American Stevedoring Ousted From Red Hook Terminal

According to a report in the Red Hook Star-Revue (links to a PDF file), American Stevedoring, one of Brooklyn’s largest shipping container companies, has been removed from the Red Hook Container Terminal, supposedly after a battle with the Port Authority.

As the Red Hook Star-Revue found, owner Sal Catucci had been at odds with the Port Authority since his company moved to Red Hook in 1992, with allegations that he was renting a lot to a private trucking company. The article says “his last lease renewal was highly contentious." It also adds that in 2002 some felt that the Bloomberg administration attempted to push the shipping containers out of Red Hook’s valuable waterfront.

According to the article, American Stevedoring filed “a massive federal lawsuit” against the Port Authority in May 2010, charging that the Port Authority stopped applying for the Federal funds that would cover the barge operations that would keep American Stevedoring in business.

Piers 7-11, which has previously housed American Stevedoring, will now be home to Phoenix Beverages, and until they are properly moved in, loading operations will be managed by shipping company CGM CMA, who was granted a temporary license, according to the Star-Revue’s report.

Since the land will stay zoned for shipping operations, Red Hook residents won’t have to worry about luxury developers moving into the waterfront quite yet. Still, pollution remains a concern amongst residents who live close to the operation.