US MARITIME ADMINISTRATION AWARDS $39 MILLION TO STRENGTHEN SUPPLY CHAIN
The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Maritime Administration (MARAD) awarded $39 million in grants to fund 12 marine highway projects throughout the Nation under America’s Marine Highway Program (AMHP). This grant money was earmarked to boost services on the nation’s navigable waterways that reduce congestion, minimize supply chain bottlenecks, and move goods more quickly through the logistics network.
“At a time of record demand for goods, it’s more important than ever to strengthen our supply chains so our manufacturers can grow and American families can get the things they need quickly and affordably…[these grants] will help improve our marine highway system across the country, alleviating congestion, modernizing port operations, and ultimately lowering the cost of goods for American families.”
Pete Buttigieg, U.S. Transportation Secretary
MARINE HIGHWAY GRANT PROJECTS
The following Marine Highway recipients must comply with and implement all “Buy America, Build America” infrastructure law requirements including using funds to purchase low-emission U.S. manufactured equipment – such as container reach stackers, cranes, iron, and steel manufactured products, and construction materials. Intermodal equipment may also be purchased with grant funds – including U.S. manufactured container chassis – that may mitigate supply chain bottlenecks.
Some Grant Monies Will Fund Container Yard Equipment Purchases
Projects awarded funding:
- Helena Harbor M-55 Container on Barge Project (awarded $2,872,414) – This Arkansas project will help fund purchasing terminal operating equipment to handle containers.
- M-5 Coastal Connector (awarded $5,550,000) – Funds for this grant award will support infrastructure upgrades at the Port of San Diego and West Coast M-5 Coastal Connector will use a barge to move raw materials and container goods through California and Washington.
- Guam Marine Transportation Enhancement Initiative (awarded $5,703,560) – The Port Authority of Guam will use grant funds to expand the Port’s specialized container yard equipment fleet.
- M-55/M-35 Marine Highway Barge Project (awarded $2,418,500) – Fuel-efficient and environmentally friendly forklifts, cable cranes, and a barge winch system will be purchased with funds for deployment at the Port Authority of St. Louis’ Municipal River Terminal, America’s Central Port (Granite City, IL), and the Madison Harbor (Madison, IL).
- Baton Rouge-New Orleans Shuttle Service Barge Expansion Project (awarded $1,050,000) – Seventy chassis will be purchased with grant funds to support cargo handling capacity and reduce landside congestion.
- Port Raritan Terminal Facility Development Planning Grant Application (awarded $1,128,889) – The grant will fund preliminary design and environmental investigation to develop the Port Raritan Terminal facility for active use.
- New York Harbor Container & Trailer-on-Barge Service (awarded $5,160,000) – Six landings in New York Harbor will be upgraded with grant funds to accommodate moving freight by water.
- Oswego Port Great Lakes Container Service Reach Stacker Project (awarded $754,000) – Funds will purchase a fully mobile reach stacker to ensure container loading and unloading is more versatile for transporting stacking containers at the Port of Oswego.
- Puerto Rico Maritime Transportation Service Project (awarded $2,800,000) – AMHP grant funds will enable the integrated Transport Authority of Puerto Rico in acquiring a barge to be used on the Maritime Transportation Island Route.
- Richmond Marine Terminal (RMT) Wharf Improvements (awarded $3,712,000) – The Virginia Port Authority will use awarded funds to improve the wharf enabling two barges access at the same time.
- Tidewater M-84 Barge Service Expansion (awarded $4,168,759) – An electric dock crane will be purchased with grant funds to meet the demand for additional barge shipments of municipal solid waste and other waste through the Columbia River Marine Highway.
- M-90 Transbay Marine Highway Equipment Acquisition Project (awarded $3,303,649) – Grant funds will contribute towards the acquisition of equipment that will facilitate safe, sustainable, and efficient project cargo transfers from short to vessel and back to shore.
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