US politicians’ hardline stance towards foreign port operators can only undermine security at a time when the country is already lagging behind on improving safety at its docks, according to the head of the world’s largest container port operator.
“They are effectively saying ‘We don’t want you to be here, we don’t trust you’,” John Meredith, group managing director of Hong Kong-based Hutchison Port Holdings, said in an interview with the FT.
Speaking about the controversy over Dubai Ports World’s aborted takeover of five US port operations formerly run by P&O of the UK, Mr Meredith noted that the US would ultimately need the support of foreign operators such as HPH, DP World and Singapore’s PSA International to ensure the safety of US-bound ships and cargo.
“The US is relying on the goodwill of Dubai Ports and other port operators to do [overseas security checks] for them,” Mr Meredith said, adding that the furore over DP World “obviously doesn’t help” secure such co-operation.
In recent weeks, US port security hawks have beaten a path to HPH’s doorstep to study a pilot screening technology ﾖ developed by US-based Science Applications International Corp ﾖ that can detect nuclear weapons and other radioactive material hidden in containers.
The tabular content relating to this article is not available to view. Apologies in advance for the inconvenience caused.In March, US senators Charles Schumer of New York and South Carolina’s Lindsey Graham visited Hong Kong’s Kwai Chung port, and professed themselves amazed that such a system even existed. They were followed a week later by US homeland security secretary Michael Chertoff.
“Our problem has been trying to get people to realise [the technology] is already there,” says Mr Meredith.
Although HPH has no port investments in the US, Mr Meredith noted that thecompany opened an office in Washington “dedicated to trying to educate the administration, the trade and the congress [about port security issues] ﾖ it’s been quite a long, hard struggle really”.
HPH executives have also been exasperated by the small tempest that blew up last month over a Department of Energy screening contract their company stands to win in the Bahamas.
Critics of the contract, which has not yet been awarded, object to the extensive investments in China by Li Ka-shing, HPH chairman, and his close ties to Beijing.
“Why not have another check further down the chain?” Mr Meredith said of the Bahamas controversy. “[The reaction] was completely disproportionate?.?.?.? We’re there. The equipment’s there. We’re ready to do it.”
By Justine Lau and Tom Mitchell in Hong Kong
The Financial Times Ltd.
www.ft.com
