Abstract
Container ports on the US East Coast find themselves in a deep predicament. The shift in balance of power to their clients - the liner operators - has forced them to make massive investments of which some have been controversial. The author analyses the causes and consequences of this extraordinary competition between container ports on the East Coast. The ongoing expansion plan in the Port of Charleston, South Carolina is used as a case study to highlight the issues. The author suggests a conservative approach to further port expansion that would best suit the needs of similarly situated ports and local residents. (A)