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The
Port of Wilmington is Not Part Wilmington, Del. - Due to the concerns and anxiety raised recently among our citizens both locally and nationally as a result of the announcement of the sale of P&O Ports to DP World, the Diamond State Port Corporation (DSPC) is obliged to clarify misinformation from various media reports regarding this sale. The ownership of the Port of Wilmington is not affected by the pending acquisition of P&O by DP World. Both the Port of Wilmington and the Diamond State Port Corporation, which operates the port, have been and continue to be owned by the State of Delaware. Additionally, a non-partisan Board of Directors, appointed by the Governor and representing both the public and private sectors and each county in Delaware, oversees the DSPC. This pending transaction will not, repeat will not, include any transfer of ownership of the Port of Wilmington’s assets or businesses in which it is engaged to any other entity. Furthermore, this acquisition will have a minimal impact on the operations of our port. When finalized, DP World will acquire P&O’s 50% ownership interest in Delaware River Stevedores (DRS), one of two independent stevedoring companies that operate in Wilmington, loading and discharging ships with local labor. DP World will join Stevedoring Services of America Marine (SSA Marine) of Seattle, Washington as equal owners of DRS. SSA Marine is a private, American-owned logistics company with world-wide marine operations. DP World, owned by the government of Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE), a growing global port operator, is the result of a merger between Dubai Ports Authority (DPA) and Dubai Ports International Terminals (DPI Terminals). It owns terminal operations in UAE, Asia Pacific, West Asia, East & West Africa, in Europe, South America, and soon in North America. DRS has signed a collective bargaining agreement with Local 1694 of the International Longshoreman’s Association (ILA). As a result DRS is required to hire ILA labor to discharge and load ships calling at the Port of Wilmington exclusively from a labor pool composed primarily of local Delawareans. This will not change after the acquisition. DRS has operated in Wilmington for many years. DSPC management knows and has had a tremendous working relationship with the DRS senior executives and operating supervisors, many of whom are Delaware residents. We do not anticipate any change in the direction or operations of DRS after this sale is completed. The physical premises and cargo security at the port is the responsibility of the DPSC. It is managed by a full-time facility security manager and enforced by a trained and experienced in-house security force represented by Teamsters Local 326. As in all US ports, Wilmington adheres to strict security guidelines as specified in a United States Coast Guard (USCG) approved facility security plan. In order to conduct business at the Port of Wilmington companies such as DRS and other vendors are required to comply with these regulations or be subject to penalties imposed by the USCG. The Port management works closely with the USCG and US Customs and Border Protection to ensure that our port remains safe, secure and open to commerce. “We are extremely aware of the sensitivity associated with security in the nation’s ports. We assure our community and customers, that now and after this acquisition concludes, it will be business as usual at the Port of Wilmington; a port owned by the State, operated by the DSPC and with the scrupulous oversight exercised by the our appointed Board of Directors”, said Gene Bailey, Executive Director of the DSPC. Founded in 1923, the Port of Wilmington is an important asset for the local and regional economy, generating more than 5,300 jobs and contributing over $23 million in annual tax revenues to state and local government. The Port is owned and operated by the Diamond State Port Corporation, a corporation of the State of Delaware.
For further information please contact:Vered
Nohi-Becker, Marketing Services Manager:
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