this project, which allows the port to compete with other ports across the country, not be completed. “Deepening the Delaware has to the potential to be an economic catalyst for all of Southeastern Pennsylvania. I’ve worked to secure significant investment in this project because it will create jobs and allow the Port of Philadelphia to compete with other ports throughout the country,” Casey wrote. “This project is now on the precipice of completion and it’s critical that Administration prioritize deepening the Delaware in its upcoming budget.” In the meantime, Congressman Brady reported he solicited and received a commitment from Biden to keep the money approved earlier in the House in the final budget proposal. Like Brady, Biden, who is from Delaware, understands the financial impact the completed dredging would have in the tri-state area. “The busier the port,” said Lt. Gov. Stack, then a State Senator, at a port event, “the more jobs created and the better the economic boost to the Commonwealth.” In his letter to McDonough, Casey wrote, “I direct your attention to the Delaware River Main Channel Deepening Project. Investing in this project will
Container Ships Such as This Continue To Grow In Size Necessitating Deepening of Delaware River Ship Channel.
bolster the competiveness of our exporters which aligns with the Administration’s goal of doubling exports. This project will directly impact job creation and retention in a region that has faced significant challenges as a result of the recession. This project is a top priority of mine and I have worked with my colleagues in Delaware and Pennsylvania to move this project forward. The Administration’s continued support will be vital to completing this project on schedule. “As you may be aware, this project calls for the deepening of the channel from forty to 45 feet in order to accommodate larger vessels. It is my understanding that once the channel is deepened; there will be an increase of 2.5 million tons of cargo to the Port of Philadelphia. With the upcoming completion of the expansion of the Panama Canal, I remain committed to ensuring that Philadelphia is able to receive Post-Panamax vessels. In addition, this project will contribute to the efficiency of maritime transportation, strengthen the safety of the channel, reduce shipping costs, and spur economic activity in the region. “This project also presents an opportunity to retain and create jobs. Once the project is completed, the increase in
traffic to the Port of Philadelphia will create thousands of direct and indirect jobs in the region. Moreover, this initiative will create thousands of short-term construction jobs and in turn aid an industry that has suffered significantly in this economic climate. If this project does not move forward, jobs will be in jeopardy because shippers will inevitably go to other ports that can accommodate larger vessels. “This project enjoys the strong support of the federal and state delegations representing the Delaware Valley, the labor community, the business community and economic development organizations representing the region. This diverse array of stakeholders has come together in support of this project because they all recognize that it will create jobs and position the Philadelphia region for future economic growth,” Casey wrote. Through the work of the Philadelphia Regional Port Authority, under the leadership of Jamie McDermott, who has served in that position through several governors, its terminal operators and labor unions have a long history of cooperation. “They’ve helped us position the Port of Philadelphia for the anticipated tonnage ex-
pected with the completion of the dredging which is nearing its crucial ending,” he said. McDermott, who had been advocating the deepening of the main shipping channel from his first day as executive director, was a signatory to the historic Project Partnership Agreement that transferred local sponsorship of the project to PRPA. He quickly acted to insure the Authority’s involvement in the day-to-day management of the deepening project with the United States Army Corps of Engineers by naming a three-person in-house team to work with the Corps. That team is led by Dir. of Governmental & Public Affairs Don Brennan, with Dir. of Engineering Lisa Urban Magee and Dir. of Strategic Planning & Development Nick Walsh. This trio has been working diligently with Corps leaders every day to bring this project to completion. The PRPA has literally refurbished much of the essential port equipment, from cranes, to bulk heads, to terminal facilities and storage acreage to insure shippers continue to deliver their cargoes in the shortest turnaround time possible and to do it within its safety for workers protocols.
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US Sens. Bob Casey and Pat Toomey, Congressman Bob Brady, State Sen. Larry Farnese and State Reps. Bill Keller and John Taylor. “Together with Lt. Gov. Stack, we have been able to rely on them as one team working together in unison toward our goals,” said McDermott. That is obvious with the news this week that ahead of President Obama’s budget release on Feb. 2, Casey sent a letter to White House Chief of Staff Denis McDonough, pressing the Administration to include significant investment in the Delaware deepening project in its budget. It is worth noting the Administration - through the efforts of Casey and Brady working closely with Vice President Joe Biden - have been giving the project full support. In his letter, Casey made the case that investing in the project will create jobs in the region and bolster economic growth. Deepening the Delaware, he wrote, would allow larger ships to come into the Port of Philadelphia making it able to take advantage of 2.5 million more tons of cargo from ships that need the deeper 45 foot channel. The port currently supports 8,100 direct jobs and 30,000 indirect jobs which would be in jeopardy should
The Public Record • January 15, 2015
At the top of the list of businesses and industries happiest to see Lt. Gov. Michael D. Stack in a key administration position in Harrisburg are the stakeholders caring for the Port of Philadelphia. Lt. Gov. Stack’s swearing in comes at a critical juncture in the history of this evergrowing port. And Stack knows full well the Port needs to continue its impressive growth and what must be done to ready its terminals’ expansion plans and fend off competition from other eastern US ports. As a Northeast Philadelphia State Senator, Stack was a regular through the years at many of the Philadelphia Regional Port Authority’s conferences and important events, and has been a key supporter in garnering necessary state funding for the purchase of expensive and necessary infrastructure equipment. PRPA Exec. Dir. James T. McDermott, Jr. is quick to acknowledge he and his busy staff are pleased to have a Philadelphia link to the administration. “We know when we take our case to Harrisburg, Mike Stack will be one of our biggest and best advocates,” he said. McDermott lauded Stack’s support as a member of a proport legislative team led by
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Lt. Gov. Stack Brings Port Of Philadelphia Priorities To Harrisburg As River Channel Deepening Nears End