The US-based Institute for Global Maritime Studies has called for much wider use of coastal shipping in the United States, emulating the significant role of ‘motorways of the sea’ in Europe. In a report just released, the think-tank underlined the potential economic, environmental and national security benefits of increased US coastal shipping.
Over the past few years, the federal transport departments in the US, Canada and Mexico have launched regular high-level consultations to foster shortsea shipping in North America. ‘Coastal shipping could complement, not compete with, trucking and rail,’ the report said, adding that this was ‘especially critical given current pressures on the trucking industry such as rising fuel costs and labour shortages.’
Call for Government Support
‘The US today moves by sea an almost negligible 2% of domestic freight among the lower 48 states,’ the report said. ‘In stark contrast, Europe ships over 40% of its domestic freight along motorways of the sea,’ declared the report entitled America’s Deep Blue Highway: How Coastal Shipping Could Reduce Traffic Congestion, Lower Pollution, and Bolster National Security. The report notes that the European Union has budgeted EUR 450 (USD660) million to stimulate coastal shipping. It recommends that the US allocate at least USD 150 million in federal funds in prospective coastal shipping ports.
Advantages
The report echoes shortsea shipping advocates in the Great Lakes region in particular by demanding the elimination of the Harbour Maintenance Tax (HMT) under which a levy of 0.125% is assessed on the value of goods moving through US ports to finance dredging operations. The document affirms that shortsea shipping is good for national security by adding ‘resiliency to a brittle American transportation system.’ It could notably provide alternatives to Interstate highways parallel to the coast that might be disrupted if, for example, tunnels or bridges were destroyed.
Generally speaking, the report declares that shortsea shipping could revitalise cities with underutilised ports, reduce highway congestion, and provide alternative routes for movement of hazardous materials.
Source: https://www.shortsea.nl/index.php?language=2[Shortsea Promotion Centre Holland]
