It’s no secret that 2009 was a difficult year for the maritime industry, and 2010 looks to be just as challenging. Yet despite the hurdles before us -- and make no mistake, they are significant -- it is also a time of great opportunity. Specifically, the choices the industry makes now can put us in a position to manage the volume when it does return. If, however, we fail to adapt, we will put ourselves even further behind.
For the first time in many years, the West Coast waterfront handles less than 50 percent of waterborne imports to the United States. This figure may be largely symbolic, but competition is more real than ever before. And it is especially intense as a result of ongoing global economic turmoil.
With shippers having options including the East Coast, Gulf Coast and Canada, those of us doing business on the West Coast must take advantage of our strategic location and other natural strengths to ensure our share of growth when conditions improve.
So while we must stay focused on the serious challenges we’re facing today, we must also prepare for the future. That means finding ways to do things better, faster and smarter. We must make our ports the most attractive option for shippers -- by managing aggressively, working in partnership with the longshore union and local port authorities, and looking toward the future investments that will enable our terminals to thrive.
By taking the long view, even in a time of crisis, we will put ourselves in a position to succeed for many years to come.