heartland, specifically container load centers along the Gulf Coast, in close proximity to the base of the Mobile and Mississippi Rivers. Increased focus on new vessel technologies that are more suited for a cargo that cubes out before it weighs out, with a hull design focused less on maximizing displacement and more on speed and agility, and alternative energy configurations including diesel-electric and LNG-electric power-plants.
Policies Toward Reverse Mini-Rail Landbridges Policies and investments should be directed at the development of express
rail services between selected Atlantic ports and the largest inland markets. In addition, innovations should be introduced that are aimed at reducing the cost impediments of short-haul rail intermodal.
The Transportation Geography of Intermodal Development The transportation geography of intermodal development has been distinct and unique within each of the generations. Again, speaking broadly, the truck focused container gateway ports have been a largely East Coast practice, although on-dock rail is a far more common practice of late at East Coast ports.
The truck focus is largely a result of market dynamics. East Coast ports predominantly serve their local markets within a 8-12 hour drive, and hence the heavy role for truck (this is not a rule and there are exceptions). Second generation intermodal development has a had a much larger influence on the West Coast due to the role of Asian trade and the need to serve markets east. As a result, the mode share ratio between West Coast ports and East Coast ports is markedly different. 3G intermodal development will also have a distinct geographic footprint. MARAD’s newly published Marine Highway corridors is a good indication of the potential marine highways geographic footprint. For reverse mini landbridges, the geographic footprint will have a focus on major East Coast container load centers with rapid and direct rail access to major inland markets. The Heartland and Crescent corridors (Norfolk Southern) as well as the Southeast Triangle (CSX) are core examples.
A Strategic Blueprint Forward The public policy path toward 3G intermodal development should concentrate on five core areas: 1. The development of international container load centers within proximity of major inland waterway systems, specifically waterways that lead to large interior markets. 2. The development of terminal infrastructure designed to accommodate a triple-play of intermodal services – intermodal barge, rail and truck. 3. Enhanced mode share policies and incentives that encourage port terminal operators and third party service providers to offer a balanced range of intermodal services. 4. The revision of policies that prevent the development of agile vessel technologies more suited for the higher service demands of the global supply chain. 5. Investment in rail operations and systems which, accelerate the transfer of containers from ship to rail, and reduce the cost of handling. IP
THE AUTHOR Arno Hart, RNO Group, LLC, can be found at www.rnogroup.com. Printed with permission of the PIANC Smart Rivers Conference. The next Smart Rivers Conference will be held in 2013 in Belgium and The Netherlands. For more, visit www.pianc.us. 18
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2012 Issue II