Congresswoman Chellie Pingree to Tour Portland Cargo Terminal with Nation's Top Maritime Official Friday
Press Release
In the wake of the announcement that a container ship line serving Portland is ceasing operations, Congresswoman Chellie Pingree said this morning that she will meet with the top maritime official in the country on Friday morning and tour the facilities at the International Marine Terminal in Portland. U.S. Maritime Administrator David Matsuda will also meet with officials from the Maine Port Authority, the Maine Department of Transportation as well representatives from companies interested in using Portland to ship goods on container ships.
"I'm sorry to see American Feeder Lines shut down but the improvements that have been recently made to the International Marine Terminal have created a versatile and flexible facility that is perfect for containers and heavy cargo like paper making or wind power equipment," Pingree said. "And the container service we've had over the last few months has proven there is a customer base itching to use Portland to ship cargo."
Pingree said she wants Matsuda to see the facilities first hand, and to talk to him about what the Maritime Administration can do to help get service restored in Portland.
"One thing that is going to make it easier to develop service to ports like Portland is a more efficient ship design that can be built in local yards at a low cost to make short sea shipping more economical," Pingree said. "I'd like to see the Maritime Administration make the design of that ship a reality. It could go a long way to getting that service up and running again."
In 2007 Congress passed the Maritime Highway program to encourage the development of short-sea shipping between U.S. ports. One route that was identified was between Portland and New York. Pingree says that service would be extremely valuable to manufactures' in Maine.
"There are a number of Maine companies that sent dozens of trucks to New York every day," Pingree said. "They are just some of the companies that would benefit from regular container service between New York and Portland."
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