NORTHWEST MARINE TERMINAL ASSOCIATION
The Northwest Marine
Terminal Association is a voluntary association of deepwater ports and marine
terminal operators in
Current NWMTA members
include the ports of Anacortes, Astoria, Bellingham, Coos Bay, Everett, Grays
Harbor, Kalama, Longview, Olympia, Port Angeles, Portland, Seattle, Tacoma and
Vancouver.
The Northwest Marine
Terminal Association has operated continuously since 1939, under an Agreement
approved by the Federal Maritime Commission subject to provisions of Section 15
of the Shipping Act of 1916, the Shipping Act of 1984 and more recently the
Ocean Shipping Reform Act of 1998.
The Ocean Shipping
Reform Act continues the basic principles of anti-trust immunity for certain
rate setting and other collective practices.
The provisions of the
Northwest Marine Terminal Association Agreement provide ample authority for the
fourteen member ports to set uniform rates, establish consistent rules and
practices, exchange relevant information, and pursue cooperative ventures.
PURPOSE OF NWMTA AGREEMENT
To discuss and agree
among themselves concerning all terminal rates and/or charges for or in
connection with cargoes handled at facilities owned or operated by the Members.
To discuss and agree
among themselves concerning all rules and regulations
relating to the receiving, handling, storing and/or delivering of property at
terminal facilities;
To collect, compile
and exchange credit experience information.
To exchange information
to facilitate long range industry planning with respect to a broad range of
factors such as environmental concerns, intermodal developments and
regulations, technological developments, fuel and energy requirements, mitigate
operating costs, labor issues, port development, and governmental programs and
action which affect terminal and other maritime activities.
OFFICALS OF THE AGREEMENT AND DELEGATION OF
AUTHORITY
The affairs of the
NWMTA are governed by a Board of Trustees.
Each active Member of the Association names one trustee and one
alternative trustee.
The Board shall elect
a President, Vice President and Treasurer, who shall serve for one year.
The President appoints
Chair and Vice-Chair of the standing committees
The Board shall select
and employ an Executive Secretary who shall act as the Executive Officer of the
Association, subject to the direction of the Board and President
COMMITTEES –
The members may establish and abolish committees or subcommittees as they
consider necessary to conduct the business of the Association. The current committees include:
Tariffs and Practices Committee – This
committee shall investigate and study terminal operating costs, methods and
practices, as well as traffic conditions, in order to determine just and
reasonable rates, charges, classifications, rules, regulations and practices at
marine terminals, and to recommend to the membership the adoption of such
rates, charges, classifications, rules, regulations and practices.
Law and Legislation Committee – the purpose
of this committee is for discussing and studying local and national legal and
legislative issues of concern to the members, preparing pleadings or statements
on behalf of the Association for submission to any judicial or legislative
forum, and to monitor and report to the Members on specific legal proceedings
which may affect the Members.
Economics and Finance Committee – responsible for collecting financial data from the MARAD
(Maritime Administration) Public Port Finance Survey to substantiate rate
adjustments.
Budget Committee – Prepares and
monitor the budget for the Association.
CURRENT SUBCOMMITTEES
Puget Sound Ports
Group Subcommittee
Columbia River Ports
Subcommittee
Log Ports Subcommittee
Marketing and
Operations Subcommittee
Northwest Container
Ports Subcommittee
Real Estate
Subcommittee
Humanitarian Food Aid
Subcommittee
Steel and Aluminum
Ports Subcommittee
South Puget Sound
Ports Group Subcommittee
MEMBERSHIP –
Any public or private marine terminal operator service interstate and foreign
commerce and located within the States of Oregon or
VOTING – Each
member shall be entitled to cast one vote on each matter presented for decision
of the Association.
DURATION – The
duration of the Association is perpetual.
SHIPPERS’
REQUEST AND COMPLAINTS – Shippers’ request and complaints may be made by filing
a statement thereof with the Association Executive Officer. Such statements shall be submitted promptly
to each Member and to the Committee on Tariffs and Practices for consideration
at its next meeting. The Committee on
Tariffs and Practices shall submit conclusions and recommendations to the
Members of the Association for decision and the Executive Officer shall, in
writing, promptly advise the filing party of the action taken by the
Association.
INDEPENDENT ACTION – The Members of the
Association agree to consult with one another, through the Association where
practical, relating to and before amending or reissuing any of their tariffs
dealing with traffic within the scope of this Agreement. Any recommendations made by a party to this
agreement, and any recommendation by the Association to its Members shall be
purely advisory, and any party to this Agreement may take independent action on any rate, charge, practice or any
item required to be filed in a tariff.
AGREEMENTS
WITH OTHER MARINE TERMINAL OPERATORS – The Northwest Marine Terminal
Association has an inter-conference terminal agreement with the California
Association of Port Authorities (CAPA) to confer, discuss and make
recommendations on rates and charges.
CURRENT CAPA/NWMTA COMMITTEES AND SUBCOMMITTEES
Joint Pacific Coast
Port Subcommittee on Tariff and Practices
CAPA/NWMTA Labor
Issues Subcommittee
CAPA/NWMTA Working
Waterfront Subcommittee
CAPA/NWMTA Container
Lease Subcommittee