Gulftainer’s recent agreement to run the cargo terminal at Port Canaveral in Florida has sparked the security debate up again surrounding the foreign ownership of US infrastructure potentially compromising national security.
Apparently, Californian Republican, Rep. Duncan Hunter is calling for a national security investigation after Gulftainer signed a 35 year concession with the port authority to operate Canaveral’s cargo terminal (GT USA) – making it the first middle-eastern company to fully manage operations at a US container terminal.
This situation looks on the face of it looks similar to the situation back in 2006 when Dubai Ports World made a bid to operate six major seaports, but this was ousted by the US Congress.
But Gulftainer said it is trying to take a much more proactive approach in order to head off any problems this time.
Even though the operator does not legally have to involve the Committee for Foreign Investment in the US (CFIUS) in the deal because no port assets have been purchased, it has been willingly participated in a review involving 16 agencies which is due to be published next month.
Peter Richards, managing director, Gulftainer, told Port Strategy: “We have been providing all requested information to the CFIUS committee and liaising with them to ensure they understand that the trust being given to us is only in operating the cargo terminal on a 35-year lease, not running the port authority, Transportation Security Administration (TSA), or customs. This type of operation is something that other countries entrust Gulftainer with on a daily basis.”
He pointed out that the overall security of the port will continue to rest with the national, local, and port authorities and all Gulftainer’s security plans, just like any other terminal operator, will be fully vetted by the TSA and by the port authority.
Mr Jackson added that the Canaveral Port already has very high standards for security and GT USA is expected to ensure these high standards are carried over to the new investments in the container terminal. This will include ensuring that all employees comply fully with the labour and security requirements of the US government.
The operator expects to employ around 500 people directly at the terminal and around 1,600 indirectly with a knock on effect in the local market, with over 95% of employees coming from Florida.
“By bringing Gulftainer’s UAE-grown expertise and global relationships to Port Canaveral, we aim to create a new efficient and secure gateway for goods entering and leaving the southern Atlantic coastline of America,” Mr Jackson said.
