Homeland Security. Edited to add.... Someone please explain this to me!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[jfulcer]

I know this is a very stupid question, but here goes. When they say the company will just be taking over the management of the port, what exactly does that mean. Sorry, but it just seems to be a little vague to me. Hey I never claimed to be the brightest bulb in my familylol!

I would tend to think that it's the day to day operations of the port itself - scheduling workers, getting equipment, arranging docks, staging shipments, etc.

The manage and deal with all the ships/people/buildings/shipments.

 

[chris1gill]

Well, I know I feel much safer now, thank goodness. You see, now we will know where and how the terrorists are coming across our borders & we can just stop them there Yup, we are much safer with this in place... It would be funny if it weren't so serious

 

[jfulcer]

Well, I know I feel much safer now, thank goodness. You see, now we will know where and how the terrorists are coming across our borders & we can just stop them there Yup, we are much safer with this in place... It would be funny if it weren't so serious

Well, you're free to go to the UK. Oh wait. No, you can't go there. They run ports there too, and the terrorist can walk to you.

You could always go to Canada. Oh wait, the terrorists can get you there.

Theres always Australia. Oh wait. They can get you there.

Antarctica? Most likely. It'd be really cold.

I guess the ports really don't have anything to do with it. You just need to go somewhere REALLY cold.


But really, I know if I were a terrorist, I'd prefer to stow away on a 1-2 week ocean voyage. It's a lot easier than just flying here on an airline and disappearing into society. Oh wait...

 

[CEDmom]

Our security should not be handed over to ANY private company, imho. I don't care if they are from Bahrain or Boston. The Dept. of Homeland Security is a joke in it's present form and should be totally revamped. A tight, competent agency is not an impossibility and should be a budget priority, instead of a so called "tax cut".

While I agree with you in theory and principal, what are we supposed to do in the here and now? If Homeland Security cannot properly protect our ports I don't see how our govt has any option but to find the best people who can. BTW, GWB ISN'T on my hit parade.

 

[eclectics]

While I agree with you in theory and principal, what are we supposed to do in the here and now? If Homeland Security cannot properly protect our ports I don't see how our govt has any option but to find the best people who can. BTW, GWB ISN'T on my hit parade.

Actually, it's probably just a pipe dream at this point. I mean they have had five years to get it right. Will the next administration start down the right road? Maybe. And if it has to be outsourced, how about giving some jobs to Americans? Pretty soon the only jobs left here will be the CEO's and the janitors. Everything else will be done in India and China.

 

[disneyaggie]

Good GRIEF! This Bush / Republican-Puke Administration is absolutely HellBENT on destroying this country. ITheir corruption/incompetence is inexcusable.

Uh, add in the Democrats, too, my dear. They are not totally blameless.

 

[CEDmom]

Actually, it's probably just a pipe dream at this point. I mean they have had five years to get it right. Will the next administration start down the right road? Maybe. And if it has to be outsourced, how about giving some jobs to Americans? Pretty soon the only jobs left here will be the CEO's and the janitors. Everything else will be done in India and China.

Just because the ports will be managed by this company doesn't indicate that many of the workers won't be American. I doubt there will be many changes with regard to the status of lower level employees. Most likely the current ones will keep their jobs. That's not where the problem is - it's management.

BTW, I won't buy an American car because I think they're a hunk of junk, so being American or being Foreign I say lets go with the best.

 

[momof2inPA]

Just because the ports will be managed by this company doesn't indicate that many of the workers won't be American. I doubt there will be many changes with regard to the status of lower level employees. Most likely the current ones will keep their jobs. That's not where the problem is - it's management.

BTW, I won't buy an American car because I think they're a hunk of junk, so being American or being Foreign I say lets go with the best.

Here's the problem-- the Saudi's will be in charge of what comes in through those ports. They will be in charge of the hiring-- and can hire anyone they darn well choose. Like it or not, Saudi Arabia breeds terrorists, and the anti-American sentiment there is high. Who's to say that sentiment doesn't permeate that company?

Anyway, I think WE AMERICANS should manage our own ports and the security at all of our borders, and in our airports, and in our towns and communities. No, I don't feel better when we farm out protecting our own citizens. Maybe the NRA is right. We all need to have guns, just in case.

 

[CEDmom]

Here's the problem-- the Saudi's will be in charge of what comes in through those ports. They will be in charge of the hiring-- and can hire anyone they darn well choose. Like it or not, Saudi Arabia breeds terrorists, and the anti-American sentiment there is high. Who's to say that sentiment doesn't permeate that company?

Anyway, I think WE AMERICANS should manage our own ports and the security at all of our borders, and in our airports, and in our towns and communities. No, I don't feel better when we farm out protecting our own citizens. Maybe the NRA is right. We all need to have guns, just in case.

