Catch 22
One of US President Obama’s main goals is to increase exports – so he’s planning to cut port dredging, maintenance and security budgets
The blow comes at a time when only one-third of authorised channel depths are maintained at any given moment, according to the American Association of Port Authorities.
“Competitive, secure, navigable seaports are vital to the US economy,” said AAPA President Kurt Nagle. “Because development and maintenance of our federal navigation channels are critical for safe and secure access to America’s seaports, AAPA is greatly disappointed with the Obama administration’s proposal in the fiscal 2011 federal budget to cut nearly 10% from last year’s congressionally-approved budget for the Corps of Engineers’ civil works programme.”
Quite apart from no funding for the America’s Marine Highway Program – establishment of shortsea coastal shippin ...