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Role of U.S. Public Ports
U.S. public ports provide the vital link for getting goods to the nation's consumers and in transporting U.S.-made products overseas for export.

In the U.S., 126 public seaport agencies have jurisdiction over 185 public ports (some agencies control multiple ports). These ports are located along the Atlantic, Pacific, Gulf and Great Lakes coasts, as well as in Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, Guam, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Established by enactments of state government, public port authorities develop, manage and promote the flow of waterborne commerce and act as catalysts for economic growth. These agencies include port authorities, special-purpose navigation districts, multi-state authorities and departments of state, county and municipal governments.

Public ports develop and maintain terminal facilities for intermodal transfer of cargo between ships, barges, trucks and railroads, and for ferry and cruise ship passenger loading and unloading.

In addition to maritime functions, port authority activities may also include airports, bridges, tunnels, commuter rail systems, inland river or shallow-draft barge terminals, industrial parks, Foreign Trade Zones, world trade centers, terminal or short-line railroads, shipyards, dredging, marinas, and various public recreational facilities.

Public ports also play a critical role in U.S. national security, peacekeeping and humanitarian efforts around the world. In particular, ports support the mobilization, deployment and resupply of U.S. military forces.

Ports on the coasts and inland waterways provide a total of about 3,200 berths for deep-draft ships.

World Trade
Deep-draft ports, which accommodate oceangoing vessels, move 99.4 percent of U.S. overseas trade by volume and 64.1 percent by value, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

The U.S. Department of Transportation projects that, compared to 2001, total freight moved through U.S. ports will increase by more than 50 percent by 2020 and the volume of international container traffic will more than double.

Economic Impact
Public ports generate significant local and regional economic growth, including creation of jobs. Total direct and indirect annual impact of the U.S. port industry includes:
 * 8.4 million jobs, accounting for $314 billion in personal income and nearly $2 trillion in marine cargo-related spending (Martin Associates, Lancaster PA, 2007).
 * Some $3.95 trillion in international trade for an all-encompassing range of goods and services, with nearly 1.4 billion tons, valued at $1.4 trillion, in waterborne imports and exports alone (U.S. Census Bureau, 2007).
 * More than 1 billion tons of domestic goods are moved via water in the U.S. (U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, 2006).
 * U.S. seaports collected more than $23.2 billion in U.S. Customs duty revenues in fiscal 2007, representing 70 percent of all Customs duties collected (U.S. Customs & Border Protection, 2007).

Seaports are gateways to domestic and international trade, connecting the United States to the world. Because of the nation's port system, food grown by Iowa farmers reaches tables in Japan and Russia. Manufacturers in Texas can sell goods and services profitably to foreign countries. And Appalachian and Midwest coal moves through inland waterways and coastal ports to power plants domestically and around the world, providing the fuel to heat and light homes, businesses and cities.

North America's history has been shaped by its ports on the seacoasts, rivers and the Great Lakes. From the late 1400s, the sheltered harbors provided safe refuge for early explorers and settlers. Cities depended on docks and shipping terminals as their communications and commerce lifeline to the rest of the world. As port cities prospered and grew, the bustling wharfs and big ships became less visible, but no less important, as major highways and tall buildings dominated the waterfront.

Today, the U.S. is served by publicly- and privately-owned marine facilities located in approximately 360 commercial sea and river ports. These are found along the Atlantic, Pacific, Gulf and Great Lakes coasts, as well as in Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, Guam, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Some 150 state, local and county seaport agencies, navigation districts and port authorities make up the public sector port industry today.

Public ports develop and maintain the shoreside facilities for the intermodal transfer of cargo between ships, barges, trucks and railroads. Ports build and maintain cruise terminals for the growing cruise passenger industry.

In addition to maritime functions, port authority activities may also include jurisdiction over airports, bridges, tunnels, commuter rail systems, inland river or shallow draft barge terminals, industrial parks, Foreign Trade Zones, world trade centers, terminal or short-line railroads, ship repair, shipyards, dredging, marinas and other public recreational facilities. Ports may also undertake community or regional economic development projects beyond those of direct benefit to the port itself.

Ports play a major role in industrial plant location. Many manufacturing and processing industries locate their plants at or near waterfront sites to take advantage of low-cost inbound transportation of raw materials for production and outbound shipments of finished products to both export and domestic markets. Foreign Trade Zones, located on port property, also provide incentives for value-added manufacturing services and trade.

Issues Facing U.S. Ports

 * Seaport security
 * Navigation maintenance and new construction
 * Freight congestion/intermodal road/rail access
 * Marine facility expansion and modernization
 * Coastal environmental protection
 * Ability to secure funding and financing
 * Competitiveness and diversified revenue sources
 * Land acquisition and site development