When the initial takeover approach by Dubai’s DP World for P&O, the UK ports and ferries operator, became public at the end of October last year, it would have taken a bold person to predict that the deal would transform the US ports sector.

The US, after all, accounted for less than one 10th of P&O’s business. The US assets were a mixed bag, with excellent container terminals in New Jersey and Miami but also less desirable assets, such as New Orleans.