WASHINGTON, DC – The Senate Commerce Committee today announced it will hold a Full Committee hearing on the recent purchase by Dubai Ports World (DP World) of the P&O Port division of P&O Group on Tuesday, February 28, 2006, at 2:30 p.m. in a room 109 of the Dirksen Building.
The hearing will examine DP World’s purchase of P&O Ports and the security role held by the U.S. government at ports. This deal, which allows DP World to gain access to terminal leases held by P&O throughout the world, was accepted by P&O shareholders February 13, 2006. P&O Ports is a multi-national terminal operating company based in the United Kingdom, which leases terminals throughout the world, including six in the United States – New York, New Jersey, Philadelphia, Baltimore, Miami, and New Orleans. DP World is owned by the United Arab Emirates government. This offer was accepted over a similar offer tendered by PSA International.
“This hearing will provide Committee Members the opportunity to clearly understand what the proposed purchase means for terminal operations at ports,” said Commerce Committee Chairman Ted Stevens (R-Alaska). “It is important for us to get the facts and avoid speculation. This hearing will help us make informed decisions to ensure the security at our nation’s ports.”
Committee Members
-
Ted Stevens
Senator
Testimony
-
Jayson Ahern
Assistant Commissioner for Field Operations, Customs and Border ProtectionU.S. Department of Homeland Security -
Michael P. Jackson
Deputy SecretaryDepartment of Homeland Security
Witness Panel 2
-
Robert Scavone
Executive Vice President, Strategic Planning & DevelopmentP&O Ports North America, Inc. -
H. Edward Bilkey
Chief Operating OfficerDP World -
Michael Mitre
Port Security DirectorInternational Longshore and Warehouse Union -
Christopher Koch
President and Chief Executive OfficerWorld Shipping Council -
Tay Yoshitani
Senior Policy AdvisorNational Association of Waterfront Employees