The Oregon Shipping Group, led by Salem lawyer, lobbyist, former State Representative and Senator Kevin Mannix, has proposed an Oregon Shipping Authority in a bill before the state legislature. KBOO reporter Sam Bouman spoke to Mannix today for more on the proposal, which would give the Authority control over the Port of Portland's Terminal 6, among other things, in an effort to reinvigorate container shipping there.
Opposing the bill are some of the Ports themselves. Issues at play include the still-in-court labor dispute between the ILWU and the company currently running T6 for the Port, ICTSI; potential effects on opposition to fossil fuel shipments through Portland and the Gorge; and the container shipping market in general.
Also interviewed for this story were Keith Leavitt, Chief Commercial Officer for the Port of Portland, and Mark Landauer, executive director of the Oregon Public Ports Association.
- KBOO