MARAD introduces 2 new routes to Marine Highway Program

Posted on August 29, 2023   |  

The U.S. Department of Transportation's Maritime Administration (MARAD) has revealed 2 novel Marine Highway routes within the United States Marine Highway Program (MHP).

These freshly designated M-11 and M-79 routes are strategically poised to enhance the movement of goods, fortify supply networks, and stimulate local economies across Alaska, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia.

The recent designations lay the groundwork for potential access to future funds from the US Marine Highway Programme for eligible applications along these new routes.

At the core of the MHP's mission is the optimization of navigable rivers to alleviate land-based congestion, offer innovative transportation alternatives, and amplify efficiency in surface transportation.

Through active collaboration between public and private entities, the MHP contributes to job creation in ports, shipyards, and maritime vessels, while simultaneously optimizing the nation's intricate supply chains.

Among the highlighted expansions, the Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities takes the lead for the M-11 route, ushering in an expansive waterway stretching over 6,500 miles from the Aleutian Islands to the Canadian border, further enriching the marine highway system.