News & Events
Judge rules stevedore ordinance unconstitutionally protects its own
Port of Miami
April 09, 2008 | DAILY BUSINESS REVIEW
By John Pacenti
In the rough-and-tumble world of the waterfront, the stevedore is the brawny linchpin in charge of unloading cargo of all shapes and hazards.
At the Port of Miami, nine stevedore companies have controlled the operation for years under a self-perpetuating review system, U.S. District Judge Adalberto Jordan ruled Monday.
Would-be competitor Florida Transportation Service from Port Everglades challenged the arrangement after it couldn’t get a permit to operate at the state’s largest container port and the ninth largest in the nation.
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Even if the county wins on damages, Jordan’s ruling must be addressed either by changes at the port or a challenge before the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.
“It’s a very significant decision,” said attorney Jeffrey Crockett of Coffey Burlington in Miami. He represented Florida Transportation Service along with colleagues Mark Journey and Robert Wright.
Journey said the decision is important because it clearly states the national economy is not Balkanized.
“The record is clear. This is a setup for the protection of the existing stevedores. That has been proven beyond dispute,” Journey said.
The nine stevedore companies are Biscayne Stevedoring, Eller-ITO Stevedoring, Florida Stevedoring, Hallmark Stevedoring, Oceanic Stevedoring, P&O Ports of Florida, R.O. White, Seaboard Marine and Universal Maritime Services.
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John Pacenti can be reached at jpacenti@alm.com or at (305) 347-6638