US port improvement works to receive US$703 million funding

The US Department of Transportation (DOT) has confirmed that more than US$703 million will fund 41 projects in 22 states and one territory to improve port facilities as part of the Maritime Administration’s (MARAD) Port Infrastructure Development Program.

The funding, made possible by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and additional Congressional appropriations, will benefit coastal seaports, Great Lakes ports, and inland river ports, helping improve supply chain reliability through increased port capacity and resilience, more efficient operations, reduced port emissions, and new workforce opportunities.

More than 60 percent of the awards will be benefitting ports in historically disadvantaged communities and several of the projects will help reduce emissions at the ports through electrification. Additionally, more than US$150 million in awards include a focus on electrification of port equipment to reduce emissions and improve air quality.

The awards also include nearly US$100 million for port projects that will advance offshore wind deployment.

Among the projects selected to receive funding is the Salem Wind Port Project in Salem, Massachusetts. The project, which will receive US$33,835,953, will redevelop a vacant industrial facility into a marshalling area for offshore wind energy projects.

The project includes construction of a 700-foot (213-metre) long wharf and bulkhead that will be able to handle oversized and heavy cargoes and will be able to serve as a loadout and assembly location. The project also includes improvements to approximately 23 acres (9.3 hectares) of adjacent uplands to create a laydown area adjacent to the loadout and assembly space.