The Maritime Administration (MARAD) recently awarded five marine highway projects nationwide $4.85 million in United States Marine Highway Program (USMHP) grants.
The program works with public and private stakeholders to support new and more efficient transportation options, expand the use of navigable waterways to relieve landside congestion, and enhance performance of the surface transportation system.
All recipients must comply with Build America, Buy America provisions that stipulated that funds must be used to purchase American-made steel, building materials, and manufactured equipment.
“The USMHP is a tremendous opportunity to increase waterborne transport through expanding the use of America’s navigable waters, and through this expansion, to further integrate our waterways into the nation’s surface transportation system,” Maritime Administrator Ann Phillips said. “This is particularly important as water-based transport is the most efficient, effective, and sustainable option.”
Awardees include:
The Central Louisiana Regional Port in Alexandria, La., was awarded $2.5 million for a 275-ton marine crane with an electric magnet and a 27.5-ton forklift.
Osprey Logistics in Everett, Wash., was awarded $881,330 to purchase cargo handling equipment, specifically a wheel loader and fork attachments.
The Puerto Rico Integrated Transportation Authority was awarded $711,491 for the construction of a vehicle ramp at the Mosquito Terminal in Vieques.