US Awards $498m for 35 Port Projects, Below Recent Years
The US government announced $498 million in grants on Tuesday to modernise ports, covering 35 projects in 19 states. They range from replacing aging docks and buying cargo-handling equipment to fuel terminal upgrades and advanced maritime monitoring systems.
The money comes through the Maritime Administration's Port Infrastructure Development Program. It is meant to improve cargo movement and expand capacity at coastal seaports, Great Lakes facilities and inland river ports.
The round is smaller than the grants awarded in each of the previous four fiscal years. The agency gave $774 million to 37 projects in fiscal 2025, about $580 million in 2024, $653 million in 2023 and $703 million in 2022. The new total is roughly 36% below last year and 26% below the four-year average.
Where the money goes
The City of Whittier, Alaska, is among the largest recipients with $50.6 million. It will replace the DeLong Dock, install a seasonal floating dock and buy three pedestal cranes with an integrated tug and barge.
Port Everglades in Florida gets $30.75 million to strengthen its liquid bulk terminal, widen a slip for larger vessels and improve resilience to severe weather, so fuel operations can continue during storms. North Carolina's ports authority receives $11.25 million for the Port of Morehead City, covering heavy-lift cargo infrastructure, crane rails, expanded on-dock rail links and security and cargo-tracking technology.
The Red Wing Port Authority in Minnesota will get $10.2 million to rebuild barge-loading infrastructure on the Mississippi River and raise critical equipment above the floodplain. In Texas, Port Freeport receives $9.4 million for a new bulk rice loader and more cargo-handling space. The Port of Corpus Christi gets $7.2 million for a digital twin of its infrastructure using LiDAR, sonar and cameras.
Among the smaller awards, nearly $699,000 goes to Rockport Harbor in Maine for a commercial fishing pier.
Officials and the funding outlook
"The strength of our nation's economy is directly tied to the state of our ports," Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said. He said the investment would deliver upgrades that "enhance supply chains, lower shipping costs, and create good-paying jobs". Maritime Administrator Stephen Carmel described the awards as part of the administration's wider maritime revitalisation effort.
Much of the current funding comes from the 2021 Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which provided $2.25 billion for the program over five years, including $450 million a year from fiscal 2022 through 2026. The administration has proposed keeping $500 million in program funding for fiscal 2027: $50 million through regular appropriations and $450 million through a proposed Maritime Security Trust Fund.
Source: gCaptain