The United Stated Department of Transportation’s (USDOT) Maritime Administration (MARAD) announced that it has awarded more than US$280 million in discretionary grant funding through the new Port Infrastructure Development Program. This funding is designed to improve port facilities at or near coastal seaports.
“Ports are gateways to the world and port infrastructure investments will improve the regional economy, increase productivity and economic competitiveness, and create more jobs,” said US Transportation Secretary Elaine L. Chao.
The Port Infrastructure Development Program provides capital financing and project management assistance to improve port capacity and efficiency, MARAD statement says.
MARAD says that improving maritime facilities benefits the American economy and increases the capacity and efficiency of their transportation and supply network nationwide.
Container shipping projects
Many US container ports and terminals will be enhanced and improved through the Port Infrastructure Development Program. Below is a list of the box shipping projects MARAD will support through this funding programme.
Alameda Corridor South Access: Terminal Island Rail Junction Project (awarded $14,500,000) – Long Beach, California
Located at the Port of Long Beach, this grant will be used to improve the capacity at the Terminal Island Wye rail junction by constructing and replacing rails and siding that will improve the efficiency of rail operations. The intended rail enhancements will increase the longevity of the resulting infrastructure.
Port of Los Angeles Multimodal Freight Network Improvement Program: Fenix Container Terminal Intermodal Railyard Expansion and Modernization Project (awarded US$18,184,743) – Los Angeles, California
The grant will be used to increase the capacity of the existing on-dock railyard by adding 3,500m of track. This project will improve the terminal’s rail capacity by 10% while also creating utility corridors and draining systems that will minimize the impact of storm-related damage.
PortMiami Cargo Yard Resiliency Improvements and Fumigation and Cold Chain Processing Center Project (awarded US$43,928,393) (Opportunity Zone) – Miami-Dade County, Florida
This grant will be used to supplement PortMiami infrastructure improvements to upgrade drainage and resiliency methods, along with the reorganization of cargo containers. The project will also construct a state-of-the-art fumigation and cold chain processing facility. This project is located in an Opportunity Zone.
Container Berth 1 Realignment (awarded US$34,600,000) – Savannah, Georgia
The grants will be used to realign the Port of Savannah’s easternmost berth to enable the berth to receive 14,000TEU container ships. The three-component project consists of demolishing, rebuilding, and deepening the berth to allow vessels to take full advantage of the adjacent navigation channel. The project will enhance the port’s overall speed and efficiency of processing containers.
Wando Welch Terminal Wharf Toe Wall and Berth Deepening Project (awarded US$19,986,000) – Charleston, South Carolina
The grant will be used to construct an underwater retaining wall and deepen three berths at the terminal to enable the facility to handle larger container ships. This project complements the ongoing US Army Corps of Engineers project to deepen the navigation channel leading to the terminal.
Bayport Terminal Intermodal Expansion to Meet Demand Project (awarded US$21,840,000) – Houston, Texas
The grant will be used to develop 1,000 linear feet of green space site into a wharf at the Bayport Terminal at the Port of Houston. This development includes installation of crane rail to facilitate the ability of existing cranes to operate on the newly developed wharf space. This project will enable the terminal to handle 2.4 million TEU container vessels annually.
