10-23 IAN Port Trouble

Here we go again. An Associated Press article reported that the South Korean shipping line Hanjin Shipping Co. Ltd. badly needs to cut costs and in so doing, plans to leave the Port of Portland. According to the AP, this move could seriously threaten the Northwest economy, increasing costs to big importers and putting at risk the viability of the port's international container terminal. How they are losing money when they do so much shipping is reportedly due to the fact that the longshore union and the port operator are locked in a contract dispute and they are blaming each other for Hanjin's decision. Given that this could have a huge impact on the ability of Idaho's producers to ship commodities to foreign ports, I called the Port of Portland, got with the operator and asked for an information officer. Here is the rest of the conversation: "it's kind of divided into aviation or marine. I am an agricultural reporter and am calling to inquire about the Hanjin Shipping Co. Okay that would be Josh Thomas, let me transfer you to him. I will be out of the office during this time, you can leave a message and I will return calls when I am back in the office or for immediate assistance, you can call the 24 hour media pager." so there is my job definition. Calling up people who can speak on behalf of other people but the spokesman is rarely there.??