[180313.EN.SEA] OOCL Signs 40-year, US$1.2 Billion Long Beach Deal With ILWU Support

HONG KONG's OOCL, the world's 11th largest carrier, recently signed a 40-year lease with the Port of Long Beach, including an investment of US$1.2 billion in a terminal upgrade on the 309-acre Middle Harbour site.

OOCL won support from International Longshore & Warehouse Union (ILWU) leaders, who praised the company's willingness to work alongside the union in discussing the introduction of technology.

Said ILWU Local 13 president Joe Cortez: "LBCT [Long Beach Container Terminal] has forged a relationship with the ILWU so that we can move forward hand in hand, with the union involved every step of the way. There is honesty and transparency."

The upgrade project is to be completed in 2019 which will give the facility an annual capacity of 3.3 million TEU.

Long Beach port executive director Chris Lytle welcomed the arrangements and said the terminal will be well-equipped technologically and as advanced as other rivals in the world.

While the union has long resisted robotics and computerisation because they cause layoffs, Mr Cortez said he believes OOCL will keep its promise to retrain workers so that they can operate automated equipment.

Source : HKSG.