Public Forum on U.S. Port Congestion – Mid-Atlantic and Northeast

Public Forum – U.S. Port Congestion: Examining Causes, Impact on Stakeholders, and Exploring Possible Solutions

Federal Maritime Commissioner William P. Doyle will host a port congestion forum at the World Trade Center in Baltimore’s Inner Harbor on October 1, 2014. FMC Commissioner Richard A. Lidinsky, Jr. will co-host this important Forum. The geographic region covers port activity from Virginia to Maine. The Forum’s goal is to examine causes and implications of congestion at U.S. ports and possible solutions.

When:
Wednesday, October 1, 2014, 9:30 am to 6:00pm

Where:
World Trade Center in Baltimore’s Inner Harbor
401 East Pratt Street
Baltimore, MD 21202

Hosted by: 
Commissioner William P. Doyle and Commissioner Richard A. Lidinsky, Jr.

Mid-Atlantic and Northeast Port Forum Agenda

Public Comments Submitted for the Mid-Atlantic Forum

Commissioner Doyle said, “There has been significant interest from stakeholders. We’re going to discuss solutions that are already in progress. It’s an opportunity to have all the affected sectors in one room to listen and share diverse viewpoints. We’re going to get into the details, and have open and frank discussions between and among the stakeholders.”

Registration

Registration is required due to building security requirements. If you plan to attend please contact David Tubman, counsel to Commissioner Doyle, at dtubman@fmc.gov. Please be prepared to present photo ID to the building security.

Please Note:
Registration is now closed, the event has reached capacity.  Please check the 2014 Port Forum page for updates related to this event and our other port forums.

Forum Format:

The format will include panels of invited participants to make their presentations. The goal is for honest and candid discussions among the relevant parties. As such, portions of the Forum will be conducted in closed session with just the invited participants present to ensure that sensitive issues are raised and addressed.

Between 3:30 pm and 6:00 pm, stakeholders, interested parties and the general public may make public statements.

Topics for Discussion:

• Truck gate/wait times
• Trucker gate “Appointment” system
• “Free time” operational impacts on gate operations and congestion
• Chassis ownership and deployment -“gray pool” development
• Ocean carrier arrival “bunching” impacts on port/gate congestion
• Infrastructure
• Measures already taken to address identified issues

Who Should Attend

Stakeholders from all sectors have been invited including:

• carriers
• port authorities
• marine terminal operators
• labor
• chassis operators/leasing/pools
• truckers,
• shippers (retail/box stores)

Written Submissions

The Commission is accepting the submission of written comments in advance of the Public Forum. Email written comments to Secretary@fmc.gov, with the subject line: “October 1 Public Forum”. The Commission will provide confidential treatment to the extent allowed by law for submissions, or parts of submissions, for which the filer requests confidentiality.

Public Comments Submitted for the Mid-Atlantic Forum

Additional Information

Commissioners Doyle and Lidinsky will report back to the full Commission on issues raised in this forum.

Public Forum Point of Contact

For questions regarding this forum please contact:
David J. Tubman, Office of Commissioner Doyle
Federal Maritime Commission, 202-523-5723.