The most important change we must not just expect, but must demand is a step-up in federal investment in port infrastructure and a streamlining of the process for prioritizing, approving and funding critical projects.
With U.S. cargo volumes expected to double during the next 20 years, we must prepare for what’s coming.
This growth will not be experienced equally across the major American seaport regions. Mounting economic pressures have shippers demanding more efficient networks. New trade routes focused on the U.S. East Coast, expansion of the Panama Canal, increased use of the Suez Canal and innovations in logistics are influencing the movement of cargo in dynamic ways.
I have serious doubts that any of us will be truly ready because of delays in the nation’s regulatory process. I know from firsthand, frustrating experience that harbor project sponsors wade through a maze of approval, authorization and appropriation that is muddy at best, and face constantly changing requirements making it nearly impossible to move forward.
The situation is exacerbated by the absence of a congressional authorizing process for the U.S Army Corps of Engineers’ recommended navigation improvements. These job-producing projects will be delayed indefinitely until new processes are in place.
The corps’ rapidly declining budget is also seriously jeopardizing seaport readiness for mega-ships. Without additional deep dredge capacity in place on the East Coast at the time of the opening of the Panama Canal, the U.S. is at real risk of losing jobs to nearby foreign ports such as Freeport, Bahamas.
U.S. ports need to insist commonsense changes be adopted and adhered to. We must urge Congress to legislate full use of the Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund and support proposed language in the surface transportation bill that seeks to streamline the process for getting port projects done. Further, we need a shift in our federal business model to strongly support and incentivize public-private partnerships.
Harbor improvements are not pork. Our nation’s Founding Fathers understood that the deep-water ports system is fundamental to our country’s long-term economic health and strategic interests. To remain competitive, we must invest in our gateway infrastructure today.