DOT supports twin maritime efforts: commercial competitiveness and port-readiness

Most of us know that strategic seaports must operate with peak efficiency and effectiveness to attract commercial shippers and keep commerce flowing freely in our highly competitive global marketplace.

But many of us may forget that, at the same time, those ports play a key role in equipping, supplying, and sustaining actions by troops, both here and abroad.

Now, that’s essential when natural disasters arise around the world. And it's essential if a national defense emergency arises that requires U.S. forces to be deployed overseas.

Yesterday, I told the folks from the National Port Readiness Network that DOT is committed to supporting the maritime industry. And that we encourage them to find new and productive ways to accommodate the U.S. military’s need for access to ports.

So port managers have a difficult dual mission to fulfill-–providing the critical interface between water and surface transportation, while handling both commercial and military cargo.

I get that this is much easier said than done. And I get that only the commercial side of their mission provides the ports compensation.

But the ports have a duty to perform, and DOT wants to do all we can to help them meet these obligations.

Two items on that list include:

• Port Summit.
  We're planning to examine the complex role of our ports and identify areas for improvement at a Port Summit in early 2010.
• Maritime Administration's fiscal 2010 budget
  This includes a Presidential initiative to integrate planning with the Department of Homeland Security. This will help develop and modernize the freight infrastructure that links coastal and inland ports to highway and rail networks.

These are but two steps toward the port readiness America needs. But I’m confident that, working together, we’ll continue to strengthen America’s seaports while we maintain our commitment to support national defense.

Comments

[mydealcracker]

The stronger America's seaports are, the stronger will be America's defense. The whole world need America to be strong, so I thank you all for trying to make it become a reality.

[Tony Turner]

I am interested to know what element or agency of DHS the Maritime Administration will integrate planning with.Will it be the USCG? Thank you.

[Michael E. Bailey]

The ports and the U.S. Merchant Marine are the strong right arm of the military services logistics operations. So anything that can be done to improve the critical role of the ports in logistics is a very good thing. Much of the military cargo goes by rail and then by ship overseas. The ports are the critical interface between rails and ships and so the Port Summit should not only bring together the port authorities but also the railroads and steamship lines that serve them. Best wishes, Michael E. Bailey.