We’ve mentioned this short sea shipping project between Stockton and Oakland before. But it’s great news to hear that a major public entity — the Bay Area Air Quality Management District — is laying down some big money to help move things forward.
“While the air district’s funding is an important step, [Richard Aschieris, Port of Stockton director] said additional funds are needed – perhaps in “the low twenty-million-dollar range” – for the necessary infrastructure. Federal economic stimulus grants are being sought.
The Port of Stockton has historically handled bulk cargo, such as grain, minerals, fertilizer and steel, but not goods packed into steel shipping containers [...]

Earlier this month, John Kostrzewa was walking along a new bike path alongside the Quonset Business Park in Rhode Island. It got him thinking about the past and its failed economic dreams for the park, including a contentious plan to build a deepwater cargo container port. And then he started thinking about the future.
“Quonset can fulfill its potential by forging a stronger link between Rhode Island and the world’s economy,” he wrote in a column for the The Providence Journal newspaper. “The tighter the connection between Rhode Island and out-of-state markets, the better chance for the state and its residents to prosper.
“[One] idea being promoted by the federal government is short-sea shipping [...]

Looking for a way to green up your supply chain? World Trade Magazine has eight steps to help you along. Unsurprisingly, transportation is at the top of their list; they describe it as the biggest source of carbon emission in any supply chain. But they also say that transportation may be a “low-hanging fruit” for companies trying to improve their efficiency.
“Just the sheer complexity of today’s long and global supply chains might be enough to daunt any thought of where to start to implement green strategies and technologies. But there is a lot of help available out there to make the journey an easier one.[...]

It’s a short, to-the-point story so we won’t bother cutting and pasting any of it. But if you’re like us, an article that begins “A new sponsor re-introduced in the House a bill that would benefit entrepreneurs who want to offer short sea shipping services” is a guaranteed must-read. [...]

Earlier this year Senator Barbara Boxer (D-CA) called on the nation’s heavy transportation users to help fund the Highway Trust Fund. It may sound logical, says Joseph Keefe, editor in chief of The Maritime Executive argues, but Boxer is missing the big picture if she doesn’t include short sea shipping as part of the solution.

“This says a lot regarding California’s access to federal short sea shipping funding,” says HML founder Stephen Pepper. “I hear so often that the East Coast has all the political clout and will reap the largest funding benefits, but Boxer is a key individual in this process. Politicians on the West Coast need to realize the roll they can also play in bringing economic and environmental solutions to their communities.”