In an unusual alliance of competitors, officials from Houston, Mobile, Ala., and Tampa, Fla., are cooperating to market their ports to Asian shippers.
Officials from the three ports recently returned from a two-week marketing mission to China, Hong Kong, Korea, Singapore and Taiwan, where they touted what they dubbed the “Gulf Coast Advantage” to shipping lines.
Officials of the three ports considered such a marketing effort several years ago but decided the time wasn’t right. Since then the economy has recovered, and the Port of Houston Authority has a new chief executive. So the ports resumed discussions.