The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Maritime Administration (MARAD) awarded $12.6 million in grants to nine marine highway projects across the U.S. under the America’s Marine Highway Program (AMHP), reports Maritime Executive.
The funding will help address supply chain disruptions, enhance the movement of goods along navigable waterways, and expand existing waterborne freight services.
In Louisiana, the Baton Rouge-New Orleans Shuttle Service received a $847,500 grant. Sponsored by SEACOR AMH, the money will fund the purchase of 100 container chassis, support modification to the towboat wheelhouse and enable one bareboat lease of a new 2520 horsepower Z-Drive towboat with Tier 3 engines. Funding for the project will support the continued growth of the Memphis, Tenn., to Port Allen container shuttle.
The AMHP promotes the increased use of the nation’s navigable waterways to relieve landside congestion, support new and more efficient transportation options, and enhance performance of the surface transportation system. The program works with public and private stakeholders to achieve these goals. Read the entire story.
