U.S. Allocates $498 Million for Port Infrastructure Upgrades
The U.S. government is allocating $498 million in grants to upgrade container terminals and improve heavy-lift capabilities, ship-to-shore handling, and cold-chain infrastructure across the country. The funding, part of the Port Infrastructure Development Program managed by the Department of Transportation and the Maritime Administration, supports 35 projects in 19 states.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy stated that the investment will enhance supply chains, reduce shipping costs, and create jobs. Specific upgrades include reconstructing berths to support heavier cranes, installing refrigerated container systems, and deploying advanced handling equipment.
At Jaxport in Jacksonville, Florida, $40 million will fund Phase I of the Blount Island Marine Terminal Berth Modernization, rebuilding 900 linear feet of berth to accommodate heavy-duty crane rails and improve load capacity. The Port of Vancouver in Washington receives $18 million to strengthen Berth 8 with fiber-reinforced polymer, add a rotating container handler, and retrofit mobile harbor cranes.
Washington United Terminals in Tacoma, Washington, will use $11.38 million to upgrade mooring bollards for larger vessels and construct concrete runways for rubber-tired gantry cranes. Burns Harbor in Indiana gains $11.2 million for mobile harbor cranes, reach stackers, and heavy-handling gear to launch a new Great Lakes container service.
Penn Terminals in Pennsylvania will centralize cold-chain operations with $11.25 million to install 840 refrigerated container plugs and reefer rack systems linked to shore power. Separately, the program also supports liquid bulk security projects, including Port Everglades in Florida receiving $30.75 million for Slip 1 relocation and widening.
The Department of Transportation is also investing in supply chain visibility technology. The Port of Corpus Christi in Texas secured $7.15 million to purchase SONAR, high-definition cameras, and transponders for continuous situational awareness across pipelines, railways, roads, and waterways.
