Page 24: of Marine News Magazine (December 2016)

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PORT INFRASTRUCTURE

Port Infrastructure and the Role of Government

By Lauren Brand

We are in the midst of a revolution a common language? Are maritime ports primarily a safe over port infrastructure. This revolution haven for ships? Or are they the ultimate intermodal hub, is not about the role of ports as silent en- where trucks and trains come alongside ships and barges to gines for our economy and the need for exchange freight. And why does this matter?

better intermodal infrastructure. Rather, Traditionally, ports were built by the people and com- it is about why governments – local, state munities who lived near waterfronts. They owned ships and federal – believe ports exist, and or worked in or near a port, basing their local economy whether or not public and private enti- on cargoes transported through their region. Today’s ports ties, other than those directly responsible serve larger, more heavily populated, regional economies,

Brand for ports, should help build or improve and some serve national needs. Yesterday’s ports were made port infrastructure and their intermodal connectors. from timber and were designed for yesterday’s ships. Docks

Ports are rightfully linked to a maritime industry that is built as recent as 1985 have been built from stronger mate- steeped in tradition. Their de