Virginia receives federal funds to expand barge shipping

THE US Maritime Administration has awarded US$1.1 million to the Virginia Port Authority to buy barges to ferry shipping containers within the Port of Hampton Roads, and to and from Richmond.

The James River Container Expansion Project, sponsored by the Port Authority, is one of three projects nationwide selected to receive $6.2 million in federal funds to support the transportation of marine cargo between US ports, reports Norfolk's Virginian Pilot.

The Maritime Administration's said the money would be used to raise the frequency of an existing barge service to three sailings a week and to commence a barge shuttle between port terminals in Hampton Roads.

"Both qualified under the plan for this money, so we can use it for either one," said Joe Harris, a port authority spokesman.

The route from Hampton Roads to Richmond, designated the "M-64 Marine Highway Connector," is among 18 marine corridors, eight projects and six conceptual initiatives identified as part of the America's Marine Highway Programme, launched earlier this year, to remove trucks from congested highways.

The Maritime Administration also awarded $3.34 million to the Cross Gulf Container Expansion Project, sponsored by the ports of Brownsville, Texas, and Manatee, Florida; and $1.76 million to the Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway Pilot Project, sponsored by the Port of Itawamba, Missouri.
(Source:www.schednet.com)