MarAd Announces Grants For Five Marine Highway Projects
The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Maritime Highway Administration (MarAd) awarded $4.85 million in Marine Highway Program grants December 3 to five projects.
Marine Highway grants aim to expand the use of the nation’s navigable waterways to relieve landside congestion, support new and more efficient transportation options and enhance performance of the surface transportation system. The program works with public and private stakeholders to achieve these goals. Grants were awarded to projects in Louisiana, Puerto Rico, Washington and West Virginia.
“The USMHP is a tremendous opportunity to increase waterborne transport through expanding the use of America’s navigable waters, and through this expansion, to further integrate our waterways into the nation’s surface transportation system,” said Maritime Administrator Ann Phillips. “This is particularly important as water-based transport is the most efficient, effective and sustainable option.”
Selected projects receiving funding follow.
Alexandria, La.
The Central Louisiana Regional Port was awarded $2,524,977 for the procurement, delivery and assembly of a 275-ton marine crane with an electric magnet and a 27.5-ton forklift, enhancing cargo-handling capacities and supporting military logistics at the Alexandria-based port. The equipment will enable the port to efficiently load and unload diverse cargoes, including steel sheets, aluminum billets, military equipment, agricultural products, containerized goods and disaster response supplies. The project aids in reducing carbon pollution by shifting cargo currently transported by truck and rail to more energy-efficient barging between the port site on United States Marine Highway Route M-49 and connecting United States Marine Highway routes in the Gulf of Mexico.
Follansbee, W.Va.
Empire Diversified Industries was awarded $277,766 for the creation of a master plan for the recently established Port of West Virginia in Follansbee, W.Va., to prioritize infrastructure projects and ensure the port can adapt to evolving supply chain dynamics, including the increased use of the United Stated Marine Highway Routes M-70 and M-79. Central to the plan is alignment with regional freight shipment needs and a significant modal shift from truck to barge to alleviate landside congestion. The recipient also plans to produce alternative fuels on site to facilitate the future use of zero-emission equipment once the terminal is in place.
Vancouver, Wash.
Tidewater Barge Line Inc. was awarded $454,436 to support expanded barge service between the recipient’s terminal in Vancouver, Wash., and the Port of Morrow, Ore. The award will be used to acquire a low-emission container handler, enabling the recipient to divert additional volumes of containerized municipal waste from clogged highways to the United States Marine Highway Route M-84.
Everett, Wash.
Osprey Logistics LLC was awarded $881,330 to purchase cargo-handling equipment critical to port operations, specifically a wheel loader and fork attachments. The project will expand the recipient’s terminal capacity to include containers, heavy aggregates and lumber and enhance the ability to load and unload logs at its privately owned facility in Everett, Wash. The project aims to increase loading speed and efficiency by up to 50 percent and add capacity to emerging United States Marine Highway Route M-5 activity in the Puget Sound, building on the recipient’s past record of reducing 5,600 regional truck trips annually by providing a waterborne alternative to congested highways.
Vieques, Puerto Rico
The Puerto Rico Integrated Transportation Authority was awarded $711,491 for the construction of a new vehicle ramp at the Mosquito Terminal in Vieques. The ramp supports the loading and unloading of cargo on a new barge currently under construction. The project will address a growing demand for Marine Highway transportation services central to the waterborne transportation of consumer goods, construction materials and agricultural products, all essential for daily life in the region. Strengthening resiliency on the United Stated Marine Highway Route M-2 by increasing terminal capacity to handle higher cargo volumes is a central goal of the program.
