The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Maritime Administration (MARAD) recently announced a survey designed to identify the port cargo handling needs nationwide over the next five to 10 years.
The survey, Building American Production Capacity for Electric Port Equipment and Other Port Infrastructure Items, will be of port authorities and marine terminal operators. Interviews will be conducted with ports and U.S. manufacturers.
The goal is to assess the interest and capability of American and foreign manufacturers to produce cargo handling equipment and other relevant port equipment in the United State and to assess the feasibility of a pooled procurement model for sourcing electrically powered port equipment and port items.
The American Association of Port Authorities through a cooperative agreement with MARAD will lead the information collection effort.
There is a shortage of U.S. manufactured equipment to handle cargo as well as the industry’s response to a changing climate by switching p to electrified operations.
“…It is critical that the U.S. build a domestic capacity for manufacturing clean, electrically powered American cargo handling equipment as an alternative to existing, predominantly foreign sources,” MARAD said on its website.
The survey is scheduled to be completed by spring with a final report issued during the summer.