Quonset’s Port of Davisville Pursuing Marine Highway Corridor Program
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May 6, 2009 | Print this page | Share This |
The Quonset Development Corporation (QDC) is moving to have the Port of Davisville included in the federal Marine Highway Corridor Program. The program establishes marine corridors to transport freight and passengers via ship, barge or ferry as an alternative to utilizing congested highway infrastructure.
The U.S. Maritime Administration (MARAD) Marine Highway designation includes ports and short sea shipping lanes and provides for federal support for infrastructure improvements and incentives to encourage utilization of the Marine Highway.
In a February 2009 letter to MARAD, QDC noted that the Port of Davisville could serve to move freight from the congested Interstate 95 to short sea shipping services that would run along the Eastern seaboard. The Port of Davisville, which is already the fifth largest auto importer in North America, is ideally situated 8 miles from the open ocean and easily accessible to major markets along the East coast. The initiative would also provide Rhode Island shippers with competitive options to trucking.
“The marine highway makes sense for businesses not only within the Quonset Business Park, but throughout our region since it provides economical options for moving goods,” said J. Michael Saul, interim executive director of the RIEDC. “In addition, there are added environmental benefits to moving goods via ship rather than along Interstate 95. We look forward to working with the Maritime Administration on this new initiative and we continue to work with Quonset to aggressively pursue the best possible options to maximize the Port of Davisville,” Saul added.
MARAD in March, 2009 notified QDC that it was considering including the Port of Davisville in the Marine Highway Program and requested additional information such as surface transportation corridors, congestion reduction, passenger and freight options and environmental, energy and safety benefits.
“Including the Port of Davisville in the Marine Highway Corridor Program provides another way for Quonset to maximize its port facility,” said QDC Managing Director Steven J. King, P.E. “The intermodal transportation at Quonset provides a great opportunity to move freight via barge and rail which will ease highway congestion, conserve energy and reduce environmental impacts.”
ABOUT THE QUONSET DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION
The Quonset Development Corporation (QDC) is a special purpose subsidiary of the Rhode Island Economic Development Corporation, a quasi public company, responsible for the development and management of the 3000+ acre Quonset Business Park. The Business Park is home to 164 companies and their 8,800 employees. QDC develops and manages the Quonset Business Park in accordance with the QDC Master Plan and in the best interests of the citizens of Rhode Island to attract and retain successful businesses that provide high quality jobs. For more information go to www.qdcri.com.
