US ports infrastructure got a slightly better grade in a report from the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) thanks to some increased spending. But the ASCE says funds are still getting diverted from dredging and other projects, and shoreside constraints are impacting maritime commerce.
In its 2017 Infrastructure Report Card, US ports got a 'C+' grade, compared to a 'C' grade in the 2013 report. The main improvement stemmed from the 2015 competitive grant programme which will direct $4.5bn to port-related projects.
Another programme, the 2014, Water Resources Reform and Development Act, also authorised port-related projects. But only two of 34 projects have been authorised.
On dredging, shippers pay a user fee based on the value of containerised imports that typically works out to about $15 per container box. That goes to fund the Harbour Maintenance Trust Fund, which currently has a balance of $8.4bn for dredging projects.
But the ASCE noted the fund has often been raided for other purposes. It said the US Army Corps of Engineers would need five years of full appropriations from the fund in order to restore all channels depths and widths.
In total, the ASCE notes some $154.8bn will be directed to improving US ports through 2020. But many of the roads, rail and other intermodal links to ports remain in poor condition, leading to increasing inefficiencies in moving goods.
