Miami, Florida, USA - view on the containers loaded on the cargo ship and on the port terminal with gantry cranes and stored containers in the background.
Adobe Stock
The U.S. Department of Transportation, through the Maritime Administration (MARAD), has allocated $488,628,000 (approximately €425,070,000) to revitalize the country's ports, shipyards, and maritime capabilities.
With this funding, the capacity of ports to load and unload goods and the movement of goods within the supply chain will be improved, port infrastructure and operations will be modernized, and the U.S. seafood industry will be supported.
It should be noted that the grant program will prioritize projects located in Qualified Opportunity Zones, those that incorporate innovative technology, and those that support national multimodal freight transportation goals.
Regarding this initiative, U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy said, "We are focusing on what really matters: revitalizing our ports with the latest technology and infrastructure to keep the economy moving."
Similarly, MARAD Administrator Stephen M. Carmel mentioned, "U.S. ports drive our economy, support domestic energy, and reduce costs for hardworking families, making them worthy of taxpayer investment."
The United States has more than 300 ports, operated by states, counties, municipalities, and private companies, and the Port Infrastructure Development Program (PIDP) aims to modernize these facilities.
Finally, the PIDP program will allocate at least 25% of the available funding for 'Small Projects at Small Ports'. Eligible applicants include port authorities, states, local governments, indigenous Tribal nations, counties, and other entities.