Expert: Isles need
strong ports leader

By Jerry Tune
Star-Bulletin

Joan Yim, former deputy administrator of the Federal Maritime Administration, says the success of the planned Hawaii Maritime Authority depends on the ability to think in global economic terms and resolve disputes between government agencies.

Yim, who is now with the architecture and engineering firm Parsons Brinckerhoff Quade & Douglas in Washington D.C., made her remarks to a group of maritime industry and government leaders at the Hilton Hawaiian Village yesterday who gathered to help draft the final form of the Hawaii authority. Those efforts will continue Aug. 27 at the state Capitol.

Hawaii's efforts to set up the Hawaii Maritime Authority is an attempt to consolidate the maritime-industry functions of the Department of Transportation, Department of Land and Natural Resources, Hawaii Community Development Authority, and Aloha Tower Development Corp.

Yim said that jurisdictional conflicts can be resolved, but a defined process must be put in place.

She referred often to cities with port directors who had been successful in dealing with the growing global maritime competition. But she stopped short of endorsing one particular structure for Hawaii.

Yim said that a port director is critical and "must have knowledge of the global industry."

Reducing congestion, and ensuring adequate transportation in and out of ports was one of the key needs of all ports, she said.

Yim offered mainland examples of port authorities that vary greatly in structure and political powers.

Houston's port authority is set up by the state constitution and has land use taxing powers and a powerful chairman, she said. Georgia operates statewide with a nine-person appointed board and a powerful director but must seek funding from the state legislature.