SPOTLIGHT: US PORTS
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FUNDIN G FRENZY US ports are rejoicing in a range of funding from a variety of sources, improving both infrastructure and environment and, importantly, creating more jobs
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iscretionary port funding worth more than $241m was announced by the US Department of Transportation in December last year which aims to improve port facilities in 19 different states including Gulf ports. The money is to be used for 25 projects provided through MARAD’s Port Infrastructure Development Program (PIDP). The PIDP is in its third year and has already awarded $492m for 32 projects of regional and national economic significance within its first two years. The programme supports efforts by ports and industry stakeholders to improve facility and freight infrastructure to ensure the nation’s freight transportation needs, present and future, are met. It provides planning, operational and capital financing, and project management assistance to improve ports’ capacity and efficiency. The projects that were awarded grants include coastal seaports, Great Lakes ports and inland river ports. “These investments will support the shift to cleaner transportation, which will create more economic activity and good paying jobs,” says the acting maritime administrator Lucinda Lessley. “The PIDP is an important part of building back
BULK TERMINALS
international | WINTER 2021-22