The company is headquartered in UAE not Saudi Arabia. And if we Americans could adequately protect our borders, airports and seaports I'd have no problem with it but we can't seem to do that. So, until we can get our act together rather than leave us unprotected I think the only option is to get people in that can do the job.

I won't even comment on the Saudi Arabia breeds terrorists remark.

 

[momof2inPA]

The company is headquartered in UAE not Saudi Arabia. And if we Americans could adequately protect our borders, airports and seaports I'd have no problem with it but we can't seem to do that. So, until we can get our act together rather than leave us unprotected I think the only option is to get people in that can do the job.

I won't even comment on the Saudi Arabia breeds terrorists remark.

Well, why vote? Let's let the highest bidder take over the whole country. As for your remarks about not being able to protect our borders, that's a political position this administration has chosen to take. If we let in all the illegals, we won't anger the hispanic voters. It's also been this administration's decision to stack the Department of Homeland Security with nicknamed idiots. If you think other countries have the only people smart enough to perform security correctly, well, I would call that statement Un-American.

 

[siouxi31]

From what I read, Dubai Ports World is not private but state owned instead. At least I don't think something is private if it is state owned. The UAE is real (in response to a previous post). It is a country made up of 7 states (emirates), one of them being Dubai.
I work for an ocean shipping company so I will be paying attention to my coworkers comments when I return to work on Tuesday.
I'm not sure how I feel about this yet but I do know that I'm not alarmed by it.
On one side, I think to myself how UAE is nearly crime free. It could be the stiff penalty's one would face if they committed a crime there. My neighbor grew up in Bahrain, and worked in UAE for several years. He would tell me how there were never crimes to do with children (kidnapping, raping, etc.) because the crime committer would be put to death. Harsh punishment? I'm sure, but they just don't put up with that crap. I'm losing sight of the point here, but I wanted to mention the small amount of information I have on UAE (which isn't enough to come up with my stance on this situation) just to explain why I'd like to know more about it before developing a standing opinion.
We already have foreign companies managing some of our ports. Why is the UAE different? Not because they breed terrorists (which I don't believe), but because UAE was an operational and financial base of the hijackers who carried out 9/11 and because it is an Arabic nation.

As for what Port Management means, I'd like to know that too. I know there are unions out there working the ships (loading, unloading, fixing containers, etc), so I would assume these unions stay and just the "management" of pulling all of the different aspects required in port operation will be the duties of Dubai Ports World.
Prior to DPW's bid to takeover P&O (the British company that now manages the ports of discussion), Singapore's PSA International had mad a takeover bid. I wonder what everyone would think about this? My company is Singapore owned. I've been there and have talked to my coworkers who talk about the sensorship of their country. Instead of being concerned about terrorism, we may then be concerned about incidents not being reported since they are being sensored.
As for port management companies, if anyone here wants to look this up, you may find additional information by looking up other companies that are in the industry of port management. I believe this how they now stack up in terms of size:
Hutchinson Ports of Hong Kong is #1. When you go to Hong Kong, you see "Hutchinson" all over the place.
DP World is now #2 (deal to be finalized in March)
Singapore PSA #3
Danish Group APM Terminals #4

In addition, look what I just found on DPW and port management. Maybe this will answer the Port management question we all have:

"which brings together container terminals, other cargoes, free zones, infrastructure developments and consultancy services. Combined with its ‘common user’ status, DPI’s cross-sector expertise offers solutions in all aspects of port operations, ultimately driving efficiency and financial returns for its customers. DPI has successfully applied the management systems, developed at Port Rashid and Jebel Ali, to its global network of terminal operations. This enables its customers, to experience the same high level of service they have come to expect when their vessels call at Dubai.

With a flat management structure that is low on bureaucracy and high on entrepreneurial drive and flair, DPI is able to take a much longer-term view than its competitors. It invests in the infrastructure, facilities and people at its operations, to further enhance the customer’s experience and satisfaction, and increase trade. DPI can completely turn around the performance of ports, rather than just achieve small incremental improvements solely through better management practices."

 

[jfulcer]

I work for an ocean shipping company

THANK you for your post. It was very informative, and what we needed to hear, not that GWB can't handle it.

I find the above quote most funny, because you are in Chicago. There's no oceans near you. Be sure you come to the next CHI DIS meet!

 

[siouxi31]

What's even funnier is that we have Marine Union people working here in Chicago at my company. Chicago is a major hub of transportation so we have one of the larger offices in the USA (not as large as those in the major water ports though).

 

[jfulcer]

shhhhhh, don't tell anyone - but DP World already runs ports in the United States after an acquisition of CSX terminals last year. Don't tell the people who work in those ports that they're working for NON-AMERICANS....