U.S. Marine Highway Awards

Alexandria, Louisiana

The Central Louisiana Regional Port was awarded $2,524,977 for the procurement, delivery, and assembly of a 275-ton marine crane with an electric magnet and a 27.5-ton forklift, enhancing cargo handling capacities and supporting military logistics at the Alexandria based port. This modern and efficient cargo transloading equipment will enable the port to efficiently load and unload diverse cargoes including steel sheets, aluminum billets, military equipment, agricultural products, containerized goods and disaster response supplies. The project demonstrates a clear focus on reducing carbon pollution by shifting cargo currently transported by truck and rail to more energy-efficient barging between the port site on United States Marine Highway Route M-49 and connecting United States Marine Highway routes in the Gulf of Mexico.

Follansbee, West Virginia

Empire Diversified Industries was awarded $277,766 for the creation of a Master Plan for the recently established Port of West Virginia in Follansbee, WV, to prioritize infrastructure projects and ensure the port can adapt to evolving supply chain dynamics, including the increased use of the United Stated Marine Highway Routes M-70 & M-79. Central to the plan is alignment with regional freight shipment needs and a significant modal shift from truck to barge to alleviate landside congestion. The recipient also plans to produce alternative fuels on site to facilitate the future use of zero-emission equipment once the terminal is in place.