MARAD, the Maritime Administration, is launching America's Marine Highway Initiative to highlight and promote the U.S. Marine Transportation System (MTS) and along with the launch, they have created a new website to serve as a clearinghouse for the waterborne transportation community and to facilitate the sharing of information in an effort to promote waterborne transportation as a viable mode for our economy.
MARAD press release follows:
The leadership of the Maritime Administration (MARAD) has been engaged in an on-going effort to address landside congestion through the accelerated use of waterborne transportation alternatives - specifically America’s Marine Highway Initiative.
Our marine highway system is cost effective for the movement of high volume and break bulk freight, is more fuel efficient per cargo ton mile, and is a vital alternative transportation mode in a natural disaster. When fully integrated into the nation's transportation system, our marine highways will permit enhanced freight flow, expand freight capacity, reduce congestion, and improve air quality.
In an effort to bring marine highways to the foreground of our transportation infrastructure, I am pleased to announce this new web-page.
The site will function temporarily until a new website is launched for America’s Marine Highway Initiative and this site shall serve as a digital clearinghouse for the waterborne transportation community and will facilitate the sharing of information in an effort to promote waterborne transportation as a viable mode for our economy. It additionally represents further cooperation with Canada, and Mexico as outlined in the Trilateral Declaration signed in Vancouver, British Columbia in April 2006.
AMERICA’S MARINE HIGHWAY WEBSITE
In order to make the U.S. Marine Transportation System (MTS) the world’s most technologically advanced, safe, secure, effective, accessible, globally competitive, dynamic and environmentally responsible system for moving goods, the Maritime Administration (MARAD) is active in a new initiative to promote waterborne
transportation.
The Marine Transportation System
Water transportation, especially along our coasts and inland waterways is a sensible, economical, and environmentally friendly solution to many of our growing congestion problems. One of the smartest, cheapest, and easiest solutions mitigate congestion is an investment into our marine highway system. We also need to fully integrate waterborne transportation into our nation's transportation system.
What does America’s Marine Highway Initiative Mean?
America’s Marine Highway Initiative encompasses commercial waterborne transportation which does not transit an ocean. It is an alternative form of commercial transportation that utilizes inland, coastal waterways and our Great Lakes to move commercial freight from one destination to another. Because Canada and Mexico are part of the North American Free Trade Agreement, and have signed cooperative agreements with the U.S., efforts to mitigate border congestion with our neighbors is also considered part of America’s Marine Highway Initiative.
Why America’s Marine Highway Initiative?
• To support economic growth and trade
• To relieve road congestion and improve mobility
• To create jobs in ports, terminals, and the merchant marine
• To enhance national security
• To mitigate pollution
• To create new tax bases
Link: MARAD website
