Welcome to our Marine Highway Initiative website. I am pleased to announce this new site in an effort to bring marine highways more fully into our transportation system. Specifically, this site has been created to serve as an electronic clearinghouse to promote waterborne transportation as an engine of economic growth.
Our marine highways are a cost effective, yet under utilized, method for the movement of passengers, containers, and bulk cargoes that is especially fuel efficient, safe, and reliable.
Accelerated use of the waterborne transportation mode holds forth a special promise for tomorrow in; reducing traffic congestion, enhancing freight flow, expanding freight capacity, and providing a new pathway for hazardous materials.
In addressing North American border congestion, our site also represents a further form of cooperation with our friends in Canada and Mexico.
I hope you find the features of our site beneficial and useful to your purposes.
From the navigation links on the left you can find:
* Updates on our government-industry partnership (SSS Cooperative Program)
* Contact information for marine operators and potential shippers
* Recent reports, links & coming events
* Assistance to shippers in locating vessels (see Ship it Here)
* Beneficial information for hazmat providers
* Waterway promotional information from the governments of the United States, Canada and Mexico
* A link to our congestion relief partner, the I-95 Corridor Coalition
and,
* Important research and other information on the harbor maintenance tax issue.
We hope you find this information helpful.
The Maritime Administration, in cooperation with private industry, is sponsoring an ongoing series of workshops to encourage shipper and carrier contacts for the purpose of forming new marine highway services. Workshops have taken place in New York and Florida, and additional events are planned for the future.