Port Reform - to Improve Productivity, to Become More Competitive, to Essay

Port Reform - to Improve Productivity, to Become More Competitive, to Attract Private Capital - Essay Example Specifically, this paper would assess the following rationales: to improve productivity, to become more competitive, and to attract private capital. Specific and actual examples of ports that have or are in the process of reform would be identified to expound on the rationales. Different ports would be utilized for each of the areas being evaluated and assessed. About 75% of the world is covered with water. No wonder people have long discovered ways and means to traverse this natural resource. As a consequence, the need for facilities and loading docks and ports have been given due importance. In California, McLaurin (2009, par. 4), President of the Pacific Merchant Shipping Association reported that â€Å"ports create hundreds of thousands of trade-related jobs throughout the state – and with that billion of dollars in tax revenue†. The Port of Los Angeles is the number one port by container volume and cargo value in the United States, handling a record-breaking 8.4 million TEUs (twenty-foot equivalent units) in the calendar year 2007. (The Port of Los Angeles 2008, par. 11) On the other hand, the port of Long Beach reported a â€Å"trade valued annually at more than $100 billion moves through Long Beach, making it the second-busiest seaport in the United States† (The Port of Long Beach 2007, par.2) Not to be outdated is the Port of South Louisiana which boasts of being the â€Å"largest tonnage port district in the western hemisphere†. (Port of South Louisiana 2009, par. 1)