Connie Award Goes to McKenna, McEllrath

James McKenna, president of the Pacific Maritime Association, and Robert McEllrath, president of the International Longshore and Warehouse Union, are co-recipients of the 2009 Connie Award presented by the Containerization and Intermodal Institute Thursday in Long Beach.

The institute each year honors an individual or individuals who have made outstanding contributions to the container shipping industry.

McKenna and McEllrath led negotiations that produced the landmark 2008 West Coast waterfront contract covering some 13,000 longshoremen. The six-year contract is designed to complete the effort begun with the previous contract negotiated in 2002 to introduce productivity-enhancing technology at West Coast ports.

Unlike the 2002 contract negotiations, which were marked by a 10-day employer lockout of longshoremen and extensive delays at West Coast ports, the 2008 contract was negotiated with minimal disruptions to cargo handling.

McEllrath and McKenna said their goal under the current contract is to regain market share lost to East and Gulf Coast ports in recent years. West Coast ports must reduce costs and improve cargo-handling productivity in order to regain the 4 percent market share West Coast ports have lost, McKenna said.

During the presentation, Crowley Maritime awarded three Thomas B. Crowley Sr. Memorial Scholarships to California Maritime Academy students. Alesi Alapa, Todd Michel and Sean Sabeh were recognized for their strong academic records, financial need and for their interest in a maritime career. Chris Peterson, Crowley's vice president of marine operations and a former Cal Maritime graduate, presented the scholarship awards.

Contact Bill Mongelluzzo at bmongelluzzo@joc.com.