Bill would shield some ports contracts from the public

WILMINGTON, NC (WECT) - A bill filed Thursday at the General Assembly would make some contracts between the State Ports Authority and cargo carriers private.

Sen. Michael Lee (R-New Hanover) sponsored the measure. He said the change is needed to shield sensitive information, including pricing, from ports that want to take North Carolina's business.

"Our competitors are going into our records…and they're able to effectively use our own information to compete against us," said Lee, a former chair of the State Ports Authority and member of the Department of Transportation board.

North Carolina's ports are the only ones on the east coast without a contract shield provision, according to Cliff Pyron, a ports authority spokesman.

He said the bill would pertain to a "very small section" of contracts.

The measure would apply to usage contracts, defined in the bill as "a contract or agreement that contains terms and conditions involving terminal services related to maritime activities, including dockage, wharfage, cargo handling, storage, ro-ro service, transportation drayage, and other miscellaneous port services."

Pyron said the majority of contracts – including construction, purchasing and consulting services – would remain public.

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