Maersk Chair Irked By Feud

The chairman of Maersk, the largest shipper at the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, has reportedly lost patience with a feud between the two states that has put his lease on hold for a year. Tommy Thomsen, said the firm, which handles up to 25 percent of the port's cargo, might rethink its options if the Port Authority fails to quickly approve his lease. Maersk last year selected New York Harbor as its hub port over competing offers from ports such as Baltimore and Halifax, Nova Scotia. New Jersey Gov. Christie Whitman urged New York Gov. George Pataki to let the Port Authority, which the two governors jointly control, approve the Maersk lease. A Pataki spokesman said the governor was considering Whitman's request for a face-to-face meeting.