Marine Highway Grants Boost Waterways Projects

Several projects along the nation’s inland rivers are among those to have received 2025 U.S. Marine Highway Program grants.

The U.S. Maritime Administration (MarAd) announced $13,280,351 in grants for 11 marine highway projects across seven states March 26. The funding supports public and private partners in developing supply chains on marine highway routes to ensure resiliency, MarAd said.

“The marine highway program is a vital opportunity to expand the nation’s freight capacity,” MarAd Administrator Steve Carmel said. “By fully integrating our navigable waterways into the national transportation system, we keep the American economy moving forward.”

The U.S. Marine Highways network spans 27,139 miles across 41 states, Washington, D.C. and all five U.S. territories. The 35 designated routes have vital roles, including easing congestion on the nation’s road and rail systems, according to MarAd. All grant recipients must abide by provisions of the “Buy America, Build America” program.

Grants along the river system are listed below.

Columbia Port Commission, Columbia, Louisiana, $400,000. Funds will be provided for a plan supporting expansion of waterborne and rail facilities for containerized cargo and unit trains beyond current tenant needs.

Morgan City Harbor and Terminal District, Morgan City, La., $772,800. The grant will go toward the procurement, delivery and assembly of a minimum 64-ton rough terrain crane and attachments and a track skid steel loader for use at the port’s terminal, enhancing efficiency and safety in cargo transloading.

MFA Incorporated, Caruthersville, Mo., $1,744,218. Funds will aid installation of a modern, high-capacity tank blending system to enhance fertilizer-handling efficiency, support a shift from truck to barge transportation and strengthen rural logistics. The project proposes consolidating blending at the terminal level, where river access and storage capacity can be optimized for higher throughput and environmental benefit. The system will be modular, automation-ready and designed to scale with seasonal demand. It eliminates the needs for end loaders, reduces operational bottlenecks and increases the terminal’s service capacity for regional agriculture customers.

Heartland Fabrication LLC, Brownsville, Pa., $599,260. Grant funds will provide berth improvements at Heartland Fabrication’s barge docks to improve cargo-handling efficiency and long-term resilience for barge transportation to and from the site. The cover dock berths will be improved through maintenance dredging, mooring system upgrades and new gangway access. The floating area dock berths will be improved through maintenance dredging and replacement of a floating dock. The launchway berth will be improved through maintenance dredging.

The Port Authority of Columbiana County, Wellsville Ohio, $440,683. Grant funds will go toward acquiring two 8-yard diesel-over-hydraulic clamshell buckets to be used at the Port of Ohio at Pier 48 overhead gantry crane. These buckets will replace two aging 10-yard buckets manufactured in 1979 and later refurbished. The new equipment supports the safe, efficient loading of high-density bulk material, including chemical grade barite. The project is designed to expand the port’s ability to serve existing and prospective shippers.

Finley Buttes Limited Partnership, Umatilla, Ore., $480,000. Funds will establish a transport route for containerized municipal solid waste from Puget Sound to Umatilla. The project includes market analysis, feasibility/modal study, alternative site analysis, preliminary engineering, National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) review and permitting to prepare for construction

Shaver Transportation Company, Portland Oregon, $3,750,000. Grant funds will aid construction of a new, 3,600-ton capacity barge designed to serve the Columbia-Snake River. Shaver Construction has already completed the engineering designs. The project is designed to expand barge capacity to meet confirmed shipper demand, reduce landside congestion, improve freight system resilience and support the continued cost-competitiveness of Pacific Northwest agriculture imports.