The Transportation and Infrastructure Committee’s Panel on Public-Private Partnerships (P3s) will hold a roundtable policy discussion Thursday to explore the potential for P3s for America’s ports and waterways.
With the recovery of the import and export trade volumes after reductions in 2008 and 2009, many port authorities in the United States are looking to plan, finance, and construct new projects, adjust and expand their ports for larger vessels, and modernize their road and intermodal connections in order to stay competitive with other ports and accommodate the anticipated increases in volume and size of ships.
Public port authorities have a long and successful track record working with the private sector. In the U.S. it is common for port authorities to grant private operators concessions to build and operate container and bulk terminals under long-term lease contracts or to operate existing container and bulk terminals under long-term leases.
However, this model does not solve the need to finance the expansion and improvements of common user facilities (non-terminal assets) and port expansion projects.
The roundtable policy discussion on “Public Private Partnerships for America’s Waterways and Ports” is scheduled to begin at 10:00 a.m. on Thursday, July 10, 2014 in 2167 Rayburn House Office Building.
Participants:
Mr. Jim Hannon, Chief of Operations and Regulatory Division, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Mr. John Crowley, Executive Director, National Association of Waterfront Employers Mr. Mike Toohey, President and CEO of the Waterways Council Mr. Dave Kronsteiner, President of the Board of Commissioners for the Port of Coos Bay, Oregon
The Panel on Public-Private Partnerships is chaired by U.S. Rep. John J. Duncan, Jr. (R-TN), and is tasked with examining the use of and opportunities for P3s across all modes of transportation, economic development, public buildings, water, and maritime infrastructure.
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Press Release, July 9, 2014