Three operators to purchase equipment for research on prospective routes

Two of the country’s pioneer marine highways operators received Maritime Administration grants to expand their services on the Gulf of Mexico and the James River in Virginia. Marad awarded a third grant for a startup on the Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway.

Marad on Monday announced the winners of a total $7 million in grants. They were among eight projects that DOT in August designated as eligible for grants or awards to continue research on prospective routes.

Seabridge Freight, which operates a tug-barge service between Brownsville, Texas, and Port Manatee, Fla., received $3.34 million to outfit two additional barges and purchase equipment that should reduce diesel fuel consumption by 2.7 million gallons per year.

64Express, which runs a container-on-barge service between the Hampton Roads ports and the port of Richmond, received $1.1 million to purchase two additional barges that will increase frequency to three sailings a week on the river and add a shuttle between Virginia Port Authority terminals.

Marad awarded $1.76 million to launch service on the Tenn-Tom Waterway between Itawamba, Miss., and the port of Mobile. The money will help purchase nine barges to create an all-water service to Mobile.

In addition to the operating grants, three projects shared $800,000 for advanced feasibility studies for proposed routes along the East Coast, Peoria, Ill., to the Gulf, and a hub-and-spoke service between Southern California and the Pacific Northwest.

Source: JOC