Committee release Marine Transportation System report

Committee release Marine Transportation System report A federal committee said the U.S. Marine Transportation System (MTS) “is at a crossroad.”
   While trade is thriving, it cautions segments of the system are “showing signs of strain, which will intensify as cargo and passenger traffic increases.”
   The comments are contained in a report, National Strategy for the Marine Transportation System: A Framework for Action, developed by the Committee on the Marine Transportation System.
   Headed by Transportation Secretary Mary Peters, the committee was comprises 18 federal cabinet secretaries, agency administrators and representatives from the executive office.
   “Large containerized cargo ports, which are beginning to experience capacity problems, will be pressured to keep up with the growth in trade,” the report said. It offers recommendations to improve capacity, safety and security, the environment, resiliency and reliability, and financing of the marine transportation system.
   The group gave eight recommendations:
   ' Work collaboratively to address federal statutory, regulatory and institutional requirements.
   ' Encourage the expansion of inland and coastal shipping, including a pilot program to designate “marine highway corridors” relieve congestion on roadways.
   ' Propose economic incentives for private sector investment in marine transportation infrastructure and operational technologies to increase efficiency.
   ' Collaboration with state, local and private entities to ensure environmental and National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) compliance, and to plan for land use in and near ports.
   ' Sharing of “best practices” and create incentives to encourage private sector interests and local governments to pursue initiatives for increased efficiency and environmental sustainability.
   ' Publish valid, reliable and timely data on marine transportation including cargo movements, capacity and productivity.
   ' Facilitate standardized terminologies, interpretations and “flow-through” models to foster increased productivity.
   ' Develop performance measures to assess the productivity of the marine transportation system and risk of infrastructure failures.
   The report is available at: www.cmts.gov/nationalstrategy.pdf.