Espionage, state subsidy, protectionism: which is the terminal disease?

Two ZPMC cranes installed in Port Elizabeth in December

The international container terminal sector has long been scrutinised by spooks, spies and security analysts – and for good reason: ports are sensitive, vulnerable zones.

Accusations of espionage devices being fitted to Chinese-made container cranes came as absolutely no surprise to any senior terminal executive – not because they thought allegations true (that remains unknown to the industry, although sentiment is “probably probable”), but because they have been circulating for so long.

The American Association of Port Authorities (AAPA) flatly rejected the ...