Port of Charleston’s biggest client, Maersk, is threatening to sail away unless the State Ports Authority (SPA) and the International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA) can come together in order to throw a (financial) line.

Sofar, the negotiations between SPA and the union have not been successful. The SPA proposed a solution that would cut dozens of unions jobs. SPA’s CEO Bernard Groseclose Jr. states that the problem centers on a contract between Maersk Denmark and the SPA which ends in 2010. According to the agreement the agency would purchase more than $8M in equipment and commit terminal space and staffing to Maersk.

Maersk is the No. 1 shipping line in the world and accounts for about 25% of SPA’s container business.

One proposed solution is to move to the common-use area. This solution would cut 30 clerks, 16 maintenance workers and 67 longshoremen.

ILA President Riley expects that the Maersk discussion to become a national issue that raises a broader questions: Can the shipping line legally move to the common yard?

Groseclose said Maersk worldwide market share is down and that they are talking to ports around the US to cancel or change their contracts.

Charleston Port Services owner Robert New states that the maritime community hopes for a resolution that will keep Maersk calling.

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