Shipper s have theirs. So do Freight forwarders, customs brokers, ports and other maritime transportation sectors. But by this year's fourth quarter, count ocean carriers in as having their own association.
As yet, unnamed, the new group will be headed by Christopher L. Koch, who recently served as senior vice president of law and general counsel for Sea-Land Service Inc., CSX Lines and CSX World Terminals. Previous to that, Koch had been Chairman of the Federal Maritime Commission.
In a recent press release, the group has stated its purpose will be to represent ocean liner operations in Washington D.C.
The ocean carrier group stated that ocean carriers are responsible for transporting $400 billion worth of U.S. import and export cargoes per year, and that its goal is to convince policy makers in Washington (and consumers nationwide) how important the role is that the shipping industry plays in the U.S. economy.
The new group's member list reads like a who's who of the international ocean liner field, from A.P. Moller (Maersk Sealand) to Zim Israel Navigation. Thus far, only one Jones Act carrier is listed as a member - Crowley Maritime Corporation.
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