DeLauro: Delay in Dubai Port Management

Makes for “Absentee Landlord”

– Move will leave 20 ports unmanaged, may violate law –

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congresswoman Rosa L. DeLauro (Conn.-3) today said that the Dubai Port World’s delay in port management would make the company an “absentee landlord.” In a press release issued overnight, DP World announced that it would not “exert control over or otherwise influence the management of P&O ports “until concerns raised by a bipartisan group of lawmakers had been addressed.” The announcement does not, however, delay DP World’s purchase of P&O Navigation, the port operator at 20 American ports.  The purchase is scheduled to be completed on March 2.  After that date, the 20 ports in this country now operated by P&O ports will be owned by DP World.

Earlier this week, DeLauro cosponsored legislation to place a stay on the entire takeover until Congress could further evaluate it.

“Less than two months ago, the GAO reported that ‘much work remains to be done’ to secure our seaports. Following this report, the Bush Administration’s first decision was to hand over control of our ports to a foreign entity. This deal put our country’s security at risk and Congress was right to question the deal. Now DP World is offering to refrain from managing these properties, even though the deal will go still go through next week.

“It is outrageous for any company to suggest that they could operate our country’s ports without any management oversight whatsoever – making them easy targets for smugglers and terrorists. We must question whether operating a port in this manner is consistent with the Maritime Security Act. And we must not allow American ports to be run by an absentee landlord.”

Enacted in 2002, the Maritime Security Act is the signature legislation designed to ensure the safety and security of American seaports.

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www.house.gov/delauro