Another central theme commanding the attention of port leaders in 2024 can be expressed in a single word: linkage. One example is the Council of Port Performance at the Port of New York and New Jersey. The council is a group of critical stakeholders including the Port Authority, the Shipping Association of New York and New Jersey, marine terminal operators, and labor. “This group was formed about 10 years ago to deal with congestion challenges at that time, and it has been a critical element of our success at the port,” Bozza explains. CREATING KEY LINKAGES “We learned from our challenges during the pandemic that you have to look at the entire supply chain,” he adds. “The council and our port efficiency team are trying to create linkages from the ship all the way out to the warehouse—and every point in between—so we understand all the individual nodes. “By doing that, when the next cargo surge comes, we will understand where those bottlenecks are and hopefully work to address them quickly,” Bozza adds. Data transparency has helped the port augment existing relationships with trucking and rail partners with links to warehouse and distribution facilities via a weekly dashboard developed with input from all elements of the stakeholder community. Strengthened relationships at U.S. ports also extend beyond direct business partnerships. For example, the Port of Los Angeles regularly exchanges information and insights with ports around the globe. Among other benefits, Caris says, the ports have learned from one another about ways to improve their “shore power” infrastructure. This strategy helps them reduce emissions by enabling vessels to turn off their engines and plug into the local electricity grid to power auxiliary systems while at berth. This new age of port leadership and the increased emphasis on sustainability and other forward-thinking priorities at ports across the country benefits not only supply chain stakeholders, but the U.S. economy and businesses as well. n
Initiatives to address the needs of the next generation in maritime shipping extend from the coasts to the vital U.S. inland port network. Especially noteworthy are investments in the St. Lawrence Seaway, which enables oceangoing vessels to travel to and from the Atlantic Ocean and to reach ports in all five of the Great Lakes via the Great Lakes Waterway. From 2018 to 2027, $8.4 billion will have been spent to enhance marine shipping on the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Seaway, estimates an independent survey of public and private investment firms. The survey was developed as part of a project that was requested by a public/private sector committee of American and Canadian maritime organizations. Prepared by economic and transportation consulting firm Martin Associates, the survey quantifies ongoing investments in the navigation system to help support long-term planning and economic development goals, while also building confidence in the system’s future viability. The survey shows that as the world undergoes a shift toward more sustainable practices, the marine shipping industry and the U.S. and Canadian governments are partnering to actively invest billions to lead the transition. In addition to identifying the level of investment, the survey also reveals investment in specific aspects of the Great Lakes–St. Lawrence Seaway system. Expressed in U.S. dollars, this includes investments of: • $636 million in vessel enhancements between 2018 and 2022, with at least another $328 million planned by 2027. • $2.1 billion to enhance port and terminal infrastructure between 2018 and 2022, with at least another $1.1 billion planned by 2027. • $3 billion for waterway infrastructure such as locks, breakwater structures, and navigation channels between 2018 and 2022, with at least another $1.2 billion planned by 2027. The size of these expenditures illustrates broad recognition that economic growth and greenhouse gas reduction ambitions can be achieved through significant investment in maritime shipping, say port leaders. “The survey’s conclusion is clear,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg. “Both the public and private sectors recognize maritime commerce on the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Seaway remain essential to the economies of the United States and Canada, and both the public and private sectors are investing to protect this irreplaceable system. “Through President Biden’s infrastructure law, we are investing in marine shipping, which will continue to support high-quality jobs, strengthen America’s supply chains, and drive sustainable economic growth.” SPENDING BILLIONS TO BOOST SHIPPING ON GREAT LAKES, ST. LAWRENCE SEAWAY
February 2024 • Inbound Logistics 41
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