THE president of the Pacific Merchant Shipping Association (PMSA) has hit back at criticisms made by Florida Governor Rick Scott in his letter to "shipping industry professionals" in which he takes a few cheap shots at the State of California by comparing Florida to California in a number of areas.
"Unlike Florida, California does not allow alligators to play through on its public golf courses. California is a place where great ideas are born, home to dreamers and innovators represented by companies like HP, Google, Apple and even Disney," said PMSA president John McLaurin.
The PMSA chief said that while the Mr Scott notes that Florida's entire port system has averaged US$212.5 million on an annual basis in funding seaport improvements over the past four years, some of California's ports have matched that investment (and more) on just an individual port basis.
"In addition, our marine terminal payments to California's public ports for seaport investments total over $900 million per year. And we've been able to reduce port related emissions by over 80 per cent in many categories in the process," Mr McLaurin was quoted as saying in a Fox & Hounds Daily report.
He also took to task the Florida Governor's remark that the entire Florida port system can handle over 3.1 million TEU annually.
"We have terminals being built right now that will be equal to Florida's entire state-wide container port capacity. In addition, our ocean carriers' customers have developed more warehouse and distribution centre space within twenty miles of the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach than there is in all of Florida.
"There is no question that California has its share of problems and needs to seriously address our loss of market share in international trade, but Florida has its own set of challenges too.
"The measure of any region, industry or governmental entity is how it responds to these challenges. It is not a function of one individual, event or occurrence."
PORTS
22 March 2015 - 21:59
Pacific shipping lobby gets testy over Florida governor's cargo grab
THE president of the Pacific Merchant Shipping Association (PMSA) has hit back at criticisms made by Florida Governor Rick Scott in his letter to "shipping industry professionals" in which he takes a few cheap shots at the State of California by comparing Florida to California in a number of areas.
PORTS
22 March 2015 - 21:59
Pacific shipping lobby gets testy over Florida governor's cargo grab
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