Five US ports are set to benefit from the 2015 round of Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) Grants which should help them to make a number of intermodal improvements to improve efficiency.
One of those set to benefit is the Port of Hueneme which is in receipt of a US$12.3 million grant which it will use to support its intermodal improvement project.
The project will allow for larger-capacity vessels, increased cold storage and cargo handling capability supporting anticipated increases of agricultural imports and exports. It also includes plans for an on-dock rail to enable more efficient transfer of cargo by environmentally-friendly trains.
Kristin Decas, port director, said: “This grant creates a catalyst for our future and promises to be a very big game changer for the port in terms of retaining our great customer base, building new opportunities, creating jobs and advancing environmental and energy efficiency priorities.”
The new port project integrates with the port’s phase II shoreside power investments which aim to improve air quality and reduce berthed diesel fuel consumption by 67,458 gallons per year. Emissions reductions over the lifetime of the shore power project include a 92% decrease in particulate matter, 98% decrease in NOx and 55% decrease in CO2.
To balance the new water-side capacity and maximise the terminal’s utilisation, the existing cold storage sheds adjacent to the wharf will be upgraded with efficient climate control, lighting and state-of-the-art perishable cargo treatment facilities. Solar panel arrays will provide power to the facility and other port systems which will help provide 250kW of energy.
The final portion of the intermodal improvement project will include the extension of the port’s rail spur to allow for on-terminal railcar loading as well as support liquid bulk transfer. This rail spur expansion allows for a 24% reduction in truck volume for total liquid bulk imports further helping to support cargo transport, reduce noise pollution and enhance air quality.
Other port projects set to benefit from TIGER grants this year are the Tenth Avenue Marine Terminal Modernization Project - San Diego Unified Port District, the Jeffersonville Truck-to-Rail and Rail-to-Water Improvements - Ports of Indiana, the International Terminal Shipping Facility - Port of Newport and Mukilteo Multimodal Ferry Terminal - Washington State Department of Transportation.
