Tampa Port approves new stevedore, MTO company

Tampa Bay Business Journal – by Mark Holan, Staff Writer

Date: Tuesday, July 19, 2011, 4:27pm EDT

The Tampa Port Authority Tampa Port Authority Latest from The Business Journals Port director Wainio’s contract renewal gets attentionMore praise for port’s Channelside garageBoston wary of former Grand Avenue owner Follow this company board approved new stevedore and marine terminal operator licenses Tuesday over the objection of unionized longshoremen.

Lawrence R. Shipp, the board’s chairman, voted against granting licenses to Tampa Marine Terminals, citing unresolved questions about whether the new company has already done dock work without a license.

Port staff is still investigating those questions. TMT attorney Anthony Cuva dismissed the allegation as “a side issue” the company has been working with port staff to clarify.

Gulf Coast Bulk Equipment of Palmetto and Hendry Corp. Hendry Corp. Latest from The Business Journals DeAngelis Diamond Healthcare Group opens new office in BirminghamCommercial Real Estate BriefsRailroad’s project spurs new development along I-35 South Follow this company of Tampa created TMT last year.

Port staff recommended granting TMT a stevedore and MTO license for handling bulk cargo. But at the company’s request the board majority granted both licenses for handling breakbulk cargo as well.

Robert Doster of International Longshoremen’s Association Local 1402 and a few dozen other workers objected to the licenses for non-union workers. “Cheap labor is not skilled labor, and skilled labor is not cheap,” Doster said.

TMT principal Richard Tager, in a letter to port officials, wrote, “many established stevedores in the Port of Tampa Port of Tampa Latest from The Business Journals Tampa’s international trade scene is expansiveTampa Port readies for Panama Canal expansionMaritime Industries group questions Wainio’s contract Follow this company and the Gulf Coast region do not use union labor and instead use experienced contract labor.”

Niko Tomc, president of Jupiter, Fla.-based Poseidon Agencies Inc., and Bruce Schuck, president of Tampa-based Tred Avon Corp., submitted letters of support for TMT.

The port currently has about 15 stevedore and 10 MTO companies.

Commissioners who voted for the TMT licenses — including Hillsborough County Commissioner Sandra Murman — said free market competition is good for the port. Tampa Mayor Bob Buckhorn was absent Tuesday.