Six marine terminals in the Port of New York and New Jersey have filed a new agreement with the U.S. Federal Maritime Commission so they can discuss and possible agree on issues having to do with the environment, efficiency and security.

The Port of New York-New Jersey Sustainable Service Agreement was filed with the FMC on Monday and has six members: American Stevedoring, APM Terminals North America, Global Terminal and Container Services, Maher Terminals, New York Container Terminal, and Port Newark Container Terminal.

The agreement would allow the terminals to discuss issues including:

Ways to reduce air pollution from port operations, including the use of alternative or retrofitted cargo handling equipment.

Ways to make terminals more efficient and reduce costs.

Equipment interchange.

Port infrastructure including road and rail improvements.

Security regulations such as the SAFE Port Act and the Transportation Worker Identification Credential or TWIC Cards.

Enhancing public and government awareness of port issues.

The agreement will become effective in 45 days, unless the FMC asks for additional information, in which case it would become effective 45 days after that information is provided. There are about a dozen other discussion agreements among terminal operators filed with the FMC.