MyReporter.com posed this question to Shannon Moody, director of communications for the N.C. State Ports Authority. Here’s her answer:
“Neither CEO Tom Eagar, nor any member of the senior management team of the NC State Ports Authority, have received a pay increase or bonus this year, nor are any planned. The exception for all ports employees would be in the event of a promotion or significant change in job responsibilities.”
Date posted: August 3, 2010
User-contributed question by:
Will Penny
No one would contest a high salary for the mangement of the Port Authority, if they do the job need and get our ports developed to handle new super container ships. In neighboring states, i.e., Va., S. C., and Ga. their ports have been developed into deep-water container ports and are generating in excess of a Billion rpt Billion dollars in revenue and creating double digit jobs while supporting hundreds of thousands related jobs. This, while our out-of-date facilities lost 6 million last year. The other ports are reporting 20% to 25% growth in the last 5 months, we lost traffic.
Let’s wakeup and realize that in port operations, as in all things, you get what you pay for.
It is interesting that the port of Charleston was developed using no rpt no taxpayer money. The state’s farsighted logistic infrastructure plan already provided adequate roadways and rail and private investors and federal grants has provided as self sustaining, business like operation that even funds it own expansion and growth.
All NC need do is copy this model, making obvious improvements learned by other container ports. And, we need do it before 2014 when the new, larger, wider Panama Canal opens and Far East ships can deliver to the East Coast where 70% of their traffic currently is shipped, first by container ship, on to double stacked container rail, then, across the country. East Coast berths (1,300 with 50 foot draft) will be in short supply. Many due to low bridges and long shallow channels in todays most active ports.
In short, it will cost more, financially, in job, and in missed new industry for our state than to get our ports ready than to build them and pay for them ourselves, and that is not necessary. Only a dumb-ass would not recognize this opportunity, or be extremely selfish and self centered.
Go to website, http://savannahnow.com/column/2010-06-25/portside-new-indust. to read a good article on Ga. port activity.