US Allocates $498 Million to 35 Port Projects Across 19 States
Cubierto por 3 fuentesPublicado
- US Maritime AdministrationTrump’s Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy Invests Half a Billion into Modernizing America’s Ports, Bolstering Supply Chains
- GCAPTAIN_NEWSTrump Administration Awards $498 Million for U.S. Port Upgrades, Below Recent Funding Levels
- Port evergladesPort Everglades Receives $30.75 Million in Federal Funding for Fuel Modernization
U.S. Secretary of Transportation Sean P. Duffy announced a $498 million investment aimed at modernizing the nation's ports and strengthening supply chains. The funds are being channeled through the Maritime Administration's (MARAD) Port Infrastructure Development Program (PIDP) and will reach 35 projects spread across 19 states, including coastal, Great Lakes, and inland river ports.
Main beneficiaries
Among the funded projects, the city of Whittier, Alaska, stands out, receiving $50.6 million to replace the DeLong Dock and add cranes along with an integrated barge. Port Everglades, in Florida, will receive $30.75 million to reinforce its liquid bulk terminal and widen a slip to accommodate larger vessels. Funding was also awarded to Rockport Harbor, in Maine, for a new fish pier; to the Red Wing Port Authority, in Minnesota, to rebuild its barge loading system; to the North Carolina State Ports Authority, for works at the Port of Morehead City; to Port Freeport, in Texas, to renovate a rice loader; and to the Port of Corpus Christi, to develop a digital twin of its infrastructure using LiDAR and sonar sensors.
The Port Everglades case
In the specific case of Port Everglades, the $30.75 million in funding will be used to relocate a structural bulkhead and widen the slip to 450 feet, allowing it to accommodate larger, more cost-efficient vessels such as Aframax-class ships. The overall project, called the Slip 1 Expansion Project, has an estimated total cost of $184.5 million combining public and private funds, will require three to four years of construction, and its first construction phase is slated for 2028, according to the port. Port Director Joseph Morris expressed satisfaction at having received the full amount requested.
Comparison with previous years
According to gCaptain, this year's $498 million round is lower than the previous four fiscal years: in 2025 MARAD awarded $774 million to 37 projects, compared to about $580 million in 2024, $653 million in 2023, and $703 million in 2022. The new amount is approximately 36% lower than last year's and 26% below the average of the past four years. The outlet also noted that much of the current funding stems from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law signed in 2021, which allocated $2.25 billion to the PIDP over five years, and that the Trump administration has proposed keeping $500 million for the PIDP in fiscal year 2027.
Official statements
Duffy stated that the strength of the nation's economy is directly tied to the condition of its ports and affirmed that this investment will help improve supply chains, reduce transportation costs, and create jobs. For his part, MARAD Administrator Stephen M. Carmel described the investment as unprecedented, noting it will allow local port communities to modernize their operations, adopt innovative technology, and create safer working environments.
