Governor Bob McDonnell is the person behind the reorganisation of the board which sees ten new appointments out of eleven – four reaching the end of their term but six being summarily replaced. There’s no doubt he has been frustrated by Virginia’s failing to make the most of the returning traffic that is being seen at other ports.
Following Governor McDonnell’s line, Secretary of Transportation Sean Connaughton has told the board “to question everything, to be aggressive and really, really challenge the staff” of the port authority, overturning a culture where the port authority’s lead tended not to be disputed.
One member of the new board is Scott Bergeron, COO of the Liberian Registry – a flag that accounts for almost 12% of the worldwide registration. His point is that the port needs to get on with making the most of its position and advantage: “The state of Virginia has one of the largest deepwater ports on the Eastern seaboard – and its one of the few that can already handle the larger ships that will soon be coming from the expanded Panama Canal – without needing billions of dollars of investment.”
It has to be noted too that the political element is difficult to avoid, as the port authority has largely been put in place by the last set of Commissioners, while many of the new board are business leaders who have been significant contributors to Republican causes, including Mr McDonnell’s own governorship campaign.
