P&O Ports, Cooper/T. Smith merge Norfolk activities

P&O Ports, Cooper/T. Smith merge Norfolk activities

   P&O Ports North America Inc., a terminal operating and stevedoring company, and Cooper/T. Smith Stevedoring, a maritime logistics services provider, said they plan to merge activities in Norfolk, Va. Their business will be combined into a new limited liability corporation to be known as 'CP&O.'

   The new entity will include the cargo and cruise line stevedoring, warehousing and maintenance services that the two companies have until now conducted separately. The merger will be completed by Oct. 1.

   George Brown, vice president of Cooper/T. Smith and manager of its operations in Virginia, will serve as chief executive officer of the new company.

   'By combining our resources, we'll be able to focus the right level of management to each of our separate activities,' said Art Moye, vice president of P&O Ports operations in Virginia. P&O Ports North America, based in Iselin, N.J., recently promoted Moye to oversee its operations in Baltimore.

   Cooper/T. Smith Stevedoring is a division of Cooper/T. Smith Corporation, a century-old maritime company.