Philadelphia short-lists bidders for container terminal

Pennsylvania has pre-qualified four groups as potential bidders to develop a new container terminal in Philadelphia on the Delaware River south of the Walt Whitman Bridge.

   According to an announcement issued by AECOM USA, the engineering company assisting the state on the project, the four groups were selected from among those who expressed interest in building what the state is calling the Philadelphia Southport Marine Container Terminal. They include:

   Hamburg Sud North America Inc. and Holt Southport Development Corp. Holt is a local stevedoring company.

   Delaware River Stevedores, another local stevedore, and its 50-50 owners, Ports America Inc. and Carrix Inc., the parent of Stevedoring Services of America.

   MOL and its TraPac Inc. terminal affiliate.

   The Philippine-based International Container Terminal Services Inc. and DBM Fonds, a subsidiary of ABN AMRO.

   The state said prequalified teams would be invited to meet representatives and its advisors in one-on-one meetings to discuss the process for soliciting bids. Whoever is chosen will be awarded a long-term concession agreement and be given the rights to develop, design, construct, finance, operate and maintain the terminal.

   The commonwealth anticipates that the project will yield a significant revenue return for the state, as well as fuel the creation of jobs and economic investment in the community, the state said.

Source: American Shipper