials could not be reached for comment, but Hanjin terminals vice president GS Choi said: "We've finally reached an agreement with the ILA regarding the manning structure for our new terminal."


Hanjin recently opened a new labour-lite, semi-automated terminal in Algeciras, Spain, and that "like Jacksonville, this new terminal was the very first of its kind in their country. Hanjin is proud and honoured to take its first step in terminal operations on the United States east coast", said Mr Choi.


American Shipper, itself based in Jacksonville, reported that Hanjin and the port agree that the deal paves the way for construction of a US$300 million 90-acre container facility at Dames Point in North Jacksonville - now expected to open 2014 in time to benefit from the Panama Canal expansion.


In December 2008, a 30-year lease was signed with Hanjin and the facility is expected to be the major hub for its annual 750,000 container volume on the east coast. The terminal will be Hanjin's first dedicated US operation outside the west coast where it operates facilities in Long Beach, Oakland and Seattle.


Source : HKSG, 16.09.10.