The President’s commitment to modernizing our port and maritime infrastructure has resulted in an unprecedented investment that will empower local port communities 

U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy yesterday announced the award of $498 million in  Maritime Administration (MARAD) Port Infrastructure Development Program (PIDP) grants.

“The strength of our nation’s economy is directly tied to the state of our ports,” said Secretary Duffy. “This nearly half-billion-dollar investment will deliver critical upgrades to ports across America so we can enhance supply chains, lower shipping costs, and create good-paying jobs for hardworking Americans.”

The President’s commitment to modernizing our ports

“The President’s commitment to modernizing our port and maritime infrastructure has resulted in an unprecedented investment that will empower local port communities to modernize their operations, integrate innovative technologies, and create safer working environments,” said MARAD Administrator Stephen M. Carmel.

Related: Port of Los Angeles reports lowest emissions per container on record

The notice of funding opportunity 

The notice of funding opportunity for this latest round of grants was announced back in March, and a total of 35 projects in 19 states were selected:

• $50,593,488 to the City of Whittier in Alaska to replace the DeLong Dock, install a seasonal floating dock and a new dock manager building, and acquire three pedestal cranes alongside an integrated tug and barge.
• $30,750,000 to Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, to physically harden the liquid bulk terminal, widen the slip to accommodate larger ships, and strengthen the port’s resilience to maintain critical fuel operations during severe weather.
• $698,750 to the Rockport Harbor in Rockport, Maine, to upgrade commercial seafood infrastructure by constructing a 20 x 30-foot fixed timber pier–complete with 12 timber piles, marine-grade connectors, and a vessel fendering system–to streamline vessel-to-truck product transfers.
• $10,161,985 to Red Wing Port Authority in Red Wing, Minnesota, to reconstruct its barge loading system, conveyors, electric winch, and dust collection systems–increasing cargo throughput and elevating loadout infrastructure above the Mississippi River floodplain.
• $11,250,000 to North Carolina State Ports Authority-MHC in Moorehead City, North Carolina, to construct a 75-foot inland pile-supported concrete deck for heavy-lift cargo, install a new crane rail and dual on-dock rail extensions, and deploy Smart Harbor Pilot Program security system and Optical Character Recognition tracking software.
• $9,412,500 to Port Freeport in Freeport, Texas, to replace a 25-year-old bulk rice loader, install a rack system in the rice storage shed, and move the southern wall of the shed to expand berthing space.

• $7,153,376 to the Port of Corpus Christi Authority in Corpus Christi, Texas, to purchase a digital twin model, multi-modal sensing hardware, and software programming resources, including, survey-grade LiDAR, multibeam and side-scan SONAR, high-definition cameras, and transponders to deliver continuous situational awareness across pipeline, rail, roadway, and waterway infrastructure

  Related: US Transportation Department awards nearly $60m grant funding to the Port of Guam

  Source: Press Release

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